Utah SNAP benefits halted amid federal shutdown, affecting 86,000 households as community pantries see increased use.

Thousands of Utahns will soon feel the effects of the shutdown when SNAP benefits end next month, leading to local food pantries anticipating additional stress that will be put on their operations.

Gov. Spencer Cox said the state's "rainy day" fund has surpassed $1.5 billion for the year.According to the governor, this is the first time the state's savings

More than 80,000 Utah households will lose access to food assistance next month because of the federal government shutdown, according to the Utah Department of Workforce Services.

SNAP, also known as food stamps, is fully funded by the federal government and helps about 86,000 Utah households buy food each month, the state said. With the continual government shutdown, that aid will cease.

When food benefits run out next month, Rose Wakeham is worried about losing access to more than the fresh vegetables they love to cook. “I might have to quit school and get a different job,” said Wakeham,

U.S. states this week warned food aid recipients that their benefits may not be distributed in November if the federal government shutdown stretches into its fourth week. Warnings issued on at least two dozen state websites flag the potential for an unprecedented benefit gap for more than 41 million people who get aid from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,