Food stamps will be issued again, SC officials say. Here’s when.

South Carolina officials will begin issuing federal food benefits again Friday, Nov. 14, the state Department of Social Services announced Thursday.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, formerly known as food stamps, were not dispersed in November due to the longest-ever federal government shutdown. The lapse left over 260,000 South Carolina households without money for groceries.

People that receive their benefits during the first half of the month will have money on their EBT cards beginning Friday, the Department of Social Services said in a news release. Individuals approved to receive SNAP benefits since Oct. 16 will also have their benefits Friday. Everyone else will receive their regularly scheduled payments.

The state Department of Social Service said it received guidance from the United States Department of Agriculture Thursday to begin dispersing benefits, according to the news release.

The government shutdown ended Wednesday evening after President Donald Trump signed a deal to fund the government through the end of January.