Disaster SNAP Benefits Update: More Floridians Are Getting Extra Food Assistance | Are You Eligible to Get It?

The third phase of disaster SNAP benefits in Florida is set to open on October 24 for the people in Hillsborough, Lake, Osceola, Putnam, Seminole, and Volusia counties.

Residents in the aforementioned counties could apply for disaster SNAP benefits in Florida if they passed the eligibility standards for the benefits payments.

According to WTSP News, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) will provide food assistance for individuals and families affected by the storm Hurricane Ian, particularly those who are not currently receiving any payments through the regular SNAP benefits.

Shevaun Harris, the Secretary of DCF administering disaster SNAP benefits or D-SNAP benefits, said in a statement that the first two phases of the D-SNAP have been "highly successful," with more than 112,000 households receiving the benefits, which amounted to $69.7 million.

The news release said dates and locations for D-SNAP events will be announced at a later date. Harris noted that the agency has been offering and encouraging applicants to use the phone option for their interview. He added that hundreds of call center agents are available daily to support these efforts.

Disaster SNAP Benefits Florida

The first phase of D-SNAP benefits in Florida started on October 10 after the DCF announced that Florida's Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) application had been approved.

Counties in phase one included Collier, Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Lee, Sarasota, and Polk counties. It ended on October 16.

The second phase was on October 7, and it concluded Sunday. It covered Florida counties Orange, Flagler, Highlands, Manatee, Pinellas, and St. Johns.

To avail of D-SNAP benefits, applicants must work on their pre-registration while DCF announces in-person D-SNAP events. According to Click Orlando,

there are certain criteria and standard eligibility to qualify for the D-SNAP benefits. Applicants must not receive regular SNAP benefits, and applicants must also be living or working in a disaster-declared country during Hurricane Ian.

Applicants must also have disaster-related losses such as the following: damage to their home/s or self-employment property, loss of food, reduction or loss of income, and other disaster-related losses. Pre-registration for the third phase of the D-SNAP benefits in Florida will end on October 30.

Meanwhile, Florida households that normally would have received their SNAP benefits from October 1-14 received those benefits ahead of schedule on September 27. The early distribution was to help residents prepare for the storm at the time.

SNAP Benefits Florida

Aside from the regular SNAP benefits in Florida, Florida students will also be eligible for a Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) starting this month.

P-EBT benefits will be distributed to all school-aged children who have free or reduced-price lunch through National School Lunch Program during the 2021-2022 school year, Fox35 reported.

Each qualified student for P-EBT will receive a one-time payment of $391, which will be distributed until November, according to Florida DCF.

The Summer 2022 P-EBT benefits will also be distributed to children under age six who receive SNAP benefits during the summer and participate in a childcare setting.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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