SW Georgia approved for Disaster SNAP

A message from DFCS Interim Director Tom Rawlings: D-SNAP
Mensaje del Director Interino de DFCS Tom Rawlings: D-SNAP

The Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or D-SNAP, is a way to help individuals and families still struggling after major disaster events. 

Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service and administered by the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, these special benefits provide a one-time payment for the purchase of food to households who are not normally eligible for SNAP.

Unlike the regular SNAP program, these benefits can be used to purchase ready-to-eat foods from EBT approved retailers in these counties in addition to regularly approved SNAP food items. The hot food waiver expires on November 17, 2018. After that date, families must purchase foods according to the normal SNAP policies, which do not include hot foods.

If you live in one of the 20 counties hardest hit by Hurricane Michael and have extensive damage to your home or business, you may be eligible.

Information on general D-SNAP eligibility is below, along with the locations and times to go apply.

Current SNAP Customers should not go to a D-SNAP site as other assistance is available to them.

Assistance available to Current SNAP Customers

If you already receive regular SNAP, get less than the maximum food stamp allotment and live in one of the 20 counties, you will get a supplement automatically loaded onto your EBT card which will increase your benefit for one month up to the maximum allotment for your household size. You don’t have to do anything to have the added benefit applied automatically to your EBT card. You do not need to apply at the D-SNAP site.

Who qualifies?

To qualify for DSNAP, Georgians must meet the following criteria:

• Live or work in one of the 20 counties declared for Federal Emergency Management Agency individual assistance
• Meet financial eligibility requirements
• For disaster related losses to be counted toward your eligibility, they cannot be covered by insurance or have any other ways to pay the repair costs
• Have suffered a disaster-related loss to property, your personal business or income, including incurring expenses related to the disaster. Examples of losses include:
  • home or business repairs
  • temporary shelter expenses
  • evacuation expenses
  • home/business protection
  • disaster-related personal injury, including funeral expenses
  • income loss, reduction or delay
  • food loss

How to apply

Eligibility for the program requires a face-to-face interview. You must apply in person at a designated D-SNAP site or send an authorized representative. See where to apply below.

Bring with you:

• The head of household should bring identification (driver’s license, state ID, etc.)
• Proof you live or work in one of the affected counties

How much

The federal government sets the maximum benefit for a household size of one at $192. Your benefit will depend on your household size and the number of qualifying people living in your home at the time of the disaster.

For Current SNAP families: If you already receive less than the maximum, then your EBT card will have benefits added to it to bring you up to the maximum for the month of October automatically. You don’t have to do anything to get it. Do not apply or visit a D-SNAP site.

Where to go

Here is a list of the locations for each county. Note that most are not in the office where you apply normally for food stamps. 

Hours of operation for all sites are Monday - Saturday 8 a.m. -5 p.m. and Sunday noon – 5 p.m. 

If you are homebound and unable to come apply in person, you can choose someone to come and apply on your behalf. 

• Wave 1 counties operate Nov. 7-14 (*except for Lee and Thomas Counties which run Nov. 8-15)

• Wave 2 counties operate Nov. 15-19

If you are homebound and unable to come apply in person, you can choose someone to come and apply on your behalf. Just designate a representative.

If you have no one to send and a medical condition keeps you from coming yourself, we will send someone to your home.

Who to call

The information line for D-SNAP is 833-DSNAP-GA (833-376-2742).  Agents will be on hand to give out basic information about D-SNAP, share the locations of the sites and answer questions from both SNAP applicants and those with other questions.

The hours of operation for the D-SNAP call center are:

Monday - Saturday: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for two weekends (11/10, 11/11 and 11/17, 11/18)

Closed November 12 for Veteran’s Day

Closed Nov. 22-23 for Thanksgiving