Economy

States will need days to disburse SNAP benefits once funds flow

The potential for delays will increase as November drags on.
In this file photo taken Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010, an Electronic Benefit Transfer card, food stamp recipients use to purchase food, is seen at the Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

Families whose federal food stamp benefits are usually disbursed on Nov. 1 will now almost certainly have to wait for the cash — regardless of any moves made in Washington. 

Even if the Trump administration frees up funds or Congress agrees on a budget plan this week, experts say it will take most states several days to move federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits onto the electronic benefit transfer cards recipients use to buy groceries.

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