Florida D-SNAP Food Stamps For Counties Hit By Hurricanes Milton And Helene

TAMPA, Florida - The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is launching the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) to support individuals and families impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. 

This emergency program will offer food assistance to those not already receiving benefits through the regular Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

D-SNAP Implementation Schedule

D-SNAP will be rolled out in phases by county, starting on Monday, October 28, 2024. Pre-registration is mandatory for all applicants and must be completed within a five-day window. The first phase will offer a telephonic option to expedite the process. For those unable to register by phone, in-person D-SNAP events will be scheduled in the coming weeks, with details on locations to be announced soon.

Phase One Counties and Registration Period

Residents of the following counties—Columbia, Dixie, Franklin, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, and Wakulla—must pre-register between Sunday, October 27, at 12:01 a.m. and Thursday, October 31, at 11:59 p.m. to be eligible for the first phase.

Phase Two Counties

Charlotte, Hernando, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota

  - Pre-registration: November 3–8

  - Phone interviews: November 4 and November 6–8

Phase Three Counties

Citrus, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, and Volusia

  - Pre-registration: November 11–15

  - Phone interviews: November 12–15

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for D-SNAP benefits, applicants must meet the following requirements:

- Not currently receiving regular SNAP benefits.

- Resided in a disaster-declared county during Hurricanes Helene or Milton.

- Experienced a disaster-related loss, such as home damage, food loss, loss of income, or other disaster-related expenses.

- Meet specific financial eligibility criteria, reporting net income from September 23, 2024, through October 22, 2024, and providing details on liquid household assets as of September 23, 2024.

How to Access Benefits

Eligible participants who complete a phone interview will receive an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card by mail. The card can be used to purchase food at authorized USDA retailers, though it cannot be used for alcoholic beverages, tobacco, or non-food items.

Steps to Apply

1. Pre-register online between Sunday, October 27, and Thursday, October 31.

2. After pre-registering, complete a phone interview by calling the D-SNAP Call Center at (888) 348-0408 during designated hours (8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., ET) on the assigned day based on the first letter of your last name:

   - A-F: Call on Monday, October 28

   - G-N: Call on Tuesday, October 29

   - O-Z: Call on Wednesday, October 30

   - Any last name: Call on Thursday, October 31

Verification of key information, such as a state-issued ID and Social Security number, will expedite the approval process. Those unable to register online or by phone will have the opportunity to attend in-person D-SNAP events, with locations to be announced.

For more information, visit the DCF website.