SNAP recipients can receive major grocery discounts from Instacart and DoorDash as a government shutdown threatens food aid payments.

The initiatives come as the government shutdown surpasses the one-month mark and puts 42 million Americans at risk of losing SNAP benefits.

Locally, Instacart and Door Dash are stepping up to help those affected by the shutdown.

Instacart and Door Dash Offer Relief for SNAP Recipients

Here are the key takeaways from the two companies’ plans:

🛒 Instacart’s Support for SNAP Customers

• 50% discount on the next grocery order for customers who used a SNAP/EBT card in October.
• The discount is valid even if SNAP payments are processed as scheduled on November 1.
• Instacart is tripling donations to over 300 food banks, totaling $5 million in direct relief.
• The company began accepting online SNAP payments in 2020 and offers free delivery on orders over $35 for SNAP users.

🚚 DoorDash’s Relief Efforts

• Waiving service and delivery fees for up to 300,000 orders from SNAP recipients in November.
• Committing to deliver 1 million meals from food banks at no cost.
• Over 2.4 million DoorDash customers have SNAP/EBT cards linked to their accounts.

Read more about Door Dash’s relief program.

⚖️ Legal and Government Developments

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture has frozen SNAP payments as of November 1 due to the government shutdown.
• Two federal judges may rule soon on whether the Trump administration must continue funding SNAP benefits.
• Even if benefits are not suspended, delays in reloading SNAP debit cards could affect access to groceries in early November.
• A legal challenge from Democratic officials in 25 states is underway, with at least one judge expressing skepticism about halting benefits.

These efforts aim to cushion the impact of the potential disruption in SNAP funding, which affects 1 in 8 Americans who rely on the program for food assistance

More From AtlantaFi.com: