Because of the ongoing federal government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday told state agencies that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits cannot be issued for November.

The Missouri Department of Social Services said there is not sufficient funding for the benefits, which are 100% federally funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP benefits may be delayed or may not be provided at all, depending on what the federal government decides.

Missouri Department of Social Services Director Jess Bax said the benefits will be issued as soon as federal funds become available, but “we encourage SNAP participants to look at the potential of using their October balance to stretch into November if possible, given this situation.”

Anyone affected was encouraged to review local food resources such as food banks and pantries and to monitor the DSS website and social media for updates.

“We’ve learned that it could be really problematic, especially in Missouri. SNAP is a fully federally funded program,” said Operation Food Search president and CEO Kristen Wild.

Joey Keys, board chairperson of Feeding Missouri and CEO of Southeast Missouri Food Banks, said Missouri’s food banks have been preparing in anticipation that SNAP benefits may be paused.