United States Department of Agriculture |
Food and Nutrition Service Office of Emergency Management
 |
Through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(D-SNAP), FNS is able to quickly offer short-term food
assistance benefits to families suffering in the wake of a disaster. Eligible households receive one month
of benefits, equivalent to
the maximum amount of benefits normally
issued to a SNAP household of their size. Benefits are issued via an electronic
benefits transfer (EBT) card, which can be used to purchase food at most
grocery stores. Through D-SNAP, affected households
use a simplified application. D-SNAP benefits are issued to eligible applicants
within 72 hours, speeding assistance to disaster victims and reducing the
administrative burden on State agencies operating in post-disaster conditions. Households not normally eligible
for SNAP may qualify for D-SNAP as a result
of their disaster-related expenses, such as loss of income, damage to
property, relocation expenses, and, in some cases, loss of food due to power outages. When States operate a D-SNAP, ongoing
SNAP clients can also receive disaster food assistance. Households with
disaster losses whose SNAP benefits are less
than the monthly maximum can request a supplement. The supplement brings
their benefits up to the maximum
for the household
size. This provides
equity between D- SNAP households and SNAP households
receiving disaster assistance. FNS approves D-SNAP operations in an
affected area under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act when the area has received a Presidential disaster
declaration of Individual Assistance (IA) from the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA). State agencies request FNS approval to operate a D-SNAP within
the disaster area.
FNS approves program operations for a limited period of
time (typically 7 days) during which the State agency may accept D-SNAP
applications.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer September
23, 2013
