SNAP program beneficiaries in 32 Oklahoma counties, which were affected by the severe storms that occurred on June 17, will be able to request the replacement of their lost food purchased with food stamps. But, do you know what have to be done in order to get your groceries replaced? Well, you’re in the right place to find out.
All households receiving SNAP benefits that were impacted by the storms on the aforementioned date, and who lost their June groceries, will be able to apply for the replacement before the Friday, July 7, 2023. But not anyone could qualify for this substitution: we’ll let know who does.
Oklahoma’s storm-hit counties: How to claim the SNAP benefits’ replacement
In order to determine whether you qualify for your SNAP benefits to be replaced, you might know if you live in one of the affected counties. These are: Atoka, Carretero, Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, Delaware, Ellis, Harper, Hughes, Johnston, Latimer, Leflore, Lincoln, Logan, Major, Mayes, McCurtain, McIntosh, Muskogee, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Osage, Pawnee, Payne, Pittsburg, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha, Rogers, Seminole, Sequoyah, Tulsa, and Wagoner.
If your benefits have already been replaced under the recent mass replacement waiver or if you have previously submitted a Request for Destroyed Food Replacement form, we regret to inform you that there will be no further replacement benefits issued. However, those that have already submitted a form but didn’t receive their food replacements yet, don’t need to submit an additional form or take any additional action. It will be processed automatically.
How will I know if I qualify for the SNAP benefits replacement?
Determining your eligibility for SNAP benefits replacement involves, to start, determine that you fulfill the income and resource limits that vary by state, and are updated annually. The USDA’s SNAP official website provides detailed information on these limits.
The household’s composition is another important consideration. SNAP benefits are provided to households consisting of individuals who live together and prepare meals together. Spouses and most children under the age of 22 are considered part of the same SNAP household, even if they purchase and prepare meals separately, with exceptions for elderly and disabled individuals.
Non-citizen eligibility also has specific requirements, and SNAP benefits are generally limited to U.S. citizens and certain lawfully present non-citizens who meet additional criteria. Now, there are particular requirements for those called able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs), with exemptions for certain individuals.
Remember that you should contact your state agency, which has its own application form and process and will guide you though the whole process. Following submission, you will need to complete an eligibility interview and provide verification. Once found eligible, you will receive benefits through an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which functions like a debit card and is automatically loaded with funds each month, allowing you to purchase eligible food items at authorized stores and retailers.
Extra time to request your food stamps to be replaced
Usually, SNAP recipients have only 10 calendar days to request a replacement for food purchased with food stamps, but the Oklahoma state agency received the go-ahead from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (USDA-FNS) to give SNAP customers additional time to report their food loss. Affected households in the identified counties should submit the application form by July 7, 2023.
In the sorrowful case you lost their food benefit card, don’t worry, there’s a solution for that: you may request a replacement card online clicking here, or by contacting Conduent at 1-888-328-6551. People that still don’t have them, can apply for SNAP benefits by clicking here.
Furthermore, those that receive the state-run benefits, like foster care reimbursements, adoption assistance or Child Support on the “Oklahoma Mastercard” who have lost their card during the June storm, can request a replacement by calling 1-888-401-9843 for Mastercards not related to Child Support, or call 1-888-929-2460 for Mastercards related to Child Support.