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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES D-SNAP

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• penalties for fraud; and

• a post-disaster review of D-SNAP applications.

Special efforts must be made to contact those segments of the community that may not be reached by mainstream media, such as persons living in rural areas, the elderly and disabled, the deaf and hearing impaired, and the non-English speaking. Suggested wording for a flyer and news release are in Appendix VI of this chapter. A poster that must be at all application sites is also in Appendix VI.

J. MAJOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE REGULAR PROGRAM AND THE DISASTER PROGRAM

There are major differences between the regular program and the D-SNAP.

1. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. Eligibility criteria are less strict to provide food assistance to households that might not otherwise qualify for the regular program.

2. VERIFICATION. Depending on the nature of the disaster, verification rules are relaxed to streamline the application and eligibility determination process. For example, if homes are destroyed in a tornado, verification might not be available.

At a minimum, the identity of the applicant must be verified. Residence verification is also requested but not required; i.e., the application can be processed without verification of residence.

Households may be required to verify income and resources depending on the nature of the disaster. There is a standard deduction for disaster related expenses and verification will not be required.

If a household must provide additional verification after the interview, the worker must advise the household that the information must be provided by the end of the period the agency is authorized to take disaster applications.

3. AMOUNT OF BENEFITS. An eligible household will be provided the maximum allotment for the household size. The allotment will not vary depending on income, as it does in the regular program.

4. DELIVERY OF BENEFITS. In the D-SNAP, benefits are provided within three calendar days of the date of application (day one is the day after the application date), or, if verification is still needed, within three calendar days of the household providing verification, but no later than the last authorized date of the disaster period.

5. NON-FINANCIAL FACTORS. Some non-financial factors are not asked about or evaluated in the D-SNAP. These factors include: • Citizenship and alien status

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