USDA approves Oklahoma Human Services to provide disaster SNAP assistance for storm survivors in specified counties

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (May 17, 2024) – 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 tornadoes that struck Carter, Hughes, Love, Murray, Okmulgee, Osage, Pontotoc and Washita counties beginning April 25. As part of disaster recovery efforts, these benefits are available to 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 partners at Oklahoma Human Services to ensure affected families can receive some needed relief from the recent severe storms.” said Southwest Regional Administrator Bill Ludwig. “D-SNAP is a way to help residents in the impacted areas put food on the table as they work to recover.”

D-SNAP applications will be accepted in-person at the following locations from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, Monday, May 20 through Friday, May 24. Applicants must have resided or worked in the affected counties to qualify. Mapping to the Human Services Centers 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 Carter, Hughes, Love, Murray, Okmulgee, Osage, Pontotoc and Washita counties at the time of the severe storms and tornadoes that began April 25 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 storms in the designated time period.

“Oklahomans are known for taking care of each other during challenging times and Oklahoma Human Services stands ready to offer help and hope to our neighbors,” said Deb Smith, Deputy Director of Human Services and 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 one month 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 Carter, Hughes, Love, Murray, Okmulgee, Osage, Pontotoc and Washita counties beginning on April 25, 2024 and must have suffered damages or loss.

###

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                                  $2,085                         $291

2                                  $2,514                         $535

3                                  $2,942                         $766

4                                  $3,380                         $973

5                                  $3,845                         $1,155

6                                  $4,308                         $1,386

7                                  $4,736                         $1,532

8                                  $5,165                         $1,751

9                                  $5,594                         $1,970

10                                $6,023                         $2,189

Each additional person add:

Monthly income        D-SNAP allotment

$429                            $219

About USDA-FNS

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service works to end hunger and improve food and nutrition security through a suite of 16 nutrition assistance programs, such as the school breakfast and lunch programs, WIC and SNAP. Together, these programs serve 1 in 4 Americans over the course of a year, promoting consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe, and affordable food essential to optimal health and well-being. FNS also provides science-based nutrition recommendations through the co-development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. FNS’s report, “Leveraging the White House Conference to Promote and Elevate Nutrition Security: The Role of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service,” highlights ways the agency will support the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy, released in conjunction with the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in September 2022. To learn more about FNS, visit www.fns.usda.gov and follow @USDANutrition.

About Oklahoma Human Services

Oklahoma Human Services offers help and hope to more than one million Oklahomans each year through a wide range of services and support that promote their safety, independence and wellbeing. Learn more at https://oklahoma.gov/okdhs.html and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

High-resolution agency logos are available at https://oklahoma.gov/okdhs/library/okdhslogo/fullcolor.html.