D-SNAP Benefits: What Are the Income Limits for Disaster Assistance?

There are many examples in United States of America where families are displaced or deprived of their income due to natural disasters.

America is prone to floods in some areas and wildfires in others, as well as being hit by storms on a semi-regular basis.

That’s why schemes like Supplemental Disaster Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) exists to provide food assistance to low-income households with food loss or damage caused by a natural disaster.

When does the state receive D-SNAP benefits?

Before D-SNAP can work in an area, a state must receive an individual aid declaration from the president.

The state must then request and receive approval from USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to administer D-SNAP.

If approved, local residents will receive an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT). The card can be used just like a debit card to purchase eligible food at local FNS-authorized retail establishments.

Am I eligible for D-SNAP?

Qualifying for D-SNAP means you have disaster-related expenses from at least one of the following: home or business repairs, temporary or shelter expenses, evacuation or relocation expenses, evacuation or relocation expenses, and disaster-related personal injury or burial expenses.

Income is also a factor. Eligibility in this sense means that you must have lost or had no access to income due to the disaster.

This includes reduced, terminated or delayed receipt of income for a large part of the benefit period.

In some cases, the right also includes loss of food after a disaster such as a flood or power outage.

In terms of applying for the program, detailed information is usually released through local media and press after a relevant disaster, helping local residents to learn about the days of operation, eligibility criteria and how to apply. This is because it can be different depending on each circumstance.