CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) -- The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services says November food assistance for 1.4 million North Carolinians could be delayed if the federal government shutdown continues.

On October 10, the U.S. Department of Agriculture directed NCDHHS to hold off on issuing November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. While October benefits are unaffected, state officials say they have not received the federal funding needed to distribute next month’s payments.

Adding to the uncertainty, the USDA told states on October 24 it would not use roughly $6 billion in contingency funds to keep SNAP running for November and would not reimburse states that tried to cover the costs themselves. North Carolina says it typically issues $230 million

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