The US Department of Agriculture has posted a notice on its website saying federal food aid will not go out November 1, raising the stakes for families nationwide as the government shutdown drags on.

“Bottom line, the well has run dry,” the USDA notice says. “At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 1. We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats.”

The shutdown, which began on October 1, is now the second-longest on record. While the Republican administration took steps leading up to the shutdown to ensure SNAP benefits were paid this month, the cut-off would expand the impact of the impasse to a wider swathe of Americans – and some of those most in need – unless a political resolution is found in just a few days.

The administration blames Democrats, who say they will not agree to reopen the government until Republicans negotiate with them on extending expiring subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. Republicans say Democrats must first agree to reopen the government before negotiation.

Democratic lawmakers have written to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins requesting to use contingency funds to cover the bulk of next month’s benefits.

But a USDA memo that surfaced on Friday says “contingency funds are not legally available to cover regular benefits”. The document says the money is reserved for such things as helping people in disaster areas.