Hurricane milton has caused many people who live in Florida to lose food because of power outages and destruction from the storm. If you live in Florida and receive the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, you may qualify for food replacement benefits especially if you were affected by the Hurricane. In Florida, these benefits are available to SNAP beneficiaries. However, there are a few things that you should bear in mind. Let us explain how to apply for food replacement assistance if you were among those affected by the hurricane.
Who can apply for SNAP food replacement?
If you are a current recipient of SNAP benefits in Florida and have lost food due to Hurricane Milton, you are eligible to apply for replacement benefits. However, it is important to meet the following criteria:
- You must be a current recipient of Florida’s SNAP program.
- You need to provide proof of food loss due to power outages lasting four hours or more or due to damage caused by the storm.
- The application for food replacement should be submitted on or before October 19, 2024.
How to apply for SNAP food replacement?
Here are the steps to apply for food replacement if you are eligible:
- First, go to your MyACCESS account and log in: This is the platform to apply for food replacement.
- Submit proof of food loss: Explain that your household lost food because of a long period of power shutdown (over four hours) or as a result of Hurricane Milton.
- Fill the replacement form: The online form is accessible and it is important to fill it up in order to avoid delays in the processing of your application.
Special conditions for certain Florida counties
If you live in one of the following counties, the requirements to apply for food replacement differ slightly. In these counties, you will need to upload proof of food loss through your MyACCESS Portal and select “other” as the document type:
- Brevard
- Clay
- Duval
- Glades
- Hendry
- Indian River
- Marion
- Martin
- Okeechobee
- Orange
- Seminole
- St. Johns
- St. Lucie
- Sumter
Which Counties are eligible for the hot food purchase option?
Besides replacing food, for a limited time, Florida has permitted recipients of certain counties who benefit from SNAP to purchase hot foods using their SNAP EBT card. This can be very useful, especially during recovery periods, when cooking at home may not be an option. If you live in one of these counties, you can buy hot meals from approved shops with the help of your SNAP benefits until November 15, 2024:
- Hillsborough
- Highlands
- Indian River
- Manatee
- Pasco
- Pinellas
- Sarasota
- Volusia
This extension allows people in the affected areas access to hot meals while they recover from the impact of the hurricane.
What documents are required for food replacement?
To avoid delays in your application, it is important to submit all required documents. The most important document is proof of food loss, which can include:
- Utility reports showing a power outage lasting four hours or more.
- Damaged photos
Important deadlines and details to remember
- You must apply for food replacement by October 19, 2024. This deadline is important, so make sure to submit your application before then.
- Hot food purchases are allowed for SNAP recipients in certain counties until November 15, 2024. Keep this in mind if you need immediate meal assistance.
