SNAP Replacement Benefits for SNAP Households who Lost Food Due to Power Outages or Flooding

FoodSNAP
11/01/12

We have just heard from some local food pantries that clients are seeking food due to the power outages and flooding from Hurricane Sandy.  This is a reminder that SNAP recipients who lost food purchased with SNAP benefits can request SNAP replacement benefits, even if power has since been restored.

Here's what you should know:

  • SNAP recipients need to make individual requests for replacement SNAP benefits to purchase replacement food. (There is currently no auto-replacement of SNAP benefits for geographic areas, but we will notify you if that changes).
  • SNAP replacement benefits are provided for food that was purchased with SNAP benefits (but not food that came from a food pantry or other source). Clients do not need to bring the destroyed or spoiled food to the DTA office (in fact, please discourage that - DTA cannot deal with spoiled food). 
  • SNAP recipients have 10 days to contact DTA to request replacement SNAP benefits. They can do this in person, by phone or in writing (we encourage written requests, which can be faxed, mailed or dropped off). The 10 days starts from the date the food spoiled or was destroyed. If the 10th day falls on a weekend or holiday, then the next business day. The SNAP client has another 10 days to send DTA a signed Statement of Loss.  DTA may ask for confirmation of the extent or duration of the power outage. Most utility companies have posted this information on-line, or DTA can secure from a local community agency or local fire/policy department.
  • SNAP recipients who received their SNAP allotment earlier in October are not precluded from seeking SNAP replacement benefits. The issue is if food that was purchased with SNAP - food that was in the freezer or refrigerator - is no longer safe to eat and needed to be tossed.
  • The maximum amount of SNAP replacement is the value of the food lost up to the household's SNAP monthly benefit amount.

Here is a link to a a flier on SNAP replacement benefits and the DTA "Statement of Loss/Request for Replacement" form.  http://www.masslegalservices.org/SNAP-Replacement-Benefits-Household-Misfortune

Here's the National Grid power outage tracking map (current outages):  https://www1.nationalgridus.com/PowerOutageMap-MA-RES?ng=us&cookieCheck=true
Here's the Eversource power outage tracking tracking map (again, current outages): https://www.eversource.com/nstar/outage/outagemap.aspx