SNAP will help with food losses

North Dakotans who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits can apply for replacement benefits if they lose food due to severe weather, flooding or other disaster situations. They must report their loss to a county social service office within 10 days following the disaster.

The most recent storm caused power outages affecting hundreds of households in the south central and southeast regions of North Dakota on Sunday. Current SNAP clients, who lost food due to the storm, can report their loss to a county social service office by July 19.

North Dakota Department of Human Services officials work with county social service offices to issue replacement benefits if participating households have their food supplies damaged or destroyed due to a fire, flood, tornado, loss of power for more than four hours, or other household misfortunes.

Dura said that after county social service offices verify a food loss, replacement SNAP benefits are issued to affected clients’ debit cards, called EBT cards. Clients use EBT cards at participating grocery stores and other retailers to purchase food items.

Individuals with questions can contact their county social service office or the North Dakota Department of Human Services at 800-755-2716.

Tags: news, flood, snap, benefits