The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced low-income residents in seven California counties hit by severe storms may be eligible for help from the USDA's Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Residents in Kern, Mariposa, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Tulare and Tuolumne counties who experienced severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides beginning Feb. 21, could receive extra help, according to an April 13 news release.
“As California residents recover from the severe storms and its aftermath, this approval of D-SNAP is vital in ensuring they get the food they need,” Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said in the release.
Approximately 4,000 households which may not normally qualify for regular Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program rules may be eligible for D-SNAP if they meet certain criteria, including disaster income limits and qualifying disaster-related expenses, the release said. To be eligible for D-SNAP, a household must live or work in an identified disaster area, have been affected by the disaster and meet certain D-SNAP eligibility criteria.
Eligible households will receive one month of benefits, equivalent to the maximum monthly amount for a SNAP household of their size, which can be used to purchase groceries at SNAP-authorized stores or select online retailers to meet their temporary food needs as they settle back home following the disaster, according to the release.
California will be accepting D-SNAP applications for seven non-consecutive days, spanning April 17-25, and will share additional information about application dates and locations through local media, the release reported
The USDA is committed to providing assistance to low-income families affected by natural disasters and ensuring they have access to the food they need to get back on their feet. With the approval of D-SNAP for seven California counties, the USDA is taking a critical step in supporting disaster recovery efforts and helping vulnerable households meet their basic needs during these challenging times, the release said.