OKEECHOBEE- In the last week of October two federal judges ordered the Trump administration to use emergency funding to provide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, but a week later it still isn’t clear when those benefits will be paid.

SNAP benefits were due to lapse due to the ongoing government shutdown. In October the Florida Department of Children and Families announced that SNAP benefits would not go out starting on Nov. 1.

“You may receive notices about your eligible benefit amount, but you will not receive any benefits deposited to your EBT card during this time,” read a notice from the Florida DCF. “The Department is monitoring the federal government shutdown closely and will notify you as soon as we can resume issuing benefits.”

SNAP is administered through the Florida Department of Children and Families is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a federal agency whose funding is affected by the federal government shutdown.

“Bottom line, the well has run dry,” the USDA said in a statement on their website. “At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01.”

Following the ruling last week which directed the federal government to use emergency funding to provide SNAP benefits, Department of Agriculture official Patrick Penn reported that $4.65 billion in contingency funds was available to be used for a partial amount of November payments. Penn said that “50% of eligible households’ current allotments” would be paid with the available contingency funds.

It is not clear yet when the benefits from this partial funding will be paid out. In an interview on CNN Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration is figuring out the process that must be followed to provide funding, before adding that it’s possible those SNAP benefits are paid this week.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on if the Trump Administration will use emergency funds to cover SNAP benefits.

BESSENT: "There's a process that has to be followed. So, we got to figure out what the process is. President Trump wants to make sure that people get their food… pic.twitter.com/MpyTqQBktq

— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) November 2, 2025

 According to data from an American Community Survey from 2017-2021, approximately 19.7% of Okeechobee County households use the SNAP program. Data from that same survey listed Hendry County as having 21.8% of households relying on SNAP, with 12.9 percent in Glades and 10.2% in Palm Beach.

Florida has the fourth largest SNAP enrollment nationwide with 2.94 million relying on the assistance, behind California, Texas, and New York. Of Florida's SNAP users, children and seniors comprise the majority of participants