Do you know that Federal and state SNAP rules provide for the replacement of food lost by individual SNAP recipients due to household misfortune? YES! current SNAP recipients who have lost food purchased with SNAP benefits due to Natural Disasters like storms, flooding, or power outages, or other misfortunes may be eligible for SNAP replacement benefits.
Provided you receive SNAP benefits and you have lost food due to a household misfortune, you can request food stamp replacement benefits. SNAP recipients who lost food may obtain replacement Snap benefits as long as they meet the criteria and fulfill the requirements.
NOTE: Household misfortune includes fire, flood, loss of electricity (for 4 hours or more), equipment (refrigerator/freezer) failure, or other disasters.
How Do I Apply For SNAP Replacement Benefits?
To apply for Food Stamp replacement benefits is very easy and straight forward. You only need to meet up with the requirement.
First, you need to report or tell DTA within 10 days of the food loss. You can simply report in person, by phone, fax, or mail. Or, simply send DTA a note reporting the loss through DTA Connect!.
You can call the DTA Assistance Line at 877-382-2363. If the household gets TAFDC or EAEDC cash benefits in addition to SNAP, they should call their DTA caseworker.
Within 10 days of when you report the loss, you also need to give DTA a signed ”Request for Replacement SNAP Benefits” form. This can also serve as your initial report. The earlier you get DTA this form, the faster you can get replacement SNAP benefits.
Once DTA receives your report, they will confirm the issue through news reports, contacting a third party (such as the utility company or fire department), or (rarely) visiting the client’s home.
Then if you are eligible, DTA will replace up to one month of SNAP. DTA should issue replacement SNAP quickly – either within 10 days of getting the report of the food loss or within 2 days of getting the completed form.
NOTE: DTA can issue up to one month’s worth of replacement SNAP benefits (up to the total monthly amount the household receives)
The easy and fastest way for a household to submit the form is to take a picture of it with a smartphone and upload it through DTA Connect (and by labeling it as a document for household misfortune). The form or statement can also be faxed or mailed. If a household fills out a form or self-declaration right away, they do not need to call the DTA Assistance Line.
SEE ALSO: Coronavirus Pandemic EBT Benefit Guide
Furthermore, DTA is responsible for verifying the loss of power or housing as a result of the misfortune. This can be local news reports of affected areas, information from power companies (for outages) or municipal fire/police departments (in the case of a fire), documentation from a community or other agencies (Red Cross, shelters), statements from appliance repair providers.
In conclusion, you can ask for a replacement SNAP benefit if you lost food that you bought with SNAP because:
- You lost power for 4 hours or more,
- Your utilities were shut off (for any reason),
- Your freezer or refrigerator stopped working, or
- There was damage from a fire, flood, or storm.
