The U.S. Department of Agriculture or USDA confirmed that low-income residents in California who are recovering from storms and power outages from January 21, 2024, could be qualified for the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or D-SNAP by the USDA.
Who may qualify to receive D-SNAP?
According to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, there are approximately 4,500 households that may not normally be qualified under regular SNAP rules may qualify for D-SNAP, if they meet certain requirements, including the disaster income limits and have qualifying disaster-related expenses.
California residents could be eligible for D-SNAP if their household lives or work in an identified disaster area has been affected by the disaster, and meets certain D-SNAP eligibility requirements. The qualified households will receive one month of D-SNAP benefits which is equal to the maximum monthly amount for a SNAP household of their size.
California residents can use the D-SNAP to purchase groceries at SNAP-authorized stores or from select retailers online to meet their temporary food needs as they settle back home following the disaster.
California will operate its D-SNAP application
California will begin its D-SNAP application for seven non-consecutive days, beginning March 7, 2024, through March 8, 2024, and March 11, 2024, through March 15, 2024.
California will share more information about D-SNAP application dates and locations through local media.