TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The Department of Children and Families is replacing 40 percent of October SNAP benefits for households in several Big Bend counties affected by Hurricane Michael.
A message announcing the action displayed across DCF's website on Monday.
"Due to Hurricane Michael, DCF is replacing 40% of October SNAP benefits for households approved as of October 10 in the following counties: Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Wakulla, and Washington. No action is required to receive these benefits."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Tuesday that Households impacted by Hurricane Michael in 12 Florida counties could be eligible for mass replacement of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
“Many Florida residents lost everything, including food they had previously purchased with their SNAP benefits,” said Acting Deputy Under Secretary Brandon Lipps, who oversees USDA’s Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services.
Rather than require SNAP households to report food losses individually, USDA has granted Florida the ability to approve automatic mass replacements for residents of certain counties and zip codes who suffered food losses resulting from power outages and flooding.
The counties include: Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Wakulla, and Washington.
SNAP recipients residing in other affected areas may request replacement benefits by filing an affidavit with the local office attesting to hurricane-related loss.
Florida officials later approved that mass replacement waiver so that affected SNAP households in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Wakulla, and Washington counties in the State of Florida are able to replace food lost as a result of the hurricane.
The state intended to issue replacement benefits as early Monday.
The USDA also approved a waiver that allows SNAP household to buy hot foods and hot food products with their SNAP benefits, which is normally not allowed under SNAP rules.
