More than 2,200 structures and homes were damaged in recent weeks by the Maui fires, which burned tens of thousands of acres, and the reconstruction costs of the entire affected area are estimated at about $5.5 billions. Families facing the impact of this natural disaster can find solace in the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as D-SNAP benefits.
This aid program is set to commence in the next days, offering a support to households directly affected by the wildfires in Kula and Lahaina. The D-SNAP benefits offers relief to approximately 16,000 households that may not typically qualify for the regular SNAP program. It provides vital support to those who have suffered housing loss, employment loss, disaster-related expenses, or food loss due to the Maui wildfires. To determine eligibility, several factors come into play.
Hawaii Disaster SNAP Benefits for Those in Need
The amount of assistance received through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards hinges on household size and income. Beneficiaries can expect aid ranging from approximately $500 to over $3,000. The application window opens on Monday, September 18. For most of the Hawaiian islands, the deadline for applications is Friday, September 22. However, Maui residents have until Saturday, September 23, to apply.
General Requirements for Disaster SNAP in Hawaii
To qualify for D-SNAP payments in Hawaii, households must meet specific criteria, including a proven direct loss of housing, loss of employment, disaster-related expenses, or food loss caused by the Maui wildfires.
Households need to meet disaster gross income limits to be eligible, provide a valid photo ID, a residency verification from at least two documents. Application sites are conveniently located across the state to ensure easy access for affected residents.
Find the closest application spot in the next list:
- Maui: Hyatt Regency Maui Resort. Monday (9/18/23) – Saturday (9/23/23)
8 a.m. – 6 p.m. - Oahu: OR&L Processing Center. Monday (9/18/23) – Friday (9/22/23)
- Lanai: Molokai Processing Center. Monday (9/18/23) – Friday (9/22/23)
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. - Hawaii Island: West Hawaii Processing Center – North Kona Office. Monday (9/18/23) – Friday (9/22/23)
While in Maui the attention hours are between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m, in the rest of the locations the times are from 8 a.m. through 4 p.m.
Families who were already receiving SNAP assistance when the wildfires struck may not qualify for D-SNAP. However, households enrolled in the SNAP program in Kula and Lahaina will soon receive an additional SNAP benefit deposited into their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) accounts. This extra assistance aims to ensure that their monthly benefits reach the maximum allowable amount, which is determined by the size of their household.
This supplemental benefit is scheduled to be disbursed from September 18. Interested households may contact the DHS Public Assistance Information System phone line at 1-855-643-1643. For more information on Hawaii D-SNAP, go to the official website, here.