The USDA has approved New York State's proposal on a Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) initiative in New York City's most devastated areas (please see the below for specific information). The initiative has a limited duration of seven days and New York City Human Resources Administration began the application process on December 12, and will end on December 18, 2012.
What is D-SNAP?
D-SNAP (Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) provides temporary food assistance to affected households in the aftermath of a natural disaster. The state makes a request for D-SNAP to the USDA only after the federal government declares a "major disaster" in an affected area. Individuals and families can receive a one-time payment if they lived in the identified disaster area, and meet certain other eligibility requirements.
What are the eligibility requirements for D-SNAP?
1. Not be a current SNAP recipient
2. Only households living in the following zip codes on October 27, 2012 may apply:
Coney Island, Brooklyn (zip codes 11224 and 11235)
Red Hook, Brooklyn (zip code 11231)
Gerritsen Beach South of Allen Avenue, Brooklyn (partial area of zip code 11229)
Lower East Side, Manhattan (zip code 10002)
Staten Island: Southeast shore (zip code 10306), and North Midland Beach South of Seaview Avenue (partial area of zip code 10305)
The Rockaways, Queens (zip codes 11691, 11692, 11693, 11694, and 11697)
3. Must have sustained at least one of the following adverse effects due to the storm:
Storm-related damage to their household's home or self-employment business
Paid other un-reimbursed disaster-related expenses between October 27 and November 25. (The cost of food lost due to the disaster is not an allowable expense, but the cost of meals purchased at restaurants because of the storm is allowable.)
Have lost income or been unable to access liquid resources (cash, bank accounts) between October 27 and November 25.
4. Must meet the D-SNAP income guidelines.
What is I already receive SNAP?
For those who are currently receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (SNAP, commonly known as food stamps), they will automatically receive D-SNAP if their benefit amount for November 2012 was less than the maximum amount allowed for their household size. Current SNAP recipients will not receive D-SNAP if they already received the maximum benefit amount.
We ask that you inform current SNAP beneficiaries not to apply in person. The benefits, for those eligible, will automatically appear on recipients' EBT cards, similar to the automatic replacement benefits they received in early November.
Additionally, only people with storm-related expenses may apply. Food loss does not count as a storm-related expense. It is important for you, as you speak to non-SNAP recipients living in the above zip codes, to let them know that they will be asked to verify expenses due to home and/or car damage, hotel stays, etc.
Where can I apply for D-SNAP?
Households can apply in two locations which are easily accessible by public transportation. To find transportation information, click here.
Brooklyn
Location: 495 Clermont Avenue
Dates of Operation: Wednesday,December 12 through Tuesday, December 18 from 8:30 AM to 6PM
For the first two days at the Brooklyn location, we are accepting applicants alphabetically, according to last name:
Wednesday, December 12:
Only applicants with a last name beginning with A through M
Thursday, December 13:
Only applicants with a last name beginning with N through Z
All other days are open to all applicants regardless of the beginning of their last names.
Staten Island
Location: New Dorp High School, 465 New Dorp Lane
Dates of Operation:
Friday, December 14: 4PM to 8PM
Saturday, December 15: 9AM to 5PM
Sunday, 12/16: 9AM to 5PM
Monday, 12/17: 4PM to 8PM
The location is open on the days above to all applicants regardless of last name.
What should I bring?
Applicants will need to bring any relevant documents to support their application. Applicants should bring documents that verify the following:
Applicants must be able to verify their identity in order to receive D-SNAP benefits. Applicants who cannot verify their identity will have their applications denied immediately.
Residency in one of the targeted zip codes on October 27, 2012.
Income during the period between October 27, 2012 and November 25, 2012.
Un-reimbursed storm-related expenses paid between October 27, 2012 and November 25, 2012.
Other documents verifying liquid resources (savings and checking accounts) and family composition also will be reviewed and will assist in determining eligibility.
If applicants are not currently residing in their homes because of storm-related damage, they should provide a reliable alternative mailing address to which a benefit card can be mailed.
Finally, it's important to remind people that identity must be verified and that they must have lived in one of the targeted zip codes on October 27, 2012. These factors must be documented in order to receive DSNAP benefits. Therefore, applicants should be strongly encouraged to bring any relevant documentation to support their application. Other documentation regarding income, resources and family composition will be reviewed and independently verified. If applicants are not currently residing in their homes because of storm-related damage, they should provide a reliable mailing address to which a benefit card can be mailed.
More important information:
This information is also available in Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Polish, Korean, Tagalog, and Arabic. Please distribute it as widely as possible as soon as possible as the time frame that D-SNAP is available is quite small. For more information on D-SNAP and other food assistance visit NYC.gov/hra or call 311.
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