GA SNAP To Fund Up To 65% Of Food Aid Benefits: See When

ATLANTA, GA — Georgia SNAP recipients will receive up to 65 percent of their November food-assistance benefit after a court order required the Trump administration to partially fund the federal program amid the government shutdown.

The partial payments of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits come after federal officials initially said November payments would not be issued due to the congressional standoff and lack of funding. SNAP provides aid to those needing help with buying groceries.

The U.S. Senate on Sunday voted 60-40 to move toward passing compromise legislation to fund the government and hold a later vote on extending Affordable Care Act tax credits that expire Jan. 1.

If the deal is to be approved, it must pass the House, and President Donald Trump then must sign it.

RELATED: SNAP Benefits Partially Restored: What It Means For GA

Until then, SNAP recipients with distribution dates that have already passed are set to receive their allocation by Tuesday, Veterans Day, the Georgia Department of Human Services said Sunday.

Other benefits will be issued on their regular schedule the rest of November, state officials said.

The allotment, up to 65 percent, will depend on household income and other deductions, state officials said.

"SNAP recipients should continue to lock their EBT cards between purchases to prevent unauthorized use and protect these forthcoming benefits," state officials said.

EBT cards can be locked with the "lock my card everywhere" function via the ConnectEBT app on Android or Apple devices and the ConnectEBT website.

Gov. Brian Kemp previously told reporters he was worried that if he spent Georgia's $14 billion surplus to help with the loss of SNAP, the funding may not get reimbursed. The feds have said they are not required to return money to states if they step in and aid the impending crisis.

Last week, he cast blame on Democrats for the lasting shutdown, specifically Georgia-based U.S. Sens. Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock. The governor has been adamant about Congress ending the stalemate.

Georgians in need of food assistance can find resources here.