TDHS Receives USDA Approval to Issue Auto Replacement SNAP Benefits for SNAP Households Impacted by January 2026 Winter Storm Fern

NASHVILLE, TN – The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) announced today that it received federal approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (USDA) to automatically issue replacement Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to households impacted by prolonged power outages caused by the January 2026 Winter Storm Fern in Tennessee. To deliver timely relief of replacement SNAP benefits, TDHS will automatically issue 45% of affected SNAP households’ January 2026 SNAP benefit amount beginning February 13, 2026, without requiring households to submit an individual food loss affidavit.

This automatic replacement will be issued to SNAP households that were active and had received January 2026 benefits as of January 24, 2026, and that reside in the following impacted areas:

These replacement SNAP benefits will automatically be issued to all active SNAP households as of January 24^th in the affected areas through an automated credit to their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards.

“As communities across Tennessee continue to recover from the January winter storms, we are committed to providing efficient relief to all eligible SNAP households in the areas most affected by the prolonged power outages,” commented TDHS Commissioner Clarence H. Carter. “This automatic replacement ensures households receive timely support without additional paperwork, allowing families to focus on recovery and meeting their basic needs during a difficult time.”

As of January 24, 2026, TDHS estimated that there were approximately 36,486 active SNAP households that may have been impacted in the approved counties and ZIP codes.

SNAP customers who would like to request replacement for the remaining 55% of their January 2026 benefit amount that is not automatically replaced may still submit a Household Misfortune Affidavit. Customers have until February 23, 2026, to submit those requests.

The easiest way for individuals to submit a Replacement SNAP Affidavit for the remaining amount will be to sign an affidavit and send it to TDHS using the Upload Documents option, within the One DHS Customer Portal available here: OneDHS.tn.gov/csp. 

For more information on Replacement SNAP benefits, please visit TDHS website here: https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/for-families/tdhs-disaster-emergency-assistance.html.

ABOUT THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (TDHS)

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) consists of multiple divisions with a unified mission to strengthen Tennessee by strengthening Tennesseans. Led by governor-appointed Commissioner Clarence H. Carter, TDHS serves nearly two million Tennesseans to ensure that all state residents have an opportunity to reach their full potential as contributing members of their community. Among the many services and programs provided by TDHS, some of the leading programs include the Child Support Program, Child and Adult Day Services and Licensing, Families First (the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Rehabilitation Services for people with disabilities, and Adult Protective Services, along with many others. TDHS is an organization committed to connecting people with resources that help individuals, families and communities with the support they need to overcome any social, economic and developmental vulnerabilities. For more information, please visit: Tennessee Department of Human Services.

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