Schatz: New Expanded Federal Food Benefits Available For People Impacted By Maui Fires
Nearly 16,000 Households May Qualify for Disaster SNAP Assistance That Will Launch September 18. Enrolled Individuals Will Also Be Eligible for Reduced Cost of Phone, Internet Service Through the Federal Affordable Connectivity Program
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) approved food benefits through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) for households that were impacted by the fires last month.
“A month after the fires, people still need help with basic needs and this new federal assistance will help ensure they can put food on the table,” said Senator Schatz. “We’ll continue to work to bring every possible federal resource to Maui as we support its long-term recovery.”
Eligible households can enroll in D-SNAP from September 18, 2023 through September 23, 2023 at seven application sites across Hawai‘i. Approximately 16,000 households in Lahaina and Kula that are not typically eligible for regular SNAP assistance may qualify for D-SNAP.
Once enrolled in D-SNAP, individuals will also be eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program, a federal program that helps lower the cost of phone and internet service for those in need.
For more information about D-SNAP and how to apply, click here. Information about enrollment in the Affordable Connectivity Program can be found here.
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