The USDA announced five low-income New Mexico counties recovering from wildfires from April of this year may be eligible for the USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP).
According to a June 13 USDA news release, some of the eligible households may not qualify for regular Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program rules. To be eligible, applicants must fall below the disaster income limits and have disaster-related expenses that qualify. A household must live in a disaster area and have been affected.
“USDA stands with our neighbors in New Mexico to provide vital food assistance and relief as they navigate the aftermath of the wildfires, because we recognize that the crisis doesn’t end when the smoke clears,” Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said in the release.
Vilsack said the timing of the relief provided by D-SNAP fluctuates based on the disaster, according to the release. It starts when the channels have been restored so families can obtain and cook their food on their own.
According to the release, the D-SNAP relief is part of a widespread effort by the USDA to help New Mexico residents suffering losses from wildfires.
The release reported other USDA D-SNAP actions include the approval of a SNAP participant waiver that allows them to purchase hot ready-to-go foods and products with their benefits until June 13 and the approval of a reporting waiver for Colfax, Mora, San Miguel and Taos counties to allow additional time to report to the state that food was lost due to wildfires.
