ORLANDO, Fla. – People waiting for their SNAP benefits can soon breathe easy.
The USDA says full food assistance benefits will be made available to states on Friday.
[WATCH: Where to find help with food in Central Florida]
In guidance posted on the USDA website, the agency said, “FNS will complete the processes necessary to make funds available to support your subsequent transmittal of full issuance files to your EBT processor.”
Once states have the money, they should be able to get it to the EBT cards that recipients use.
The Trump administration originally announced it would release half the SNAP benefits for November. However, on Thursday, a federal judge ordered the USDA to release the full benefit.
The Trump administration is appealing the ruling. It’s not known how that will affect things now that the funds are going out.
The Trump administration argued it didn’t have the contingency funds amid the government shutdown to continue to fund the program at full level.
Nearly 3 million Floridians have gone without the needed food assistance help since Nov. 1, including half a million Central Floridians. According to data from the USDA, more than 59% are in families with children, and more than 41% are in families with older adults or people who are disabled.
More than 37% are in working families.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.