The Texas Health and Human Services office announced Sunday that the state will provide February food benefits early to SNAP recipients.
The HHS office says that the early access to the benefits "will give recipients an extended period of time to manage their resources, given the ongoing federal government shutdown and uncertainty about future federal program funding."
According to a press release from HHS, SNAP recipients will see the February benefits on their Lone Star Cards by January 20.
The state encourages recipients to "space their food purchases out throughout the month of February, rather than making mass purchases."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has informed states that they can issue benefits like SNAP while funds are available. HHS says that "it is unclear" when funds will run out.
The current government shutdown is the longest in U.S. history.
HHS says that recipients can find updates about the SNAP program at hhs.texas.gov.