PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Social Services has paused its plan to provide full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits by Nov. 10 after a late Friday ruling by the United States Supreme Court.
The administrative stay by the nation’s highest court temporarily blocks a lower court’s decision that had mandated the full disbursement of benefits. The pause introduces new uncertainty for thousands of households across South Dakota and the Black Hills region that rely on the federal food assistance.
DSS is now awaiting further instruction from the Food and Nutrition Services, the federal agency that oversees the program, before it can resume implementation of the full benefit payments.
The department confirmed it will provide updates to South Dakota residents as soon as it receives direction from FNS regarding the next steps for November’s benefits. The situation stems from ongoing federal government funding disputes that have created confusion nationwide over the timely payment of SNAP benefits.