What is Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP)?

Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) is a special program that gives short-term food assistance benefits to families that have been impacted by disasters like flooding, hurricanes, or wildfires. You don’t need to already get SNAP benefits in order to qualify for D-SNAP.

If you do already get regular SNAP, you can get D-SNAP in addition. Your state may allow you to get your SNAP benefits early, replace any benefits you used on spoiled or destroyed food, or temporarily buy hot foods with your EBT card after a disaster.

If you’ve been affected by a disaster, you may also be able to get money to help with home repairs, temporary housing, or property damage (like damage to your appliances, furniture, or vehicle), child care, medical expenses, lodging, moving, and funeral expenses through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

How does D-SNAP work?#how-does-d-snap-work

Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) is essentially emergency money for you to use on food after a disaster like a hurricane. D-SNAP works differently from regular SNAP. It's a separate program with its own eligibility requirements.

You might be eligible for D-SNAP even if you don't qualify for regular food stamps. You may qualify for D-SNAP if you’re facing other disaster-related expenses like:

• Fixing your home or business
• Paying for temporary housing
• Covering evacuation or relocation costs
• Handling injury-related expenses, including funeral costs
• Dealing with lost wages or delayed income because of the disaster
• Replacing food lost in specific disaster situations such as floods or extended power outages

If you qualify for D-SNAP, you’ll get an EBT card which you can use to purchase groceries at stores that accept EBT. You can designate a delivery address when you apply, or pick it up at your local benefits office.

Once you get your card, call the customer service number on the back to activate it.

Getting D-SNAP when you already get regular SNAP#getting-d-snap-when-you-already-get-regular-snap

For current SNAP recipients: When D-SNAP is active in your area, you can ask for additional benefits if:

• Your regular benefits are below the maximum amount for your household size, AND
• You experienced losses from the disaster

These extra benefits are added to your EBT card. You'll get either regular SNAP or D-SNAP, not both. If you already get SNAP, your benefits will increase to match the D-SNAP amount for your household size.

This means that everyone affected by the emergency gets the same amount of help, whether they had SNAP before or are getting D-SNAP now.

During disasters, your state may also:

• Get your food stamps benefits sooner than usual
• Use your EBT card to buy hot, ready-to-eat foods for a limited time
• Keep your benefits longer without needing to renew

Are replacement SNAP benefits the same as D-SNAP?#are-replacement-snap-benefits-the-same-as-d-snap

No, replacement SNAP benefits for existing SNAP households are completely separate from D-SNAP. Replacement SNAP is for people who already get food stamps and had food spoil because of a disaster or power outage. If that happens to you, you can ask your benefits office to replace the value of what you lost.

Important: You typically need to tell your local office about your food loss within 10 days of discovering it. This is not the same as D-SNAP—it's simply a replacement of regular benefits you already received.

How to apply for D-SNAP#how-to-apply-for-d-snap

To be eligible for disaster food stamps, you must live in a county with an active disaster response. A few days after a disaster like a hurricane or wildfire, check which counties or zip codes have activated disaster waiver flexibilities to help households in affected areas. If your area has an active D-SNAP program, contact your local human services agency to apply.

If you’re a current SNAP participant living outside the specified counties but you still lost food during a recent storm or another extreme weather event, you can still apply for replacement benefits by visiting a local benefits office within 10 days of discovering your food was lost or spoiled.

To replace your food stamps in the event of a weather emergency, call your local 2-1-1 number or contact your county food assistance office.

Is D-SNAP based on income?#is-d-snap-based-on-income

Yes, to qualify for D-SNAP, your household must meet income limits. D-SNAP uses a special income calculation that's different from regular SNAP:

1. Add your take-home pay and available cash resources (like money in checking or savings accounts) during the disaster period
2. Subtract any disaster-related expenses you faced

The total amount after subtracting these expenses needs to be below the disaster income limit for your family size. This limit is generally higher than regular SNAP limits, meaning more people can qualify during a disaster.

D-SNAP Income Eligibility Limits (October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025)#d-snap-income-eligibility-limits-october-1-2024-to-september-30-2025

How much do you get for D-SNAP benefits?#how-much-do-you-get-for-d-snap-benefits

The benefit amount you get through D-SNAP varies based on how many people live in your home and the specific disaster situation. In most cases, you'll receive the highest possible monthly benefit that regular SNAP households of your size would qualify for.

Do D-SNAP benefits expire?#do-d-snap-benefits-expire

They may—each state decides when D-SNAP benefits expire. If no specific end date is mentioned when you get your EBT card, your D-SNAP benefits will only disappear if you don't use your EBT card for nine months—the same rule that applies to regular food stamps in most states. Check with your state for exact benefits “expungement,” or removal, rules.

Other disaster assistance programs#other-disaster-assistance-programs

FEMA disaster relief#fema-disaster-relief

For other recovery resources like funds for home repairs, property damage, funeral expenses, temporary housing, medical or dental expenses, or child care costs, follow these steps:

1. Visit DisasterAssistance.Gov and click “Let’s Get Started”
2. Tell FEMA where you are and about your needs
3. Create an account or sign into Login.gov to finish your application

Applications for FEMA relief are typically processed in 7-10 business days

If you need help with your application, you can call the FEMA Helpline: 1-800-621-3362, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (in your time zone), seven days a week.

Additional ways to get financial help during a disaster#additional-ways-to-get-financial-help-during-a-disaster

• Start a GoFundMe fundraiser. You can raise funds for basic necessities following natural disasters and weather emergencies. Once you have an active fundraiser that explains your need, you could be considered for up to $1,000 from GoFundMe.org, the nonprofit part of GoFundMe that operates separately and raises and distributes money during disasters and crisis situations. Learn more here.
• Find a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are facilities and mobile offices you can visit to learn more about FEMA and other disaster assistance programs. You may also visit to ask questions about your case. Find the hours, services, and locations of DRCs near you here.
• Call the American Red Cross for shelter: Dial 800-733-2767 nationwide or find an open shelter online.
• Visit a Salvation Army Mobile Site: The Salvation Army distributes meals, water, ice, cleaning supplies, and other household essentials in the aftermath of natural disasters. Find a site near you.