Officials from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services say they are still waiting for guidance from the Trump administration about when food assistance money will be available.

On Monday, the Trump administration said it will dip into a contingency account to pay out part of November's benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, despite the ongoing federal government shutdown. The announcement came days after a federal judge ordered the administration to make full or partial SNAP payments to the roughly 42 million Americans who depend on SNAP benefits, which are formerly known as food stamps.

Maine receives $29 million monthly for roughly 170,000 residents who are on SNAP.

"Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Family Independen

See Full Page