Tom Vilsack Secretary of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Official Website
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that low-income Iowa residents recovering from the impact of flooding beginning June 16, 2024, could be eligible for assistance through the USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP).
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stated that approximately 4,000 households that may not normally qualify under regular Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) rules might be eligible for D-SNAP if they meet certain criteria, including disaster income limits and qualifying disaster-related expenses.
“It is USDA's commitment to ensure that Iowans affected by the recent floods have access to the food they need during these difficult times,” Secretary Vilsack said. “We recognize that the crisis does not end when the rain stops. For many families in these stricken areas, it is just the beginning.”
To qualify for D-SNAP, a household must live or work in an identified disaster area, have been affected by the disaster, and meet specific 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—that can be used to purchase groceries at SNAP-authorized stores or from select retailers online. Iowa will operate its D-SNAP application from July 8, 2024, through July 13, 2024. The state will provide additional information about D-SNAP application dates and locations 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.
Current SNAP households in identified areas are not eligible for D-SNAP but may request supplemental SNAP benefits to raise their allotment to the maximum amount for their household size for one month if they do not already receive that amount.
Today's announcement is part of a series of USDA actions aimed at helping Iowa residents cope with flooding's aftermath. These include:
- Approval of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) request to waive the 10-day reporting requirement for households impacted by flooding and power outages due to severe storms. The waiver applies statewide and will be in effect through July 16, 2024.
For more information about this aid or other available assistance, callers from Iowa can dial 2-1-1 or 877-347-5678. More details about Iowa's Food Assistance program can be found at hhs.iowa.gov/programs/food-assistance/snap.
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service works to end hunger and improve food security through more than 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.
More information about FNS can be found at www.fns.usda.gov or by following @USDANutrition on social media.
