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By Aliss Higham
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that West Virginians impacted by recent severe weather may be able to receive emergency food benefits.
The Context
Recent severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides have impacted several West Virginia counties. In an emergency declaration in early February, Governor Patrick Morrisey reported "downed trees, power outages and road blockages" in some parts of the Mountain State. The federal government later issued a major disaster declaration.
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What To Know
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits—commonly known as "food stamps"—are administered nationwide to low- and no-income households that would otherwise struggle to afford groceries.
Some West Virginia residents may be eligible to get temporary SNAP benefits if the severe weather has impacted them. D-SNAP provides short-term funds to buy groceries if you are in a presidentially declared disaster area.
Nearly 3,000 households in four West Virginia counties are estimated to be eligible for help with grocery expenses through the program. People who live or work in McDowell, Mercer, Mingo and Wyoming counties and have been affected by the disaster and meet certain D-SNAP eligibility criteria can get the temporary benefit.
Eligibility to receive benefits is based on household size, income, assets and some household expenses. For example, the net income threshold for a family of four people looking to claim D-SNAP is $2,951.
Eligible households will receive one month of benefits—equal to the maximum monthly amount for a SNAP household of their size—that they can use to purchase groceries at SNAP-authorized stores or from select online retailers. The maximum amount to be claimed for a family of four is $975.
The temporary measure does not apply to those already receiving food stamps, although the USDA states that "they may request supplemental SNAP benefits to raise their allotment to the maximum amount for their household size for one month if they don't already receive that amount."
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What People Are Saying
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, in a press release issued on March 13: "USDA is dedicated to helping West Virginians as they grapple with the aftermath of recent storms and its impacts. We are expediting disaster assistance programs and working closely with state and local partners to provide support to impacted individuals as quickly as possible."
What Happens Next
Those wishing to apply for the benefit can do so in person from March 17 through March 21, 2025. Callers from West Virginia can dial 211 for more information about D-SNAP and other available aid.
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