OKDHS To Take Disaster Food Stamp Applications Feb. 22nd

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL --- The Oklahoma Department of Human Service will be accepting applications for Disaster Food Stamps as a result of the Jan. 30 Ice Storm.
A Presidential Disaster Declaration approved activating the Disaster Food Stamp Program in 45 Oklahoma counties, which include: Alfalfa, Beaver, Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Cimarron, Cleveland, Comanche, Creek, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Garfield, Garvin, Grady, Grant, Greer, Harmon, Harper, Jackson, Kay, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, Major, Noble, Nowata, Oklahoma, Osage, Pawnee, Payne, Pottawatomie, Roger Mills, Rogers, Stephens, Texas, Tillman, Tulsa, Washington, Washita, Woods and Woodward.

Applications will be accepted at OKDHS County Offices in the 45 designated counties Feb. 22–28, including Saturday and Sunday. Check with the local office for extended hours of operations during this seven-day application period.

Persons and households affected by the Jan. 30, 2002 ice storm are eligible to apply should they meet certain income and resource guidelines. Applicants must have been residents in one of the designated counties on Jan. 30. Applicants can help speed the process by bringing with them photo identification, current income verification such as check stubs, current checking and savings account information and itemized disaster expenses resulting from ice storm losses.

The Disaster Food Stamp Program is designed to help households who have experienced one or all of the following criteria:

Food loss as a direct result of loss of electricity - power must be verified to have been off for a period of time where loss of food occurred.
Loss of income as a result of inability to work - inability to get to work due to the storm; loss of income due to inability to get to work; lost jobs due to the storm, etc.

Unexpected documented disaster expenses as a result of the storm - expenses are as a result of the storm; expenses incurred during the Disaster Benefit Period; reimbursements are not received or expect to be received during the Disaster Benefit Period.

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