Assistance Available for SNAP Recipients Who Lost Food in Sunday's Severe Weather

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is prepared to provide replacement Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to families who suffered losses in Sunday’s severe weather event.

These replacement benefits are available to existing SNAP recipients who:

• Lost food due to a power outage of 12 hours or more in the April 12, 2020 severe weather event.

• Lost food due to home damage in the April 12, 2020 severe weather event.

• Request replacement benefits within 10 calendar days of experiencing food loss.

All TDHS offices are currently operating on appointment only as a precaution for COVID-19. During this time, the department is asking applicants to request replacement benefits by filling out an affidavit and sending it to TDHS using the File Upload tool, available here: https://fileupload.dhs.tn.gov/

Affidavits are available at the below links.

• Affidavit Request for SNAP Replacement Due to Power Outage (HS-3003) Instructions

• Affidavit Request for SNAP replacement Due to Power Outage (HS-3003) Spanish Instructions

Residents in Hamilton County may also leave the signed affidavit in the drop box located outside the Hamilton County DHS Office located at Eastgate Center Ste 602-A, 5600 Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37411-9949.

Individuals without access to the internet are encouraged to reach out to their local office to arrange an in-person appointment. Customers can find the phone number of their local office online here https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap/office-locator-family-assistance.html.

Once approved, SNAP replacement benefits are issued on the current recipient’s EBT card. Cards that are lost, destroyed, or inaccessible will be replaced. Replacement SNAP benefits will be authorized for the value of the loss only and can’t exceed the current month’s allotment.

Individuals who are not existing SNAP recipients do not qualify for replacement benefits but they can apply for regular benefits online at https://faonlineapp.dhs.tn.gov/

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides nutritional assistance benefits to children and families, the elderly, the disabled, unemployed and working families. SNAP helps supplement monthly food budgets of families with low-income to buy the food they need to maintain good health and allow them to direct more of their available income toward essential living expenses. TDHS staff determines the eligibility of applicants based on guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The primary goals of the program are to alleviate hunger and malnutrition and to improve nutrition and health in eligible households. TDHS has a dual focus on alleviating hunger and establishing or re-establishing self-sufficiency.

Learn more about the Tennessee Department of Human Services at www.tn.gov/humanservices.

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