ALBANY, N.Y. – Recipients of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) will see next month’s benefits one week earlier than scheduled.

Officials in Albany said recipients will see benefits no later than March 7th. Governor Cuomo said the early release is intended to ease the burden on recipients that have been forced to stretch February's benefits for more than six weeks because of the recent unprecedented shutdown of the federal government.

"We will not allow the abject failure of leadership in Washington to jeopardize the ability of families to put food on the table," Governor Cuomo said in a statement. "This early release of food benefits will provide a measure of relief to New Yorkers who rely on this critical program to make ends meet."

About 2.7 million individuals and 1.5 million households rely on SNAP benefits to make ends meet. In December alone, New York State issued more than $374 million to help New Yorkers avoid food insecurity.