Millions of Americans are expected to lose their benefits beginning today – leaving states scrambling to pitch in and pay the difference, even as some have already notified recipients not to expect their monthly food assistance.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is an entitlement program that provides about 1 in 8 Americans an average of $187 a month in food aid.

But the roughly $8 billion a month to fund SNAP benefits comes through annual congressional appropriations, which lapsed on Oct. 1.

According to statistics published by the Arizona Department of Economic Security, more than 50,000 people in Yuma County receive SNAP benefits, including over 19,000 children. The average household receives $366.83 per month in benefits.

A USDA memo argues that SNAP contingency funds “

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