IGIA Retailer Members receive the following resources via email, and occasionally via direct mail.
If you are an IGIA member looking for these materials, want to ensure you are receiving important emails, or have more questions about resources, please contact Audrey Comer at [email protected].
If you are not an IGIA member, contact us today to join! Find out more about IGIA retailer membership, and contact Cara Corkrean at [email protected] to join.
Recent Member Notices
Impact of Government Shutdown on SNAP Funding (updated 10/31/25) If the government shutdown continues into November, the federal government says it will not have funding for November SNAP benefits. However, the USDA has clarified that retailers will still be able to accept EBT payments in November for families with leftover benefits from October and if states decide to cover the gap.
Gov. Kim Reynolds has urged Congress to end the shutdown and said that Iowa will not be able to keep the program running without the federal funding.
Iowa issues benefits between the 1st and 10th of the month. Leftover October benefits can still be use and cards remain active. Individuals should retain their SNAP cards throughout the shutdown.
Iowa HHS has said that if SNAP customers have issues or concerns, retailers may direct them to call the number on the back of their card. (This is a 24/7 line.)
According to NGA, SNAP benefits in the US amount to $8.1 billion for November. 42 million people may have to go without food if funding is not restored.
In Iowa: Iowa SNAP currently serves approximately 131,000 households per month and allocates around $45 million in benefits, which are federally paid. (Iowa HHS)
Iowa HHS has engaged their food bank and pantry partners and community-based organizations to prepare to provide additional support to impacted Iowans.
NGA — Action Items from National Grocers Association (NGA):
FMI Resources FMI has launched a new “Government Shutdown Impact on SNAP” webpage, which is part of our ”Facts About SNAP” microsite. This page is currently featured on the FMI homepage as well. It includes a map feature that provides links to state SNAP websites and state declarations to fund SNAP, if available.
Notice from USDA - "Protect SNAP Customers from Card Skimming at Your Point-of-Sale (POS)" 10/3/25
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - SNAP Changes in Iowa On May 22, 2025, Iowa was approved for a federal waiver to limit SNAP purchases to non-taxable food items. (The only taxable items that Iowa will continue to allow to be purchased with SNAP are seeds and plants that grow food for your family.) The effective date for these changes is January 1, 2026. (See HHS's public press release about the changes, 10/10/25)
IGIA is in communication with Iowa HHS to ensure retailers have the information and resources they need to implement these changes. We have been and will continue working with HHS on retailer concerns about implementation, including as it relates to technology, public education, product definitions, compliance, and more.
