SCDSS to issue SNAP replacement to thousands after Hurricane Helene
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)– Thousands of SNAP recipients in the Palmetto State are going to receive replacement SNAP benefits after Hurricane Helene impacted the state last month.
The Department of Social Services announced that the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved South Carolina’s waiver request.
DSS will automatically issue the replacement benefits to current SNAP recipients living in counties where 50% or more of the total population experienced a power outage lasting more than 4 hours during Hurricane Helene.
SNAP recipients residing in the 28 counties listed below will automatically be issued a replacement of 55% of their September benefits, as determined by the federal government, and no longer need to individually apply for a replacement of their SNAP benefits.
Counties below that will receive SNAP replacement benefits:
- Abbeville
- Aiken
- Allendale
- Anderson
- Bamberg
- Barnwell
- Calhoun
- Cherokee
- Chester
- Colleton
- Edgefield
- Fairfield
- Greenville
- Greenwood
- Hampton
- Jasper
- Laurens
- Lexington
- McCormick
- Newberry
- Oconee
- Orangeburg
- Pickens
- Richland
- Saluda
- Spartanburg
- Union
- York
Replacement SNAP Benefits will go out to EBT cards electronically on or before Tuesday, October 15.
DSS says SNAP recipients residing in counties that are not included in the federal mass replacement waiver are still able to apply individually for replacement of their benefits.
SNAP households residing in the counties that are not included in the federal mass replacement waiver have until October 26, to report food loss resulting from Hurricane Helene.
Clients in these counties not included in the federal mass replacement waiver can download and complete an Affidavit of Loss Due To A Household Misfortune (DSS Form 1634B) from the
SC Department of Social Services website.
