(NEXSTAR) – It's official: The federal government will not send out November SNAP benefits if the shutdown continues into the weekend.

While some states are scrambling to fund some form of continued food assistance, others are warning Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients should plan for empty accounts – unless they've budgeted very cautiously.

SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp Program, is a need-based program that helps low-income, no-income and disabled people afford groceries. The program is funded with federal dollars but administered by states.