USDA just announced that more than 400,000 residents of Florida affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton are now eligible for federal food assistance.
About 407,733 households in 24 counties will receive assistance from the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) after they sustained severe damage from two strong hurricanes that struck within 12 days of one another.
D-SNAP
In the event of a disaster, families that would not typically be eligible for SNAP benefits—also referred to as food stamps—can receive emergency food assistance through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP).
D-SNAP provides short-term food assistance to people who might not normally qualify but have experienced disaster-related problems, such as job loss, property damage, or evacuation costs, whereas standard SNAP benefits are primarily targeted at low-income households. However, D-SNAP is not available to those who are currently receiving conventional SNAP payments.
Qualifications for D-SNAP
Residents of Florida must live in one of the impacted counties and fulfill certain income requirements in order to be eligible for D-SNAP. For example, in order to qualify, a household of four must earn less than $3,529 per month. Household size determines the income restrictions, which guarantees aid to those most in need.
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Income Eligibility for D-SNAP
| Household Size | Maximum Monthly Income |
| 1 | $1,677 |
| 2 | $2,269 |
| 3 | $2,861 |
| 4 | $3,529 |
Phases of Application
To increase accessibility, Florida has divided the D-SNAP application procedure into three stages for all impacted counties, mixing phone and in-person applications.
Read Also: Hurricane Relief Fund: $233 Million in Indemnity Payments Open for Claims, Check Your Eligibility
Phase 1: October 28 – December 9
| Counties | Columbia, Dixie, Franklin, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, Wakulla |
| Phone Applications | October 28 – October 31 |
| Onsite Applications | Applications will be accepted for three days, from November 1 to December 9, in each county. |
Phase 2: November 4 – December 3
| Counties: | Charlotte, Hernando, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota |
| Phone Applications: | November 4, November 6 – November 8 |
| Onsite Applications: | Applications will be accepted for three days, from November 9 to December 3, in each county. |
Phase 3: November 12 – December 15
| Counties: | Citrus, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Volusia |
| Phone Applications: | November 12 – November 15 |
| Onsite Applications: | Applications will be accepted for three days from November 16 to December 15 in each county. |
The purpose of these three stages is to expedite the application process and provide priority to communities that are most in need of immediate assistance.
To ensure a seamless application procedure, eligible residents should review the dates particular to their county and gather the necessary paperwork.
D-SNAP is more than just a short-term assistance program for Floridians affected by hurricanes; it is an essential tool that frees families from worrying about food so they can concentrate on healing.
