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Gov. Perdue Announces Disaster Food and Nutrition Services Benefits to Open in Pender and Wayne Counties

For release: Immediate    September 15, 2011
Contact: Lori Walston, 919-855-4841

RALEIGH—Gov. Bev Perdue announced today that the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will provide food assistance in the form of Disaster Food and Nutrition Services benefits (formerly called food stamps) in the following additional disaster N.C. counties: Pender and Wayne.

Gov. Perdue secured the food assistance through her request for a presidential disaster declaration that was approved last week. The program, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is open to individuals not normally eligible for Food and Nutrition Services benefits, who were affected by Hurricane Irene.

“We have been working diligently with our federal and local partners to ensure that North Carolinians affected by Hurricane Irene get the help they need,” Gov. Perdue said. “There is no more urgent or essential need than food. State officials and local departments of social services are working to make sure that people living in the counties hit hard by the storm are able to apply for this emergency assistance.”

Residents of the affected areas of these counties who are not currently receiving Food and Nutrition Services benefits may qualify for temporary assistance for a one-month period if:

• their home was damaged or destroyed
• they have disaster-related expenses
• they lost income
• had food loss as a result of a power loss of at least eight hours from Hurricane Irene.

Eligibility to participate is based on available income and resources.

Those applying for Disaster Food and Nutrition Services benefits will be asked to provide:

• proof of their identity along with proof of residency, such as a utility bill,
• and the social security numbers, if available, and dates of birth for all members of their household.

Applicants should apply in the county where they reside. Applicants will have five consecutive days to apply for assistance beginning Monday, Sept. 19.

Households living in one of these two counties may use their Disaster Food and Nutrition Services Benefits to purchase hot prepared meals from retailers that are located in these counties who are authorized to accept EBT Benefits through Sept. 30, 2011.

Households who currently receive Food and Nutrition Services Benefits, that did not request a replacement of benefits, can apply for a supplement of benefits if the household suffered a disaster- related expense other than food loss. Households that received replacement benefits do not need to apply for the Disaster Food and Nutrition Services Program.

Those needing to apply for Disaster Food and Nutrition Services may do so in person at the following locations:

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