The Arkansas Department of Human Services has announced that the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits will now be extended to a fifth zip code area in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
North Little Rock adds fifth zip code to D-SNAP benefits eligibility list following tornadoes
Following last month’s tornadoes, this additional area has been identified as in need of food assistance due to the destruction caused. Zip code 72116, which includes the area from Indian Hills south to the Park Hill Historic District, will now be eligible for D-SNAP benefits.
D-SNAP is designed to help homes that would not normally qualify for SNAP, but suddenly find themselves in need of food assistance because of a disaster. The benefits are provided via an EBT card, which can be used to purchase food items at authorized retailers. Residents living in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Scott, Jacksonville, Cabot, Lonoke County, Parkin, and Wynne can apply for D-SNAP benefits if they were affected by the March 31 storms.
Those who are already enrolled in SNAP are not eligible for D-SNAP assistance
They may be able to receive supplements to their regular benefit amount if they were affected by the disaster. Residents who have been impacted by the March 31 storms and meet the following criteria are eligible for the benefits: damage or destruction of their home or self-employment business, loss or inaccessibility of income, or disaster-related expenses that are not expected to be reimbursed during the disaster benefit period.
Applicants have until May 2 to apply for the benefits. The DHS spokesperson stated that the newly announced zip code area was included after reviewing the previously announced zip codes and updated damage assessments. The DHS determined that 72116 should be included in the program due to the severity of the damage caused by the tornadoes.
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