The Disaster Food Stamp Program provides replacement benefits for regular food stamp recipients who lose food in the disaster and extends benefits as well to many households which would not ordinarily be eligible but suddenly need food assistance. The benefits are delivered via Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, which can expedite and mainstream the relief process for victims.
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Legislative Package
On May 12th, the Obama Administration released a Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Legislative Package that, among other things, proposes getting nutritional assistance to more victims. Those affected by the spill, but not ordinarily eligible for SNAP/Food Stamps, would qualify; current SNAP/Food Stamp recipients may be eligible for additional benefits. The proposal streamlines certification by requiring fewer eligibility factors and reducing “procedural requirements.”
Tennessee
USDA recently approved the federal SNAP/Food Stamp disaster program for families in flood-damaged counties. Families already receiving SNAP/Food Stamps who lost power for 12 hours during recent severe storms can apply for replacement benefits; on May 13, families affected by disasters but not regularly receiving SNAP/Food Stamps were able to begin applying for the benefit. Tennessee also set up an emergency cash program for people receiving assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Tennessee Department of Human Services offices stayed open from 7:30 am to 5 pm and were open on Saturday so people could apply for the benefits. (The Tennessean.com, May 13, 2010)
Connecticut
Families on SNAP/Food Stamps in Connecticut who lost food during the recent floods can get replacement benefits. Governor M. Jodi Rell recently announced the availability of disaster-related SNAP/Food Stamps, which can replace food lost by recipients through power outages or other flood-related damage to homes. More than 164,000 Connecticut households receive SNAP/Food Stamps. (ConnecticutPlus.com, April 6, 2010)
1. Develop a constructive relationship with your state and local food stamp offices before a disaster strikes.
2. Ask your state about its disaster plans, or bring up disaster readiness at regular meetings or working group sessions.
3. Encourage your state to apply to USDA as quickly as possible for the DFSP when a disaster occurs, and monitor its progress during the application process.
4. Encourage your state to ask for automatic replacement of benefits for existing recipients, broad eligibility criteria for new recipients, and food loss as a sufficient criterion for assistance.
5. Enlist the help of the local food bank community and a broad range of other non-profit organizations to promote the DFSP.
6. Press local elected officials, the media, and FEMA to mention the DFSP specifically, not just assistance in general.
7. Use all of your normal outreach channels and methods to inform people about the DFSP, and think of new channels and methods as the disaster situation requires.
8. Advocate for clients who fall through the cracks of the disaster relief efforts.
9. Work with your state to develop a plan to help DFSP recipients who might be eligible for the regular Food Stamp Program to apply for benefits.
10. When the disaster effort is over, recognize your state for what it did well and make constructive suggestions for future disaster relief efforts.
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