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By Aliss Higham
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SNAP benefits are being expanded in three states following Hurricane Helene.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced it is offering Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) for households impacted by Hurricane Helene, which barreled through numerous states at the end of September, causing widespread damage and killing more than 200 people.
Ordinarily, SNAP benefits, sometimes known as food stamps, are provided to low- and no-income individuals and households to help them pay for groceries. D-SNAP is issued to those who may have been impacted by disasters who may not otherwise be eligible for regular food stamps.
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The USDA has said approximately 982,930 households in Georgia, 152,572 households in North Carolina and 54,692 households in Tennessee are expected to be eligible for the relief.
"USDA is committed to making sure that families, farmers and communities impacted by recent hurricanes get the support they need, including help with grocery expenses as people grapple with significant disruption to their lives," said Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a release issued on October 15. "The Biden-Harris Administration, including USDA, will do everything in our power to help you respond, recover and rebuild—no matter how long it takes."
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Newsweek has rounded up everything you need to know about D-SNAP in Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee:
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Which Areas Qualify for D-SNAP?
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Georgia will operate its D-SNAP in several phases:
- October 21, 2024 through October 26, 2024 for these counties: Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Liberty and Long.
- October 29, 2024 through November 4, 2024 for these counties: Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Camden, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Echols, Glynn, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Tift and Ware.
- November 7, 2024 through November 14, 2024 for these counties: Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Screven and Washington.
- November 18, 2024 through November 23, 2024 for these counties: Appling, Candler, Emanuel, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne and Wheeler Counties.
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North Carolina will operate its D-SNAP application from October 18 – October 24, 2024. Eligible counties include Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey.
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Tennessee will operate its D-SNAP application from October 21 – October 25, 2024. Eligible counties include Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington.
Households in these areas that currently receive SNAP are not eligible. However, the USDA has approved states automatically issuing supplemental SNAP benefits to current SNAP households in impacted counties to bring their allotment up to the maximum amount for their household size if they receive a lower monthly benefit.
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How Much D-SNAP Is Available?
Eligible households will receive one month of benefits, which will be equal to the maximum monthly amount for a ordinary SNAP household of their size, which can be used to purchase groceries at SNAP-authorized stores or from participating online retailers.
How To Apply for D-SNAP
As SNAP is a state-run program funded by the federal government, anyone who is eligible must apply directly with their state's administering body: Georgia's Division of Family and Children Services, North Carolina's Division of Health and Human Services and Tennessee's Department of Human Services.
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