In a significant development, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has approved an emergency appeal from the Trump administration, effectively pausing a prior ruling that mandated the full funding of SNAP food benefits. This decision was announced late Friday.
The Trump administration has argued that the ongoing government shutdown has left them without the necessary resources to fund these benefits fully.
Despite some payments being issued earlier on Friday, many Illinois residents have expressed that the amounts received fall short of their needs.
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As of Friday, a segment of the nearly 2 million Illinoisans who depend on SNAP began to see partial benefit payments.
The Illinois Department of Public Health has clarified, “Illinois SNAP customers will start receiving partial November benefits from Nov. 7 through Nov. 20. Those who were scheduled to receive benefits between Nov. 1 and Nov. 6 will get partial benefits over the next six days, with Nov. 1 benefits being disbursed on Nov. 7, Nov. 2 benefits on Nov. 8, and so forth.”
This situation arose after a judge’s order compelling the Trump administration to ensure full funding for the SNAP program by Friday.
The federal government appealed that ruling, but in a unanimous decision Friday evening, a panel of three judges on the First Circuit Court of Appeals denied the Trump administration’s request for an administrative stay of a court order requiring they fully fund SNAP benefits for the month of November.
“The request for an administrative stay is denied. The government’s motion for a stay pending appeal remains pending, and we intend to issue a decision on that motion as quickly as possible,” the two-page order said.
The Department of Justice asked Supreme Court to intervene in the case, and Justice Jackson issued her emergency stay on the order to give the appeals court more times to review the case.
The United States Department of Agriculture notified states earlier Friday that they were working towards paying November SNAP benefits in full in compliance with a federal judge’s order.
The letter stated that “later today, FNS will complete the processes necessary to make funds available to support your subsequent transmittal of full issuance files to your EBT processor.” At least nine states say they have began issuing November SNAP benefits. Illinois was not one of them.
SEE ALSO: ABC7 Chicago kicks off annual Feed the Love campaign as SNAP benefits in limbo | How to donate
The nearly 42 million Americans who receive food stamps are anxiously awaiting updates on their benefits.
The vice president argued that a judge can’t tell the Trump administration how to “triage the situation.”
“It’s an absurd ruling because you have a federal judge effectively telling us what we have to do in the midst of a Democrat government shutdown, which what we’d like to do is for the Democrats to open up the government, of course, then we can fund SNAP, and we can also do a lot of other good things for the American people,” Vice President JD Vance said.
“We’re ready, we’re willing, we’re able to sit down with our Republican colleagues anytime, any place, in order to reopen the government to find a bipartisan path forward. And to decisively address the Republican healthcare crisis that continues to crush people all across the country,” Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said.
Benefits left on cards from previous months can still be used as future benefits remain in limbo.
Some Chicago-area SNAP recipients were elated to learn that they would finally be getting some of their benefits only to come to a grocery store like this one and learn that they didn’t have enough funds on their card to buy food.
“I was anticipating at least half but I only have $14,” one recipient said.
She doesn’t know what she’s going to do for food after she was only given a partial SNAP benefit of $14 to buy groceries. The west suburban woman, whose daughter has a disability, says her monthly benefit is usually $300.
“I can’t shop because I thought they said we’d all get at least half or something like that but there’s only $14 on there,” she said.
She says that she will rely on food pantries, family, and friends to continue to put food on her table. She’s hopeful though that her snap benefits will return soon.
Others had a similar experience Friday night when they came to buy groceries at the Living Fresh Market in Forest Park.
SEE ALSO: Groceries, free pet food given out in Chicago to SNAP recipients as shutdown drags on
Last month, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker directed $20 million in state funds to support food banks and food pantries, during this uncertain time.
The Illinois Department of Public Health will keep customers updated on this evolving situation.
South Loop all-women law group steps up to provide groceries to struggling families
Meanwhile, an all-women law group is stepping up to provide groceries to struggling families.
The Knight, Mezher and Morris Law Group packed up nearly 400 bags of groceries until 2 a.m. Friday.
Within the first hour of opening its doors on Friday, the group had already given away half of those bags.
“I came from 130th just to get this package,” said Lester Barry.
Barry says he heard the Knight, Mezher and Morris Law Group on 21st and Indiana were one of the few places giving away pet food.
“I love my animals. I care about my animals. So, I didn’t know that it was a bonus package also,” Barry said.
He was surprised to find that he would also be walking away with a bag full of eggs, cereal, potatoes, toilet paper and more for himself. He was one of hundreds.
“Right now, nothing is in our refrigerator to eat. So, then we struggle with some, like, hygiene stuff, but we make ends meet with a little that we do have,” one woman said.
“It took my breath away, because it clearly demonstrated such a need that people were willing to stand outside for in, you know, the cold, for over an hour to collect a bag of food,” said Knight, Mezher and Morris Law Group Partner Julia Mezher.
Law group partners say over the last three days, they raised over $5,000, with many people dropping off additional items in-person.
“To have a few sleepless nights getting this ready is totally worth the sacrifice to be able to help our community,” said Knight, Mezher and Morris law group partner Yondi Morris- Andrews.
They say they were up all night prepping for Friday. But they did have some help from a few local third graders.
“It’s important to us because we want to like help people,” said 8-year-old Bronx Andrews. “It feels good because there are people in need.”
And that help is something they all say will and must continue.
“Figure out how you can help. Because actually, there are lots of ways to step in. You just have to look around,” Morris-Andrews said.
The firm is not done giving back. They already have plans to give more around the holidays.
Anyone wanting to make donations can go to Knight, Mezher and Harris Law Group, located at 2037 South Indiana. Items like eggs, bread, tissue paper, pet food and baby food have been a big need.
ABC News contributed to this report.
