Since Hurricane Helene hit South Carolina, thousands of low-income families who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) have lost food because their power went out for long periods of time. There is good news, though: these families will automatically get extra money to help make up for the food they lost.
The South Carolina Department of Social Services says that SNAP recipients in a number of counties that had power outages because of Hurricane Helene will get an extra portion of their September payments. This help comes at a very important time for the people who need it the most.
What is SNAP and how can it help in disaster situations?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps low-income people buy food by giving them money. SNAP can be very helpful in times of disaster like Hurricane Helene for people who have lost their food because their homes were damaged or the power went out.
When a natural disaster causes a lot of damage, the federal and state governments can use SNAP substitute benefits to help people get more of the foods that went bad when the power went out.
Which counties will receive additional SNAP benefits?
People who get SNAP benefits in Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Edgefield, McCormick, Orangeburg, and Saluda counties—some of the hardest-hit—will get these benefits immediately. There’s no need to send in extra paperwork because the government has already decided that these places were hit hard by Helene, with power outages that lasted more than four hours.
In Bamberg, for example, County Council President Evert Comer Jr. stressed how important it was for people to have this kind of help. Comer said, “We’re glad to know that the SNAP replacement benefits will help the people of Bamberg and the rest of the state who have been through a lot because of the hurricane.”
How will the SNAP benefit replacement process work?
If you live in a qualified county, the process is easy. If you get SNAP and live in one of the affected places, you will get an extra 55% of your September benefits. This percentage, which was set by the federal government, shows how much damage was done to homes by the power blackouts.
People who are eligible will have the replacement benefits added immediately to their EBT cards. You won’t have to do anything else to get this help. Like any other SNAP benefit, the money can be used to buy food on a daily basis.
Why is this assistance being activated?
Because of Hurricane Helene, thousands of people lost power for several days, and many homes lost all the food that was going bad in their fridges and freezers. To make sure families can replace the food they lost, both the state and federal governments have chosen to give these extra SNAP benefits.
This kind of help is sent when more than half of the people in a county lose power for a long time because of a disaster. This is true for the places most affected by Helene in this case, so SNAP recipients can get help right away.
What to do if you don’t receive the benefit replacement?
First, make sure that your information in the South Carolina Department of Social Services system is correct if you live in one of the areas listed and do not get the extra SNAP benefits. If everything is right and you still don’t see the deposit, you can get more information by calling the SNAP office in your area.
Don’t forget that this process is routine and doesn’t need any extra paperwork. Don’t be afraid to contact the officials, though, if your case has any specific problems. They will be happy to help.
SNAP’s crucial role in difficult times
Millions of families in the United States depend on SNAP to make sure they have enough food to eat. During situations like Hurricane Helene, it shows that it can change and help people quickly and effectively. One way that SNAP can change to help families when they need it most is through the benefit transfer program.
Even though Hurricane Helene did a lot of damage, the government’s quick and effective reaction through SNAP helps low-income families get back on their feet a little faster by making sure they have food.
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