The Tennessee Department of Human Services is offering replacement Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits to residents who have experienced food insecurity due to severe storm damage.
The department issued a statement saying it is "prepared to provide replacement Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to current SNAP households who suffered losses due to severe weather which may have caused power outages or a household misfortune."
THE MOST CRUCIAL PART OF DESANTIS’S BORDER SECURITY PLAN
Are you a current Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) customer who lost food due to the recent power outage in #ShelbyCounty? Replacement #SNAP may be an option. Learn more:https://t.co/O5DPAnFkxi #Memphis pic.twitter.com/I9gIoRhNVM
— Tennessee Department of Human Services (@TNHumanServices) June 26, 2023
Existing SNAP recipients from certain areas such as Memphis and Shelby County must send a signed affidavit to the department that food was lost due to a power outage of 12 hours or more and due to a household issue.
Interested recipients can access their One DHS Customer Portal, the gateway to apply or manage a variety of benefits, including SNAP. Tennessee residents in affected counties must request replacement benefits within 10 calendar days of experiencing food loss.
"Replacement SNAP benefits will be authorized for the value of the loss only and can’t exceed the current month’s allotment," the department said in a press release.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Over 800,000 Tennessee residents rely on SNAP, about 12% of the state population, according to 2022 data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Severe thunderstorms knocked out the power across the Southeast this month, with Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas residents heavily affected by hail, strong winds, and tornado threats.