ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The longest government shutdown in U.S. history has ended, but its effects are still being felt across Georgia, especially among residents who rely on food assistance.

For weeks, millions of Americans who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) worried their benefits could be delayed or cut.

That uncertainty weighed heavily on 74-year-old Suzy Moore, a retired nurse living on a fixed income in Lawrenceville. Moore receives just $23 a month in SNAP benefits and stretches it through buy-one-get-one grocery deals and local food assistance programs.

“I never thought I would be on SNAP. I always thought I could pay my own way, that I was good,” Moore said.

Moore said the stress of not knowing whether her benefits would arrive took a toll on her health.

“With this shutdown and all this stuff with SNAP, I have found out that I’m in AFib more than I would have liked,” she said. “I try not to get upset, but how can you not when everything is so questionable?”

Relief arrived this week after Congress passed legislation to reopen the government. The measure fully funds SNAP benefits not only for November but through the remainder of the federal fiscal year, which runs until next September. Citing that legislation, the U.S. Justice Department also dropped its request for the Supreme Court to continue blocking a judicial order requiring full SNAP payments.

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said states are now working to distribute benefits quickly.

“We immediately began moving to make sure the program continues unabated,” Rollins said. “By the end of this week, most will receive it — at the very latest, Monday.”

On Thursday night, the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) released a statement saying it will issue full SNAP benefits for November, “based on new federal directives” from USDA following Wednesday’s final passage and signing of the federal government funding package.

DHS said SNAP recipients whose distribution dates have already passed and who received partial benefits will receive the remainder of their allotment by Tuesday, Nov. 18.

“All other SNAP benefits will be issued in full according to the normal issuance schedule for the remainder of the month,” DHS said.

Roughly 1.5 million Georgians rely on SNAP, according to state data. Advocates say securing long-term funding offers stability to families who were left anxious by the shutdown.

Moore said she’s grateful her benefits are protected, at least for now.

“How this has all gone down is scary, because you just don’t know what’s next,” she said. “I just hope it doesn’t happen again.”

Advocates are urging Congress to pursue long-term solutions to ensure future shutdowns do not threaten access to food assistance programs.

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