In many states, it remained unclear how the Supreme Court’s Friday night order might immediately affect low-income residents.

Is SNAP the same as food stamps? Having access to these benefits will be affected by a government shutdown. Details to follow.

Millions of Americans rely on federal assistance for access to nutritious food. Here's who's impacted as funds dry up in the government shutdown.

Weeks of uncertainty during the longest government shutdown in American history have left some states struggling to issue payments to food stamp recipients.

Officials in several states — including California, Kansas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — said SNAP recipients were beginning to receive monthly benefits by Friday afternoon. “Food benefits are now beginning to flow back to California families,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom, whose state has roughly 5.5 million SNAP recipients.

The USDA said it would provide partial food stamp benefits for November, but it's unclear exactly when participants will get those funds.

It’s unclear how the Supreme Court intervention would affect a payment process that is already underway, although at minimum, the confusing situation for recipients who are fast running out of options for food is likely to only worsen.

The action comes two days after states sued the federal agency that administers SNAP benefits. Funds were set to stop flowing Saturday.

The last minute order pauses the requirement to distribute full SNAP payments until a lower appeals court rules on the case.