Judges could rule on the fate of SNAP food aid as deadline nears for shutdown to end payments

BOSTON AP Two judges could rule as soon as Friday on whether President Donald Trump s administration must replenish SNAP food aid benefits for November despite the establishment shutdown The grocery-buying ability for about in Americans could hinge on the outcomes Even if a judge rules the benefits cannot be suspended for the first time in SNAP s -year history plenty of beneficiaries are likely to face delays in getting the debit cards they use to buy groceries reloaded That process can take one to two weeks so it s likely too late to get funds on cards in the first days of November In a hearing in Boston Thursday on a legal challenge filed by Democratic officers from states one federal judge seemed skeptical of the administration s argument that SNAP benefits could be halted U S District Judge Indira Talwani communicated lawyers that if the leadership can t afford to cover the cost there s a process to follow rather than just suspending all benefits The moves involve finding an equitable way of reducing benefits commented Talwani who was nominated to the court by former President Barack Obama Talwani seemed to be leaning toward requiring the regime to put billions of dollars in urgency funds toward SNAP That she revealed is her interpretation of what Congress intended when an agency s funding runs out If you don t have money you tighten your belt she commented in court You are not going to make everyone drop dead because it s a political championship someplace Ruling body lawyers say a contingency fund containing chosen billion cannot legally be used to maintain SNAP a undertaking that costs about billion a month The states say it must be used for that purpose and point to more money available in a second federal account Talwani declared her ruling would apply nationwide not just in the states that are part of the challenge That could defy the intentions of the U S Supreme Court which has limited the use of nationwide injunctions though it hasn t prohibited them A hearing on a second similar challenge filed by a coalition of cities and nonprofit organizations is scheduled before a Rhode Island-based federal judge for Friday Any ruling in either occurrence is likely to face an appeal Meanwhile states food banks and recipients have been bracing for an abrupt shift in how low-income people can get groceries The majority of states have disclosed more or expedited funding for food banks or novel options to load at least several benefits onto the debit cards used in the initiative Advocates and beneficiaries say halting the food aid would force people to choose between buying groceries and paying other bills A push this week to continue SNAP funding during the shutdown failed in Congress To qualify for SNAP in a family of four s net income after certain expenses can t exceed the federal poverty line which is about per year Last year SNAP provided assistance to million people nearly two-thirds of whom were families with children according to the lawsuit