Tornado Victims In 6 Additional Tennessee Counties Now Can Apply For Disaster Food Stamps
DHS Nutritional Assistance Program Available To Eligible Residents Of Bledsoe, Cocke, Johnson, McMinn, Monroe And Rhea Counties Starting May 13
NASHVILLE – On Friday, May 13, the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) will begin issuing SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps) Disaster Benefits to eligible residents of six additional tornado-ravaged counties that have been federally declared disaster areas following the late April storms. The benefits are for residents of Bledsoe, Cocke, Johnson, McMinn, Monroe and Rhea counties. Applications for SNAP disaster benefits can be submitted daily (except Sunday) through May 20. (Benefits were approved previously for eligible residents of Bradley, Greene, Hamilton and Washington counties.)
Residents of these counties who sustained tornado loss or damages, and are not currently receiving SNAP assistance but wish to apply for SNAP disaster benefits, are asked to bring identification, address information, Social Security verification, statements of income or resources, and estimated disaster expenses to the DHS office in their county. DHS staff will interview applicants, and benefits in the form of EBT (electronic benefit transfer) cards will be distributed the same day to eligible households. The benefits will represent up to a one-month allotment of food stamps for the appropriate household size, and can be used for up to 90 days in any authorized SNAP grocery retailer.
Local DHS offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) to serve the following counties:
Bledsoe County
323 Rockfort Road
Pikeville, TN 37367
Cocke County
330 Heritage Blvd., Suite A
Newport, TN 37821
Johnson County
370 Cold Springs Road
Mountain City, TN, 37683
McMinn County
1008 Knight Road, Suite B
Athens, TN 37303
Monroe County
123 Pedigo Road
Madisonville, TN 37354
Rhea County
224 4th Avenue, Suite 102
Dayton, TN 37321
For more information, including a list of key questions and answers about the assistance program, please visit the DHS website at www.tn.gov/humanserv.
Note: Current SNAP clients may qualify for disaster benefits, for more information residents should visit the local DHS office.
# # #
Press Releases | Human Services | Tennessee Emergency Management Agency