The 500,000 Nevadans enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive partial benefits for the month of November but should brace for a reduction of “50% or more” to those benefits, the state’s Division of Social Services (DSS) told The Nevada Independent on Tuesday.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) informed Nevada DSS on Tuesday that the maximum benefits available to SNAP recipients will be reduced by 50 percent. DSS spokesperson Kristle Muessle told The Indy that this means individual households in Nevada may see even greater reductions, depending on their income.

The new federal guidance comes after funding for SNAP benefits lapsed on Nov. 1 due to the government shutdown. Two federal judges ordered the Trump administration on Friday to tap into more than $5 billion in federal contingency funds to cover the benefits. While USDA stated it would comply with these orders and cover half of November SNAP benefits, President Donald Trump indicated on social media today that he does not want to release the funds.

Nearly 1 in 6 Nevadans rely on SNAP benefits to pay for groceries and access food. Although partial funding for benefits has been authorized, Muessle said the benefits will not be issued immediately.

“DSS must make system updates to recalculate benefit amounts prior to submitting data to its [electronic benefits transfer] vendor for benefits to be issued,” Muessle wrote. “DSS is actively working on those updates so SNAP benefits can be issued as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

Muessle also confirmed that applications from prospective SNAP recipients will still be received and processed but “will be subject to the continued availability of federal funds.”

At the same time, Nevada Democrats have called on the state to pursue more drastic action to guarantee benefits. 

Democrats in the state Senate told The Nevada Independent on Tuesday that during the upcoming special legislative session, they will introduce legislation to form a temporary state-run and state-funded version of SNAP. 

The emergency program, if approved, will only cover the half of SNAP benefits not covered by the federal government’s contingency funds.

SNAP recipients can check the existing balances on their benefit cards by visiting ebtEdge or calling (866) 281-2443, according to Muessle. Anyone who is concerned about how to access food can use The Indy’s resource guide.