Revised December 13, 2011
Purpose:
This section explains the general eligibility criteria for the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) and when the State may use it.
The disaster must be declared by the President or FNS. When the disaster is declared, FNS negotiates with the department to determine:
- What eligibility rules we will use;
- The length of time we will accept D-SNAP applications in each area;
- If the allotment will be for a half or full month; and
- How we will calculate D-SNAP benefits.
General Guidelines
- Disaster related loss: The assistance unit must have a loss from a federally declared disaster:
- Residency: At the time of the disaster, the assistance unit lives within the geographical area designated as part of the disaster area. After the disaster, the assistance unit may be eligible for D-SNAP even if they are temporarily living outside the designated disaster area.
- Purchase and prepare: The assistance unit must purchase food and prepare meals together during the disaster certification period. Assistance units residing in temporary shelters that provide 50%of their meals during this period are ineligible for D-SNAP.
- Resources: Non-liquid resources are excluded. Liquid resources such as cash on hand or cash balances in accessible checking or savings accounts are considered as "income".
- Current food assistance recipients: Food assistance recipients may also be eligible for D-SNAP benefits. When an assistance unit receives a replacement issuance before the D-SNAP is implemented, the replacement amount is deducted from the D-SNAP allotment.
- Other eligibility criteria:
- The following eligibility factors are not applicable to D-SNAP:
- Alien status;
- Social Security number;
- Student status; and
- Work requirements.
- A prior disqualification in the regular food assistance programs does not disqualify an applicant for D-SNAP.
D-SNAP Procedures
After the disaster is declared and FNS approves use of a D-SNAP, CSOs will receive instructions, procedures, and forms. These will be sent from the Community Services Division headquarters or the state office disaster alternate (Region 1).