Hurricane Helene Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP)
D-SNAP is a temporary disaster food assistance program that provides one month of benefits to people impacted by a natural disaster.
The application window for Phase 1 of D-SNAP has now closed. As of Monday, Oct. 28, more than 164,000 individuals had been approved to receive D-SNAP benefits.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) operated Phase 1 of D-SNAP in 25 western NC counties from Oct. 18, 2024 to Oct.24, 2024: Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey counties; members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians living in zip code 28719. NCDHHS announced a one-day extension on Oct. 25 for people living in Alexander, Buncombe, Haywood, Macon and McDowell counties to apply for D-SNAP benefits. The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the extension following feedback from the counties that requested the one-day extension for in-person applications.
People who pre-registered for D-SNAP in any of the 25 counties through ePASS.nc.gov by 4 p.m. on Oct. 24, 2024, but were unable to reach the call center to complete their interview, received a call from DSS officials by Nov. 1 to complete their D-SNAP application. D-SNAP benefit cards will be mailed overnight to the address specified in the application.
As previously announced, people in 25 western counties and members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians living in zip code 28719 were able to apply for D-SNAP benefits from Oct. 18 to Oct. 24, 2024. Application windows and times are set and approved by the USDA. While there are income eligibility standards, a number of considerations are taken into account to determine eligibility. A family of four is eligible for approximately $975.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Have suffered losses/damages related to Hurricane Helene, such as damage to property or loss of income
- Have proof of identity and proof of residency (if available)
- Not currently receive benefits through Food and Nutrition Services (FNS). People receiving FNS can also get extra help to buy food but do not need to fill out a D-SNAP application.
- Certain income and resource limits may apply.
D-SNAP benefits are good for up to nine months.
People who were not able to apply for D-SNAP can:
- Apply for regular Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) by contacting their county department of Social Services for help buying food.
- The amount of FNS benefits each household receives is based on several eligibility factors, such as the number of people in the household, total income, and allowable deductions.
- Households may be eligible to receive expedited FNS benefits if: 1) the household has less than $150 in monthly gross income and less than $100 in liquid resources (e.g., cash on hand, checking or savings account), or 2) the household is a migrant/seasonal farmworker with less than $100 in liquid resources, or 3) the household’s combined monthly income and liquid resources are less than the household’s rent or mortgage and heating costs and utilities. If you are eligible for expedited FNS, you can get your FNS benefits in 7 days or less.
- Apply for WIC (if they are a pregnant woman or have children under 5) for help buying healthy food (such as milk, cereal, bread, fruits, vegetables, eggs, cheese, and more) and formula, access to breastfeeding support, and nutrition education through their local WIC agency.
- Call 2-1-1 or visit www.nc211.org to find nearby food resources.
Resources
Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) Frequently Asked Questions
English, Spanish
Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) Flyers
Simplified version: English, Spanish
Full version: English, Spanish
D-SNAP social media images
English: Facebook/X (zip file), Instagram (zip file)
Spanish: Facebook/X (zip file), Instagram (zip file)