When disaster strikes, many families suddenly find themselves without food or the money to buy it. You may be wondering if programs like SNAP can help in emergencies. The short answer is yes. SNAP has special rules in place to provide emergency help to people affected by natural disasters. Let me explain how it works and what you need to know.
What is D-SNAP and how does it work?
After a natural disaster, the USDA can approve a special program called Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP). This program is designed to help people who are struggling after a disaster, even if they were not receiving regular SNAP benefits before.
Here is how D-SNAP works:
- It provides emergency food benefits to households that have been impacted by a disaster.
- Benefits are loaded onto an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card so you can use them to buy groceries.
- D-SNAP is available for a limited time after the disaster, usually a few weeks.
- It is meant to help families who have lost food, income, or their homes due to the disaster.
D-SNAP has been used many times across the country. For example, after Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, D-SNAP was praised for how quickly it helped people. A report from President Bush’s White House even said the program was “responsive and effective” in helping disaster victims.
Who qualifies for D-SNAP benefits?
You may wonder if you can get D-SNAP benefits after a disaster. Here is what you need to know:
- D-SNAP is for people who live in an area that has been officially declared a disaster zone.
- It is available to families who:
- Lost income because of the disaster
- Had disaster-related expenses, like home repairs or temporary shelter
- Lost food due to power outages or damage
- Cannot access their money because of the disaster
- Lost income because of the disaster
- You do not need to be a current SNAP recipient. Even if you were not eligible for regular SNAP, you may qualify for D-SNAP if the disaster caused you financial hardship.
How to apply for D-SNAP benefits
If you are in a disaster area, here are the steps you can take to apply for D-SNAP:
- Check if D-SNAP is active in your area. Your state will announce when and where you can apply.
- Apply in person or online. Some states may allow online applications, while others will set up local application sites.
- Provide information about your situation, like income, expenses, and disaster-related losses.
- If approved, you will receive an EBT card loaded with your benefits.
Does regular SNAP offer emergency help too?
Yes, if you already receive SNAP, you may qualify for replacement benefits if you lose food during a disaster. This is different from D-SNAP. Replacement benefits help you replace food that was destroyed, spoiled, or lost because of the disaster.
Here is what you should do:
- Contact your local SNAP office within 10 days of the disaster.
- Tell them what food you lost and why.
- You may receive extra SNAP benefits to make up for the food loss
