LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska officials say people whose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are up for recertification this month need to act quickly.

The state’s Division of Children and Family Services says federal officials have asked states to issue February food benefits early, citing the partial federal government shutdown. Officials say the nearly 74,000 Nebraska households enrolled in the nutrition aid program will see their next monthly allocation by Jan. 20.

The division director, Matthew Wallen, said in a news release Friday that his workers need to process January recertification paperwork by Tuesday. He says the division is working over the weekend to process recertifications and new applications to make sure recipients get their February benefits.

Officials also say some recipients will be getting phone calls from state workers this weekend as part of the recertification process.