SNAP Benefits Extended to 400,000 in Florida

More than 400,000 Floridians impacted by recent hurricanes are now eligible for food assistance from the federal government, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced.

Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) is being made available for approximately 407,733 households across 24 Florida counties following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Florida was directly hit by both hurricanes within 12 days at the end of September and into October.

In normal circumstances, SNAP benefits, often known as food stamps, are provided to low- and no-income households to pay for groceries. In the event of a serious natural disaster, D-SNAP is issued to those who may not otherwise be eligible for regular food stamps and have been impacted. You cannot claim D-SNAP if you already claim regular SNAP benefits.

"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," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. "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."

A stock image of a woman grocery shopping. D-SNAP is expected to reach more than 400,000 households in Florida. GETTY

Who Can Get D-SNAP?

D-SNAP will be available in Florida for those who live in certain counties and meet certain income requirements. For example, a household of four people seeking D-SNAP must have an income of below $3,529 per month.

Florida will operate its D-SNAP application in three phases:

• For Columbia, Dixie, Franklin, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor and Wakulla counties, applications will be accepted by phone, from October 28 through October 31, and onsite applications will be taken for a three-day period in each county starting November 1 through December 9.
• For Charlotte, Hernando, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota counties, applications will be accepted by phone on November 4 and November 6 through November 8, and onsite applications will be taken for a three-day period in each county starting November 9 through December 3.
• For Citrus, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, and Volusia counties, applications will be accepted by phone from November 12 through November 15, and onsite applications will be taken for a three-day period in each county starting November 16 through December 15.

Eligible households can get 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 participating retailers and online stores.

Earlier this month, the USDA approved D-SNAP for other states impacted by Helene and Milton. Approximately 982,930 households in Georgia, 152,572 households in North Carolina, and 54,692 households in Tennessee are also eligible for D-SNAP relief.