The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that low-income Arkansas residents recovering from the severe storms and tornadoes beginning May 24, 2024, could be eligible for assistance through the USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP).
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stated that approximately 2,900 households that may not typically qualify under regular Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) rules might be eligible for D-SNAP if they meet specific criteria, including disaster income limits and qualifying disaster-related expenses.
“USDA stands with our neighbors in Arkansas to provide vital food assistance as they deal with the aftermath of the severe storms and tornadoes,” said Secretary Vilsack. “Residents of Arkansas will benefit from this waiver as they recover from the recent devastation of storms.”
To qualify for D-SNAP, a household must either 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 equal to the maximum monthly amount for a SNAP household of their size. These benefits can be used to purchase groceries at SNAP-authorized stores or select retailers online to meet temporary food needs as they settle back home following the disaster.
Arkansas will operate its D-SNAP application from June 24 through June 30, 2024. Additional information about D-SNAP application dates and locations will be shared through local media.
The timing of D-SNAP varies with each disaster's unique circumstances but always begins after commercial channels of food distribution have been restored and families can purchase and prepare food at home. Before operating a D-SNAP, a state must ensure proper public information, staffing, and resources are in place.
The D-SNAP announcement is part of ongoing USDA efforts to help Arkansas residents cope with severe storms and their aftermath.
For more information about this and other available aid, callers from Arkansas can dial 2-1-1 or 1-800-651-3493. For more information about Arkansas SNAP, visit Arkansas’ Department of Human Services.
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service works to end hunger and improve food security through over 16 nutrition assistance programs such as school breakfast and lunch programs, WIC, and SNAP. These programs serve one in four Americans annually, promoting consistent access to healthy food essential for optimal health. FNS also provides science-based nutrition recommendations through co-development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. FNS’s report highlights ways it supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health released during the White House Conference on Hunger in September 2022.
To learn more about FNS, visit www.fns.usda.gov and follow @USDANutrition.
