New Yorkers using food stamps have been facing an unexpected problem: some grocery stores are illegally refusing to accept their SNAP benefits. State Attorney General Letitia James is stepping in, warning businesses to stop turning away customers who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to buy food.
The alert comes at a time when uncertainty about federal SNAP funding has already left many families on edge. Here, we’ll look at what the Attorney General is doing to protect consumers, what’s behind the recent refusals, and how the issue connects to the larger national fight over food assistance.
Stores can’t deny SNAP payments
Attorney General Letitia James issued a strong message to New York businesses: if you’re an approved SNAP retailer, you must accept SNAP benefits. Her office recently learned that some stores, including grocery chains ShopRite and Hannaford, have denied shoppers the ability to pay with their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards.
Both companies are officially authorized to process SNAP transactions, making any refusal a violation of federal and state law. “New Yorkers must be able to use their existing SNAP benefits—or food stamps—at any business that is part of the program“, James said. “Refusing to accept New Yorkers’ remaining SNAP balances puts already vulnerable New York families in greater danger of going hungry”.
The Attorney General’s office has issued cease-and-desist letters to the stores involved and is urging residents to report any other businesses refusing SNAP cards. Customers who are turned away are advised to tell store staff, “I have a balance on my EBT card and I am able to use it”, and then file a complaint directly with the Attorney General’s office.
Under federal guidelines, SNAP recipients can use their EBT cards to purchase food at any authorized retailer as long as they have a remaining balance. Denying those payments—especially during a government funding dispute—violates those protections and directly affects low-income families, seniors, and children who depend on the program for daily meals.
SNAP’s current context
The controversy comes amid national tension over the future of SNAP funding. Earlier this fall, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it might suspend November benefits due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. That decision sparked lawsuits from a coalition of 25 attorneys general and governors, led in part by Letitia James.
In late October, a court order required the USDA to use contingency funds to keep the program partially funded. Then, on November 6, a federal judge ruled that the administration must fully fund SNAP benefits for all 42 million Americans who rely on them.
In New York alone, nearly 3 million people receive SNAP benefits each month, including about 1 million children, more than 600,000 older adults, and hundreds of thousands of veterans and people with disabilities. The state distributes roughly $650 million in monthly aid through the program.
SNAP has long been a vital safety net for Americans facing food insecurity. Illegal refusals, even by a small number of stores, can make it harder for families to access basic groceries. The Attorney General’s warning sends a clear message that no business is above the law, especially when food access is on the line.