Food Stamps (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) in a Disaster

Types of Food Stamps in a Disaster Disaster Food Stamps (D-Snap) Expedited Food Stamps Replacement Food Stamps

DISASTER FOOD STAMPS

What are Disaster Food Stamps? Disaster Food Stamps are Food Stamps for persons who weren ’ t getting benefits when the disaster happened but who are in a disaster designated county and now in need of help for food.

Disaster Food Stamps Authority – 7 C.F.R § Commercial channels of food distribution must have been disrupted by a disaster but must be available again to meet the temporary food needs of families Link to Allotment Standard for 2009: SNAP_Handbook/2009-income_standards.pdf

To apply – Can pre-register: access.dcf.state.fl.u s/FFF/foodforflorida/f rmWelcome.do?perf ormAction=init access.dcf.state.fl.u s/FFF/foodforflorida/f rmWelcome.do?perf ormAction=init – Need date of birth, SSA #, income, assets and disaster expenses On-line data matches may verify identify EBT cards may be issued on-site Less Red Tape

SNAPv. D-SNAP Eligibility ElementSNAPTypical Disaster SNAP Disaster StatusN/AOne of the Following: -Damage to home or self-employment property -Disaster related expenses -Income source disrupted -Inaccessible liquid resources -Food loss ResidencyFloridaDisaster Area

SNAPv. D-SNAP Eligibility ElementSNAPTypical Disaster SNAP Identity of ApplicantVerified Social Security Numbers (SSN) Failure to Provide SSNs of Household members results in denial Failure to provide SSNs does NOT result in denial Alien Status-Citizenship and alien status is verified -Applicant must sign statement under penalty of perjury that information is correct Citizenship and alien status is NOT Applicable

SNAPv. D-SNAP Eligibility Element SNAPTypical Disaster SNAP Household Compositi on 7 CFR 273.1(a)-Persons living and eating together at the time of a disaster -Does NOT include members of a household with whom applicants are temporarily staying during the disaster. StudentsAs defined in 7 CFR Status is not required Benefit Amount Benefit calculation according to 7 CFR Maximum allotment for household size

SNAPv. D-SNAP Eligibility Element SNAPTypical Disaster SNAP Income-Verified -Gross/net income limits applied to all households -More generous provisions for elderly and handicapped -Verified WHERE POSSIBLE -Only net (take-home) income expected to be received during the benefit period counted. Take-home pay is defined as wages a household actually receives after taxes and all payroll withholding, public assistance payments or other unearned income, and net self-employment income. -No different provisions for elderly and handicapped

SNAPv. D-SNAP Eligibility Element SNAPTypical Disaster SNAP ExpensesDeductions include: standard, earned income, excess shelter, dependent care, and medical (elderly/disabled members only). -Maximum deductions already incorporated into disaster eligibility standards because maximum allotment provided -Allows Disaster-related expenses that are not expected to be reimbursed during the 30- day disaster benefit period Resources-Cannot exceed $2,000 if there is NOT an elderly household member /Cannot exceed $3,000 if there is elderly household member -Verification sometimes required -No separate resource test -Only liquid resources are counted -Verified WHERE POSSIBLE

*Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Guidance, April 2008 SNAPv. D-SNAP Eligibility Element SNAPTypical Disaster SNAP Work Requirements Yes (but currently voluntary under ARRA) No Intentional Violations Penalties are 12 months, 24 months, and permanent disqualification for sequential incidents of fraud -Disqualification status from regular program does NOT disqualify an applicant from the D-SNAP -Committing IPV in the D-SNAP WILL count towards disqualification in the regular SNAP

REPLACEMENT FOOD STAMPS

What are Replacement Food Stamps? Replacement Food Stamps are benefits to replace food that a recipient purchased with Food Stamps but lost or was ruined/spoiled due to a disaster.

Replacement Food Stamps can get either under special disaster rules or regular Food Stamp program rules Authority – 7 C.F.R. § (regular program) – ESS Manual at – 7 C.F.R.. § (disaster program) gives states lots of discretion)

Replacement Stamps for current recipients losing food in a disaster Can get replacement Food Stamps for food bought with Food Stamps that is destroyed in a house-hold misfortune (i.e., disaster) Household must report loss within 10 days of destruction and submit affidavit Can’t get both replacement and disaster Food Stamps Get amt lost up to max of 1 month's worth allotment – Normally family gets the maximum allotment for a family of their size – Often done automatically for everyone in the designated area

Usually benefits are good for 90 days Can buy hot prepared foods Financial requirements set disaster by disaster In some disasters, everyone living in designated county qualified financially When income/asset limits apply, unreimbursed disaster-related expenses may be deducted

Expedited Stamps

What are expedited Food Stamps? Expedited Food Stamps are benefits you get more quickly than other applicants because your financial situation is so bad

Expedited Service: Who ’ s eligible? Following households are eligible: – Households with less than $150 in monthly gross income and liquid resources not in excess of $100 – Migrant/seasonal households who are destitute – Households whose combined monthly gross income and liquid resources are less than the household ’ s monthly rent or mortgage and utilities

Expedited Service DCF ’ s application procedures must be designed to identify expedite eligible families Benefits (EBT card) must be provided within seven calendar days Verification – Identity – Prove identity through collateral contact or documents Verification other than identity can be delayed if reasonable efforts to verify are not successful

Think outside the box

No Disaster Food Stamp Program? Try to make it happen Although the decision is a joint USDA-FL decision, The ball is in FL ’ s court DCF may look at whether a particular area has been without power for hours But advocacy with local EM agencies is important – Link to contact info for local EM is: _county_em.asp. _county_em.asp

No Disaster Replacement Food Stamps? Use existing replacement polices to get food lost in a disaster replaced

Client lives outside designated county for Disaster Food Stamps but lost income due to disaster? Evaluate for expedited service.