As the longest government shutdown in U.S. history drags on, SNAP recipients in New York are growing increasingly anxious about their benefits — but the state has begun using emergency funds to help.

Some shoppers said they were relieved to see their benefits restored over the weekend. One woman shopping at a Key Food in Flushing said she was “literally panicking” before learning her SNAP funds had returned Sunday.

What You Need To Know

As the federal shutdown continues, New York is using emergency funds to ensure eligible residents receive their full November SNAP benefits

Some recipients began seeing restored benefits on Sunday, according to the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

Gov. Kathy Hochul said the move comes after a federal court ruling left SNAP funding in limbo and called the situation “cruel” and “depraved”

Thousands of New Yorkers had turned to food pantries or skipped meals while waiting for assistance to resume

“I was worried. I was literally panicking about it. And then my daughter came, and she told me her card, she had it. And I checked and mine came after that… and I was thanking God for that,” she said.

The payments came from the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance after Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that eligible New Yorkers would receive their full November SNAP benefits despite the federal shutdown.

In a video posted to social media Saturday, Hochul said the decision followed President Donald Trump’s appeal to the Supreme Court to overturn a ruling requiring his administration to fund SNAP.

“This is cruel. It’s depraved and it has to stop. In the state of New York, we’ll continue fighting for all of those families and seniors and veterans and farmers and all those who rely on these essential programs,” Hochul said.

Like many others across the country, the Flushing woman said she had been waiting in food pantry lines and skipping meals during the delay.

“I feel like I was going to die,” she said. “I just didn’t like the feeling, even thinking what my next meal would be,” she said.

Others, like Omar Bello of Flushing, said their benefits had yet to return.

“I haven’t been buying nothing. I just been surviving with what I have. A lot of canned goods, which they last longer,” he said.

Bello, who receives about $300 a month in benefits, said he’s hopeful he’ll see funds soon.

“Supposedly some funds are going to be there on Wednesday but I’m not sure. I know the state said it would roll out sometime this month. Hopefully it will be there,” he said.

According to the state’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, payments will be automatically placed on EBT cards once processed by the system.