DHS To Issue Disaster Food Stamps For Flood Victims In Dyer, Lake, Obion And Stewart Counties

Nutrition Assistance Available For All Eligible Residents In Those Counties

 

NASHVILLE – On Monday, May 23, the Tennessee Department of Human Services will begin issuing USDA-approved disaster SNAP benefits to eligible residents of four flood-damaged counties that are federally declared disaster areas after record rainfall caused the Mississippi River to overflow its banks. The benefits are for eligible residents of Dyer, Lake, Obion and Stewart counties. Applications for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps) benefits can be submitted Monday through Friday, May 23-27; Tuesday, May 31, and Wednesday, June 1.

 

Residents of these counties who sustained flood-related loss or damages, and are not currently receiving SNAP (food stamp) assistance but wish to apply for SNAP disaster benefits, are asked to bring identification, address information, Social Security verification, statements of income or resources, and estimated disaster expenses to a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in their county. Staff on-site will make eligibility determinations, and benefits in the form of EBT (electronic benefit transfer) cards will be distributed the same day. The benefits represent up to a one-month allotment of food stamps for the appropriate household size, and can be used for up to 90 days at any authorized SNAP grocery retailer. 

 

Residents should visit the DRC site in their county, between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. (Central Time) to apply:

 

Dyer County

Dyersburg Mall

2700 Lake Road, #33                                    

Dyersburg, TN 38024                                    

 

Lake County

Nat’l Guard Armory

2375 State Rte 21E

Tiptonville, TN 38079

 

Obion County

Community Center

221 N. Broadway

Obion, TN 38240

 

Stewart County

Public Library

102 Natcor Drive

Dover, TN 37058

 

For more information, including a list of key questions and answers about the assistance program, please visit the DHS website at www.tn.gov/humanserv. 

 

NOTE: Current SNAP (food stamp) clients who sustained flood-related loss or damages should go to their local DHS office to see if they qualify for additional SNAP benefits. For office information, visit: http://tn.gov/humanserv/st_map.html