Department of Human Services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 9, 2025 The statement below is attributable to Joseph Campos II, deputy director of the Department of Human Services: “Due to the uncertainty surrounding the Supreme Court pause and the use of federal dollars, the state can assure you that on Monday, November 10, your EBT card will have the state ...
Read More STATEMENT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES ON SNAP BENEFITS – 11/9/2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 8, 2025 HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i Department of Human Services (DHS) is providing an update for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients amid continued uncertainty surrounding federal SNAP funding and the Supreme Court’s temporary pause on full benefit payments. We understand that there are questions regarding whether some SNAP recipients may ...
Read More DHS ISSUES UPDATE ON SNAP BENEFITS AND THE HAWAI‘I EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

UPDATE – November 10, 2025 The Hawaiʻi Emergency Food Assistance Program (HEFAP) provided $250 per person in state funds to help families during this period of uncertainty. The HEFAB has issued and should be available on EBT cards starting November 10, 2025. Please note: HEFAP funds will be used first before federal SNAP funds when ...
Read More Hawaiʻi Emergency Food Assistance Program FAQs: state-sponsored 0 per person to purchase food

HAWAI‘I RELIEF PROGRAM FAQs – SUPPORT FOR HOUSING AND UTILITY PAYMENTS What is the Hawaiʻi Relief Program? What type of help can a family receive through the Hawaiʻi Relief Program? What is considered a “family” for the purposes of the Hawaiʻi Relief Program? What are the eligibility criteria for the Hawaiʻi Relief Program? What are ...
Read More HAWAI‘I RELIEF PROGRAM FAQs – SUPPORT FOR HOUSING AND UTILITY PAYMENTS

Click here for Hawai‘i Relief Program FAQs. Click here for a video statement from DHS Deputy Director Joseph Campos. GOVERNOR GREEN ANNOUNCES COORDINATED RELIEF EFFORT TO PROTECT HAWAIʻI FAMILIES FROM FEDERAL SHUTDOWN IMPACTS Support for Housing and Utility Payments FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 29, 2025 HONOLULU – Governor Josh Green today announced a coordinated relief effort to protect Hawaiʻi ...
Read More HAWAI‘I RELIEF PROGRAM

For Immediate Release October 24, 2025 HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services (DHS) is sharing guidance on the temporary suspension of November 2025 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit issuances resulting from the ongoing federal government shutdown. DHS understands the hardship this may cause for families, kūpuna and individuals across Hawaiʻi and is ...
Read More HAWAIʻI DHS PROVIDES GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT FOR HOUSEHOLDS AFFECTED BY FEDERAL SHUTDOWN SUSPENSION OF SNAP BENEFITS

SNAP UPDATES – November 7, 2025 SNAP benefits are available for use on a household’s Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card for those who were approved for November 2025. Hawaiʻi moved forward to issue the full amount for federally funded SNAP benefits earlier today in accordance with the November 6, 2025, order from the District Court ...
Read More INFORMATION ABOUT IMPACTS ON SNAP BENEFITS AMID THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 17, 2025  HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i Department of Human Services (DHS) is mobilizing to support communities ahead of new federal work requirements for SNAP recipients, effective November 1, 2025. These requirements stem from a federal law passed this year and are not a state-initiated measure. DHS affirms its commitment to helping ...
Read More FEDERAL SNAP WORK REQUIREMENT CHANGES TO BEGIN – Department of Human Services Offers Guidance and Resources

General Background about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP):  (Updated 10/16/2025) SNAP provides assistance to purchase food for low-income households. An estimated 84,869 households (=165,659 people) currently receive SNAP in Hawai‘i.  The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that was signed into law on July 4, 2025, makes a number of changes to requirements for ...
Read More Changes to Able-Bodied Adult Work Requirements for SNAP – FAQs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 23, 2025 (Updated) HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services (DHS) is preparing families across the state for upcoming changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), effective October 1, 2025. Because of adjustments made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to the Thrifty Food Plan — the federal ...
Read More DHS SUPPORTS FAMILIES AS FEDERAL CHANGES TO SNAP BENEFIT TAKE EFFECT OCTOBER 1