State officials say South Dakota is issuing the full allotment of SNAP benefits to enrolled recipients for November.
The Department of Social Service says those payments should be made Monday, the normal date recipients receive benefits.
"If there are delays, they will be communicated as soon as they are known," a statement from the DSS released Friday said.
This comes after a political battle over the food assistance program amid a federal government shutdown. Early this week, the Trump Administration said it would comply with a court order requiring SNAP benefits be paid, but would only make partial payments. New questions arose when President Trump later posted on social media saying benefits would only be paid when Democrats "open up government."
On Thursday, a federal judge ordered the USDA to dispense full November benefits. But President Donald Trump said he was challenging that ruling.
It now appears the payments are moving forward. Friday, state DSS Secretary Matt Althoff said the department received confirmation full benefits are being issued from Food and Nutrition Services, the federal agency that oversees SNAP.
“We understand how important these benefits are to families across South Dakota,” said Althoff. “Knowing this reliance, there is a relief within our department that the federal shutdown will not impact the families who have qualified for the aid we administer. SNAP administration is one of DSS’s core responsibilities because of the access to food – a basic need – for those who need it most.”
The DSS statement also noted the "tremendous response" from feeding ministries, businesses and others that stepped forward to help those facing food insecurity amid uncertainty during the government shutdown.