The approximately 42 million Americans who receive are encountering further instability due to payment delays, stemming from a lack of available funds during the, which has now reached its second month.

The suspension of SNAP benefits, managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has become a prominent discussion point in the . Senator Elizabeth Warren recently accused President Donald Trump of utilizing “hungry children as a bargaining chip,” echoing statements from other Democrats, such as California Governor Gavin Newsom, who last month charged Trump with “endangering people’s lives” prior to the payments ceasing on November 1.

Trump generated additional concern on Tuesday when he threatened to withhold SNAP benefits until the conclusion of the government shutdown, despite a clear court order instructing the Administration to disburse partial benefits.

“SNAP benefits… will be provided only when the radical left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before,” Trump stated via Truth Social.

The President’s communication, shared among his 11 million followers and beyond, directly defied a court order issued last week.

The Trump Administration has been ordered by two federal judges to fund SNAP during the government shutdown. Massachusetts U.S. District Judge determined on October 31 that the USDA’s cessation of SNAP benefits was unlawful and demanded a government response on how it would fund such payments by Monday, November 3. A Rhode Island judge on November 1 mandated the government to deploy emergency contingency funds to provide Americans with their SNAP benefits amidst what is now the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

“There is no doubt that the congressionally approved contingency funds must be deployed now because of the shutdown,” McConnell asserted, also contending that the government should “seek the additional funds required to fully finance the November SNAP payments,” separate from the money accessible within the contingency fund.

The White House quickly retracted Trump’s threat on Tuesday, reaffirming its intent to comply with the court order.

Press secretary affirmed the Administration “is fully adhering to the court order.” When questioned about Trump’s comments suggesting otherwise, Leavitt explained that “the President does not wish to have to access this fund in the future, and that is what he was referencing in his Truth Social post.”

Here is what we currently understand—and do not understand—regarding the anticipated SNAP payment plans for November.

What amount are SNAP recipients expected to get?

The Trump Administration has consented to reinstate SNAP using money from a Department of Agriculture contingency fund, but they will only distribute half the sum participants would typically receive.

According to the most recent data, federal funding for SNAP reached $99.8 billion in 2024, with a monthly average of roughly $8.32 billion nationwide for nearly 42 million Americans. The USDA estimates that the average recipient acquired $187.20 monthly in 2024, but payment amounts fluctuate based on household size, disability status, and income.

Patrick Penn, the deputy under secretary for Food Nutrition and Consumer Services, confirmed in a statement on Monday that the contingency fund holds $6 billion—with $4.65 billion of that allocated for November SNAP benefits.

Have some individuals lost their eligibility for SNAP?

also provided details on groups that will no longer qualify for SNAP payments. These alterations were initially outlined in Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill,” which was signed into law on July 4.

Designated as “Alien groups” by the USDA, individuals whose deportation orders are currently withheld will no longer be eligible, as will “certain American Indians born abroad” or Hmong or Highland Laotian Tribal Members, unless they are Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR). Refugees are also no longer eligible.

Parolees, who previously would have qualified after a 5-year waiting period, are also no longer entitled to receive SNAP benefits.

When should qualified SNAP recipients anticipate their payments?

regarding when they disburse their SNAP benefits to recipients, with different locations following their own payment schedules.

North Carolina officials, for example, indicated within their state that payments for November could arrive as early as next week.

“If federal funding is supplied this week as anticipated, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services expects all partial benefits to be loaded onto EBT cards by next week, so beneficiaries should frequently check the balances on their cards.”

The Trump Administration has, however, issued a warning that benefits are likely to face significant delays across the board.

“This will prove a complex process, including updated eligibility systems, state notification procedures, and ultimately, delayed benefits for weeks, but we will aid states in navigating those challenges,” stated Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. “If the government reopens, families will receive their FULL benefit much more swiftly.”

During a press conference at the White House on Tuesday, Leavitt echoed Rollins’ caution about potential delays.

“The recipients of these SNAP benefits need to understand it’s going to take some time to receive this money,” she remarked.

TIME has contacted the USDA and the White House for additional information.

What actions are cities and nonprofits taking to counter SNAP delays and reduced payments?

A federal court hearing is scheduled for Thursday, requested by individuals represented by Democracy Forward, an organization that offers legal assistance to people and communities.

The plaintiffs are urging the USDA “to release the unlawfully withheld funding” for SNAP in its entirety through an “emergency relief request” filed against Agriculture Secretary Rollins.

In its request, the coalition—comprising Albuquerque, Baltimore, Columbus, and Providence—argued “this court should grant a temporary restraining order on the grounds that [the] defendants’ decision not to provide full SNAP benefits is arbitrary and capricious.”

Several faith-based nonprofit organizations, such as the Rhode Island State Council of Churches, and business organizations including the Service Employees International Union, are among the plaintiffs.