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Page | 333 CHAPTER TWENTYONE: REPLACEMENT OF BENEFITS & ISSUANCE OF EBT CARDS 21000 REPLACEMENT OF BENEFITS & ISSUANCE OF EBT CARDS

21100 REPLACEMENT OF SNAP BENEFITS OR FOOD PURCHASED WITH SNAP BENEFITS

21110 HOUSEHOLD MISFORTUNE

Food purchased with SNAP benefits may be replaced if the food has been destroyed in a fire, flood, tornado, power loss (if at least 4 hours or more), or other misfortune beyond the household’s control. The following procedures are used for household misfortunes:

1. The loss is reported within 10 days of the misfortune. 2. The household is currently participating in the program. 3. The household completes and signs the DSS-EA-344e, Affidavit for Replacement of Food Lost in Disaster, within 10 days of report of the misfortune. An original signature by the household must be on the form. 4. The replacement value is limited to the amount of food lost up to the amount of benefits received in the month of the misfortune. 5. Once the household returns the completed DSS-EA-344e form, the Benefits Specialist must confirm or verify the details of the household misfortune, narrate the details and any other pertinent information which would explain the reason for replacement of benefits.

6. Scan and send the 344e form to the DSS-Finance-EBT email group and cc SNAP program staff following the directions from the EBT Handbook. There is no limit to the number of replacement requests for benefits which have been destroyed in a household misfortune. Benefits Specialists must make sure replacement requests are fully documented and verified.

21120 NATURAL DISASTER

Individuals who reside in a disaster area and suffered damage may be eligible for emergency disaster SNAP assistance. Damages may include the loss of wages because of the inability to get to work, or the business closed temporarily or permanently because of the disaster.

The SNAP Administrator will request approval from FNS to operate emergency disaster SNAP, following procedures identified in the South Dakota SNAP Disaster Plan.

When FNS authorization is received, SNAP Program staff and EBT program staff will immediately travel to the disaster location and set up the emergency program, which includes, but is not limited to: Training, Application processing, and Benefit Issuance

Example: The household states food was destroyed due to a power outage. The Benefits Specialist would confirm/verify that the power was lost in the area for at least 4 hours. Once confirmed, narrate the replacement request, reason for replacement, the amount, and verification that power was out for “X” number of hours.