CHICAGO (WLS) — Illinois residents benefiting from SNAP may begin to notice their November allocations as early as Friday, following the conclusion of the longest federal government shutdown on record.

According to the Illinois Department of Human Services, it might take until the next week for the effects to be fully realized by everyone.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Among those feeling relieved by the end of the shutdown is Natasha McClendon from Englewood, one of the millions depending on SNAP assistance.

“It has been incredibly taxing,” McClendon expressed. “Incredibly taxing.”

The 49-year-old substitute teacher, along with her disabled husband and their three school-age children, have been relying on food pantries and charity distributions in recent weeks while she sought a second job.

“I also take my lunch to work with me, so I had to try to… it came to a point where I skipped the lunch,” McClendon said.

The Illinois Department of Human Services, which distributes federal SNAP dollars, says recipients should receive all or remaining November benefits by Thursday, Nov. 20.

“We’re all moving as quickly as we can at the state level knowing that funds will flow or are flowing,” Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said.

“We’ve seen in these weeks the lines, the need, the outcry from our neighbors… the fragile state of food insecurity in our nation,” said Camerin Mattson with the Greater Chicago Food Depository

The Greater Chicago Food Depository is reporting a nearly 40% rise in the number of visitors at its network of hundreds of pantries in the past month.

“The past couple of weeks have been a really stark object lesson in how important SNAP is to our neighbors… and how many people are one paycheck… away from needing extra assistance,” Mattson said.

The Illinois Department of Human Services issued the following public notification Thursday afternoon:
“IDHS is restoring full USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits now that the federal government shutdown has ended.

“IDHS anticipates that the remaining benefit payments will be made over the coming days, with all SNAP recipients receiving their full November benefits by Nov. 20.

“The lapse in SNAP funding created unnecessary hardship for 1.9 million Illinoisans and businesses who rely on this federally funded program. The crisis was entirely avoidable – the Trump Administration had the funding to fully support SNAP but chose not to, putting tens of millions of Americans at risk of hunger.

“SNAP information and food resources are available here: SNAP Federal Impact Center.”