Program Overview

Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP) provides food and nutrition assistance to the households affected by natural disasters. Eligible disaster survivors are eligible for one month of benefits by this program. It also facilitates the issuance of supplemental SNAP benefits for ongoing households. Eligibility criteria for DSNAP include the household must be living in the disaster area. Have been affected by the disaster and meet certain DSNAP specific requirements.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (USDA FNS) has to approve the states to operate the program in a disaster area. The President must declare Individual Assistance for the disaster area and the state must request FNS approval to operate D-SNAP.

If approved for D-SNAP benefits, the applicant will get an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to enjoy the benefits. It is used just like a debit card to buy food at most local grocery stores

Eligibility Criteria

D-SNAP deals with the unique needs of disaster survivors. Therefore, its standards differ in nature from that of normal SNAP. If an applicant would not normally qualify for SNAP, they may qualify for D-SNAP if they have one of the disaster-related expenses below:

• Home or business repairs
• Temporary shelter expenses
• Evacuation or relocation expenses
• Home or business protection
• Disaster-related personal injury, including funeral expenses
• Lost or no access to income due to the disaster, including reduced, terminated, or delayed receipt of income, for a large part of the benefit period
• In some cases, food loss after a disaster like flooding or power outages

If an applicant is a current SNAP client, they can request a supplement when their state operates a D-SNAP if they meet the conditions below:

• They currently get benefits that are less than the monthly maximum
• They have losses from the disaster.
• The supplement brings their benefits up to the maximum for the household size. This ensures equality in the benefits received by the households of D-SNAP and SNAP after a disaster.
• Current SNAP clients may also request replacement benefits for food that was lost in the disaster and bought with SNAP benefits. Contact with the local office is required.

The original purpose of D-SNAP was to extend EBT benefits to households that would not normally be eligible. This rapid food assistance is for households hit by a major disaster. Expanding food assistance quickly eases the administrative burden on affected states. While D-SNAP is generally limited to a one-time payment for food assistance, it may be extended in extraordinary circumstances. Other non-food, disaster-related expenses can be deducted from income and resources when determining an applicant’s eligibility to receive disaster aid. In the past, D-SNAP has been used following natural disasters like flooding, fires, and storms.

It is important for the President to declare a major disaster in order for the program to become active. A waiver request is then submitted by the State that mentions the affected identified counties. The State will determine site locations and open the DSNAP sites with USDA help. Households, who did not already receive benefits through the SNAP for the disaster month, may complete a DSNAP application. This is possible by visiting the designated DSNAP site locations.

If D-SNAP is running, there is a possibility of supplemented benefits for individuals already receiving SNAP. That is if they currently get benefits that are less than the monthly maximum amount for their household size. Along with this, it is also dependent upon the experienced losses from the disaster. This Supplemental SNAP benefit will increase the individual’s SNAP benefits to the full allotment for their household size automatically. Moreover, they would not need to apply for DNSAP. Replacement SNAP benefits can also be provided to SNAP recipients in disaster-affected areas. This is in case they have faced food loss. Application of Replacement SNAP benefits does not require the individual to go to a DSNAP site. These requests would be handled at the individual’s local office.

Each disaster brings with it unique circumstances, which leads to a variation in the D-SNAP timing. However, they always begin after commercial channels of food distribution have been restored. That is when families are able to purchase and prepare food at home.

How to Apply

As a disaster survivor, one may apply for D-SNAP benefits at special sites in their community. Information is released through mediums like local media and press by the state agencies before the program begins. This can help them learn the location of application sites, their days of operation, and the eligibility requirements. The applicant can also view the SNAP state directory to call for other benefit details.

To apply for benefits, or get information about SNAP, contact the local SNAP office. This can be done by selecting your state on the map available on the website. Similarly, they can also use the contact information. Each state has its own application form. If the state’s form is not on the web, the applicant will need to request from their contact local SNAP office. FNS headquarters does not process applications.

For Further Information

For further information contact the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Their information can be found on their website which is easily accessible to the population. Their address details are also given in case anyone wants to reach out. Besides these, the local SNAP offices can also be approached for the clarification of queries.