SNAP Benefits Update: You Can Get SNAP Replacement If You Lost Food During Hurricane Ian [Here's How]

The SNAP benefits replacement is possible to be done if you are eligible for the SNAP benefits in Florida, particularly in areas that Hurricane Ian had widely affected.

Many Floridians received their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program before Hurricane Ian had made its damage the state, with Florida's Department of Children and Families distributing over $235 million on September 27 to more than 1.4 million individuals.

News-Press reported that the early distribution of the SNAP benefits was aimed to help Floridians prepare for the storm in case families need to evacuate while covering the cost for non-perishable food items.

SNAP benefits for those who are scheduled to receive theirs between October 15 through October 28 will be issued at the regularly scheduled time.

SNAP benefits recipients can check their Electronic Benefits Transfer card balance or call 1-888-356-3281.

SNAP Benefits Replacement

Meanwhile, if you have received early benefits, you are not eligible for mass replacements of benefits, but you can replace food items lost during the storm in certain counties or apply online.

Some DCF offices in DeSoto, Highlands, Lee, and Manatee have been closed while the DMS-managed Orlando Hurston Building south tower will remain closed for now due to damages.

Aside from SNAP benefits, the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or D-SNAP can also help low-income households with food loss or damage.

Before distributing D-SNAP in an area, a state must receive an Individual Assistance declaration from the president. In addition, the state must request and receive approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Services to distribute a D-SNAP, according to a Disaster Assistance website.

To qualify for D-SNAP, you need to have one of the disaster-related expenses such as home or business repairs; temporary shelter expenses; and evacuation or relocation expenses.

It also includes disaster-related personal injury, covering funeral expenses; lost or no access to income due to the disaster; and food loss after a disaster like flooding or power outages.

Interested individuals can apply for D-SNAP benefits if they are disaster survivors.

SNAP Benefits Florida

The state of Florida uses a staggered schedule when it comes to distributing the benefits throughout the month.

Yahoo Finance noted that the state uses the recipients' last two digits of their SNAP case number for the schedule of distribution of SNAP benefits.

However, you can be ineligible for SNAP if you are convicted of drug trafficking, running away from a felony warrant, and breaking Food Assistance Program rules, or are a non-citizen without a qualified status.

In addition, you can also be ineligible for SNAP in Florida if you are a student attending an institution of higher education at least half time.

SNAP benefits for the month of October in Florida will be distributed starting from October 1 until October 28.

SNAP recipients can use their benefits to buy produce food such as seeds and plants, meat, dairy products, bread, and snack foods.

Alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, vitamins, and supplements are included in the list of things you cannot buy with your SNAP benefits.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Florida Before And After Photos Capture Scope Of Hurricane Ian’s Destruction - from NBC News