TENNESSEE - The Trump administration announced that it will provide partial funding for the SNAP food assistance program after two federal judges ruled that the government must keep it operating during the shutdown. SNAP, which helps feed about 42 million Americans, normally costs more than $8 billion per month, but the USDA says it only has enough emergency money to cover about half of the usual benefits for November. That means many families may receive smaller payments, and the exact amount and timing are still unclear. States have been told how to calculate reduced benefits, but delays are likely because payment systems must be reprogrammed, a process that can take weeks. CBS' Vicki Barker reports...

The dispute has already led to lawsuits from more than 25 states and nonprofit groups, arguing that the government is legally required to keep the program running. Food banks and some state governments have already stepped in to help families who depend on SNAP, and many fear that people will have to choose between groceries, rent, or other bills without full benefits. The judges’ rulings require the federal government to continue funding the program at least partly, but if the shutdown continues into December, the same crisis may return. SNAP recipients qualify only if their income is near the poverty line — about $32,000 a year for a family of four — meaning any cut to benefits could have serious effects on low-income households.

ABOUT: SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, gives low-income households monthly funds to buy groceries using an EBT card, which works like a debit card at approved stores. The amount each household receives depends on its income, assets, and number of people, and the benefits are meant to help families afford healthy food. Click Here for SNAP information in Tennessee.