USDA approves Oklahoma Human Services to provide disaster SNAP assistance for storm survivors in McClain and Pottawatomie counties
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (May 5, 2023) – Oklahoma Human Services has received approval from the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services (USDA-FNS) to provide disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) benefits for individuals affected by the severe storms and tornados that struck McClain and Pottawatomie counties on April 19, 2023. As part of disaster recovery efforts, these benefits are available to both current SNAP customers and non-SNAP customers who meet income and resource eligibility guidelines. Full income and resource eligibility details are available in an editor’s note.
“USDA has been working closely with our OKDHS partners to provide some needed relief through our programs, such as D-SNAP.” said Southwest Regional Administrator, Bill Ludwig. “D-SNAP is an important program that can help Oklahomans on their road to recovery after the recent tornadoes and severe storms by ensuring they have food on the table.”
D-SNAP applications will be accepted in-person at the Pottawatomie and Cleveland County Oklahoma Human Services offices beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, May 8 and closing at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 12. Applicants residing or working in Pottawattamie County can go to the office located at 1400 N. Kennedy in Shawnee. Applicants residing or working in McClain County can go to the Cleveland County office at 631 E. Robinson St. in Norman. Mapping to these offices is available from our website. Designated D-SNAP staff will conduct face-to-face interviews with all applicants. Any household that resided or worked within McClain or Pottawatomie counties at the time of the April 19, 2023 severe storms and tornados and suffered disaster losses may be eligible to receive temporary D-SNAP assistance.
Each household must confirm they experienced one of the following events while living or working in one of the affected counties:
- Damage to or destruction of home or businesses due to the disaster.
- Disaster-related expenses not expected to be reimbursed during the disaster period.
- Loss or reduction of income.
- Inability to access cash or other assets (liquid resources).
Current SNAP recipients in the affected counties must complete an affidavit declaring they either sustained a loss of income or incurred disaster-related expenses because of the April 19, 2023 storms.
“Oklahoma Human Services is here to provide help and hope to our neighbors during these challenging times,” said Deb Smith, Director of Adult and Family Services. “We are grateful for the support of USDA-FNS to bring these additional resources to families in the affected counties.”
Households that meet the income and liquid resource test will be eligible for the maximum food benefit for their household size. Household composition is based on the persons normally living in the household on the day of the disaster.
Applicants must verify their identity through photo ID, signed affidavit from a collateral contact attesting to the identity of the applicant, or two documents that verify identity. Applicants should also be prepared to provide a specific list of disaster-related expenses they incurred as a result of the storms, if possible.
Households applying for D-SNAP must have actually lived or been employed in McClain or Pottawatomie counties on April 19, 2023 and must have suffered damages or loss.
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Editor’s note: Maximum gross income limits and benefit allotments for USDA-FNS declared disasters are available in Appendix C-3-A, but also detailed below. A household's take-home income and accessible liquid resources, minus disaster expenses, during the disaster period must not exceed the income limit for its size.
Household size Monthly income D-SNAP allotment
1 $1,950 $281
2 $2,343 $516
3 $2,737 $740
4 $3,130 $939
5 $3,555 $1,116
6 $3,982 $1,339
7 $4,375 $1,480
8 $4,768 $1,691
9 $5,162 $1,902
10 $5,556 $2,113
Each additional person add:
Monthly income D-SNAP allotment
$394 $211
