In a recent announcement, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) unveiled its Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) to aid low-income residents of three Arkansas counties—Cross, Lonoke, and Pulaski—who have been grappling with the aftermath of tornadoes and severe storms since March 31, 2023.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized that approximately 1,600 households, which might not typically qualify under regular Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) guidelines, could be eligible for assistance through D-SNAP if they meet specific criteria, including income limits and qualifying disaster-related expenses.

Secretary Vilsack expressed his hope that the waiver approval for D-SNAP would offer a lifeline to struggling low-income residents in Arkansas, ensuring they have access to the food they need during this challenging time of recovery.

To qualify for D-SNAP, households must reside in the designated disaster area, have been directly impacted by the disaster, and meet the eligibility criteria set for D-SNAP. Eligible households will receive one month of benefits, equivalent to the maximum amount provided to SNAP households of their size. These benefits can be used to purchase groceries at SNAP-authorized stores or select retailers online, assisting them in meeting their temporary food needs as they settle back into their homes following the disaster.

The application process for D-SNAP in Arkansas will run from April 26 to May 2, 2023, with detailed information about application dates and locations to be shared through local media channels.

Secretary Vilsack highlighted that the timing of D-SNAP implementation varies depending on the unique circumstances of each disaster but always begins once commercial food distribution channels are restored, allowing families to purchase and prepare food at home. Before initiating a D-SNAP program, states must ensure that they have the necessary public information, staffing, and resources in place.

While current SNAP households in the affected areas are not eligible for D-SNAP, they can request supplemental SNAP benefits to increase their allotment to the maximum amount for their household size for one month if they do not already receive that amount.

The introduction of D-SNAP is just one among several measures taken by the USDA to support Arkansas residents in coping with the impact of the recent tornadoes and severe storms. Additional actions include waiving restrictions on the purchase of hot foods with SNAP benefits until April 30, 2023, and temporarily lifting the reporting requirement for food replacement due to power outages caused by the tornadoes in Cross, Lonoke, and Pulaski counties until May 1, 2023. The USDA has also approved waivers related to the Child Nutrition Program operations in the Wayne School District affected by the March 31 tornado and authorized the use of USDA Foods from the Emergency Food Assistance Program or TEFAP to provide food assistance in Cross and Pulaski counties through the Disaster Household Distribution program.

Residents of Arkansas seeking further information and assistance can dial 2-1-1 or 1-800 651-3493. Additional information about Arkansas SNAP can be found on the website of the Arkansas Department of Human Services.

The USDA continues to play a vital role in positively impacting the lives of Americans on a daily basis. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the USDA aims to transform the nation’s food system by prioritizing resilient local and regional food production, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, fostering new markets and income streams for farmers using climate-smart practices, investing in rural infrastructure and clean energy, and promoting equity by removing systemic barriers and building a more representative workforce. To learn more about these initiatives, visit www.usda.gov.