With the U.S. government shutdown over, state officials are moving swiftly to get full SNAP food benefits back online for millions. However, recipients may still have to wait up to a week for the assistance to be fully dispersed. Previously, a flurry of court rulings and policy shifts led to inconsistencies in benefit distribution; while some states managed to send full benefits, approximately two-thirds only provided partial aid. Approximately 42 million low-income Americans rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, receiving about $190 monthly per person on average. In the wake of the shutdown, officials in West Virginia announced that all November benefits will be restored by Friday. Other states are following suit, promising completion by mid-November. Yet, for families like Lee Harris’, delays have added stress and uncertainty to their grocery budget, raising concerns about food availability.