Hurricane Helene: SNAP Mass Replacement Waiver Approved in This State
According to Vibes.okdiario, The Georgia Department of Human Services announced that SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients who lost food due to Hurricane Helene will receive mass replacement benefits. Initially, beneficiaries had extra time to report food losses, but the state has since received a waiver allowing automatic replacements for eligible counties.
No Need to Report Food Loss
Due to this waiver, residents in certain counties no longer need to file reports or claim forms to replace lost food purchased with SNAP benefits. The mass replacement is intended to assist families affected by widespread power outages caused by the hurricane. Power outages must have lasted at least four hours to qualify.
Original Deadline to Report SNAP Replacement
Initially, SNAP recipients were required to report food losses by October 25, 2024, for benefits distributed in September. However, with the waiver approval, those living in qualifying counties will automatically receive replacement benefits.
Counties Eligible for SNAP Replacement
Residents of the following counties will automatically receive mass replacement benefits for food lost due to Hurricane Helene:
- Appling
- Atkinson
- Bacon
- Ben Hill
- Berrien
- Bleckley
- Brantley
- Bryan
- Bulloch
- Burke
- Camden
- Candler
- Charlton
- Chatham
- Clinch
- Coffee
- Colquitt
- Columbia
- Dodge
- Echols
- Effingham
- Elbert
- Emanuel
- Evans
- Glascock
- Glynn
- Hancock
- Irwin
- Jeff Davis
- Jefferson
- Jenkins
- Johnson
- Lanier
- Laurens
- Liberty
- Lincoln
- Long
- Lowndes
- McDuffie
- McIntosh
- Montgomery
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- Pierce
- Rabun
- Richmond
- Stephens
- Taliaferro
- Tattnall
- Telfair
- Tift
- Toombs
- Treutlen
- Ware
- Warren
- Washington
- Wayne
- Wheeler
- Wilcox
- Wilkes
Reporting for Non-Qualifying Counties
If your county is not on the list of those eligible for mass replacement, you still have until October 25, 2024, to report food losses and request a replacement.
Additional Support for Families
This waiver ensures that families, especially low-income households displaced by Hurricane Helene, have access to the resources they need to replace lost food. If you are unsure whether your county qualifies, check the list or contact your local Department of Human Services office for further assistance.
