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MS 9000

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Volume 2 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) MS 9000 – R. 9/1/26 – OMTL – 708 Disaster - General

[The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988 allows distribution of Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP) benefits to victims of a Presidentially declared major disaster. The Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) must approve the operation of DSNAP. The approval includes the geographical area of service and the time frame for accepting applications. Individuals who currently receive regular SNAP benefits are not eligible for DSNAP benefits in the same month.

FNA oversees the operation of the DSNAP program, including the following:

A. Application Period. FNA usually approves a seven-day period in which applications for DSNAP may be accepted.

B. Disaster Benefit Period. The disaster benefit period is the budget period in which only net income, resources, and expenses during the period are considered for DSNAP eligibility. It begins on the date of the disaster or the date of mandatory evacuation. FNA typically approves a period of 30 days except in extraordinary circumstances.

To be eligible for DSNAP benefits, individuals who reside or work in the disaster area must have incurred one of the following adverse effects, and they must plan on purchasing food during the disaster benefit period:]

A. Damage to home or self-employment property;

B. Disaster-related expenses;

C. Income source disrupted;

D. Inaccessible liquid resources; or

E. Food Loss (Food loss is only when requested by a waiver).

[Applications for DSNAP are taken both in person and by phone. Access to DSNAP is limited to those areas where FNA has approved operation of the program. If the system is not available where applications are accepted, hardcopy application forms and worksheets are used. Information from the hardcopy forms and verification is transferred to the system.]

During a disaster, regional and county field staff have primary responsibility for informing the public about the program.