Food Assistance Available For Victims of Severe Weather

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) has received approval from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make new disaster relief assistance available to Middle Tennesseans who suffered during last spring’s severe weather disaster. Starting Monday August 16, qualifying individuals and families can apply for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits.

D-SNAP benefits are provided through an electronic debit-like card and can be used to purchase food items at grocery stores and other authorized retailers who accept electronic benefit transfer (EBT). These cards will be mailed to qualifying homes following approval. Recipients of Tennessee’s regular SNAP program are ineligible to receive D-SNAP.

“We were pleased to receive approval recently from the USDA to begin offering D-SNAP benefits to those who are facing economic vulnerability because of last spring’s severe weather,” said TDHS Commissioner Clarence H. Carter. “This one-time disbursement of food benefits will provide extra support for Tennesseans who are still rebuilding their lives from the disaster.”

To be eligible for D-SNAP, individuals and families must have lived or worked in one of the following zip codes during the March 25, 2021 severe weather event:

• Davidson County: 37211, 37220, 37221, 37216, 37013, 37208, 37217, 37218, 37209, 37214, 37204, 37210, 37138, 37213, 37203, 37205, 37076, 37206, 37215, 37207, 37115, and 37072.
• Williamson County: 37027, 37069, 37064, 37046, 37179, 37174, 37062, 37067, 38118, and 37135.
• Wilson County: 37122, 37090, 37087, and 37184.

Individuals in any of the designated counties and zip codes must have experienced at least one of the following conditions as a direct result of the March 25, 2021 severe weather event:

• Damage to or destruction of the home or self-employment business.
• Loss or inaccessibility of income including a reduction or termination of income or a significant delay in receiving income due to disaster related problems.
• Disaster-related expenses (home or business repairs, temporary shelter, evacuation, etc.) that are not expected to be reimbursed during the disaster benefit period.

Applicants must meet income limits determined under USDA Option 1. The amount of benefits received will be based on the size of the household according to the following chart:

Household Size               Income Limit                    Allotment

      1                                       $1,817                               $204

      2                                       $2,190                               $374

      3                                       $2,563                               $535

      4                                       $2,951                               $680

      5                                       $3,355                               $807

      6                                       $3,759                               $969

      7                                       $4,133                               $1,071

      8                                       $4,506                               $1,224

Each additional                   +$374                                +$153

Individuals who meet the qualifications for disaster assistance may apply through 4:30 P.M. CDT Friday, August 20th on the D-SNAP application page.  Customers in need of technical assistance can call the D-SNAP hotline number at 1-888-615-8180.  Individuals may also schedule a face-to-face appointment by contacting their local TDHS office in Davidson, Williamson or Wilson counties.

Disaster SNAP Assistance is provided under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and each county eligible is approved by the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service.

Learn more about the Tennessee Department of Human Services at www.tn.gov/humanservices.  

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