By Howard Fischer
Mail | X: @azcapmedia

PHOENIX - Arizona food stamp recipients apparently will not be getting full benefits as soon as this weekend for November.

The U.S. Supreme Court late Friday temporarily blocked an order by U.S. District Court Judge John McConnell directing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to immediately fund the cost of all 42 million Americans - and about 900,000 in Arizona - getting the monthly payments they expect.

The justices stated in a brief order they want time for an appellate court to consider a claim by the Trump administration that U.S. District Court Judge John McConnell acted illegally.

He said the USDA must use not just the approximately $5.3 billion it has in contingency funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program but take the balance of what is needed from other programs, including one that funds school meals. The total cost of full benefits is between $8.5 million and $9 million.

All this came just hours after Gov. Katie Hobbs, in a social media post, said benefits are on the way.

"Arizonans have started receiving their SNAP benefits in full,'' she wrote. "Over the coming days, SNAP recipients should see their November benefits loaded onto their card.''

But Christian Slater, the governor's press aide, said Friday evening he has no details of how many Arizonans have had the dollars for loaded onto their Electronic Benefit Transfer cards or how many got full payments. The average monthly payment to Arizona households is $358.

This means another delay for Arizonans who have been waiting for those benefits for a week.

How long is unclear.

In its order Friday night, the justices said the First Circuit Court of Appeals has said it intends to issue its own order on whether to stay full benefits "as quickly as possible.'' And then they gave themselves another 48 hours to consider whatever the appellate court rules.

The latest developments could leave Arizona recipients scrambling to find out whether they have money to spend this month on groceries and, if so, how much.

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