Residents of New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester Counties Eligible for Replacement Benefits
SNAP Recipients in Those Communities Temporarily Permitted to Purchase Prepared Foods with Benefits
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that assistance is available to help Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in New York City, Long Island and Westchester to replace food lost as a result of power outages and flooding caused by Hurricane Ida. Additionally, residents of those communities will be able to temporarily use their SNAP benefits to purchase hot and prepared foods.
"The power outages and damages caused by Ida continue to affect tens of thousands of New York households, and we need to make sure families are able to put food on the table as they recover from this terrible storm," Governor Hochul said. "This assistance from the federal government will help New Yorkers purchase food and feed their families in the aftermath of a destructive weather event. I encourage affected individuals and families to apply for replacement SNAP benefits to help ensure that their nutritional needs are met as they navigate this difficult time."
The replacement SNAP benefits are limited to all of New York City and to Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties, the areas most severely impacted by the flash flooding on September 1 caused by heavy rains from the remnants of Hurricane Ida.
SNAP recipients whose food has spoiled as a result of flooding, power outages or other damage caused by the storm can receive replacement benefits up to the amount of their August SNAP benefits, including the SNAP emergency allotment, an additional benefit that has ensured SNAP recipients continue to receive the maximum monthly benefit during the pandemic.
Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Mike Hein said, "We will be working closely with local officials to ensure that SNAP replacement benefits are issued to eligible households in a timely manner. It is vital that New Yorkers affected by Hurricane Ida can feed themselves and their families as they begin the process of recovering from the storm."
Residents of New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties who think they may be eligible for replacement SNAP benefits must return a signed and completed form, found here, to their county department of social services office or SNAP center in New York City by October 1. The application is also available in several other languages at https://otda.ny.gov/programs/applications/.
SNAP recipients in these communities are also now able to use their SNAP benefits to purchase hot and prepared foods through October 3. Many residents have evacuated to shelters or other temporary housing arrangements due to ongoing power outages and damage to their homes. Many are also unable to store food and access cooking facilities. SNAP recipients are normally prohibited from purchasing hot and prepared food with their benefits.
Information on how New Yorkers affected by Hurricane Ida can meet their basic needs, including how to apply for SNAP, public assistance and emergency assistance, can be found at: https://www.governor.ny.gov/governors-relief-and-response-resources/meeting-basic-needs.
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