Northeast Georgia to receive food stamp replacements

Food stamp recipients in several Northeast Georgia counties will be receiving replacement benefits for September because of Hurricane Irma.

The replacement monies are for recipients who lost food because of power outages caused by Irma.

While Stephens and Franklin counties are not on the list, those living in Habersham, Banks, Jackson, Elbert, White, Lumpkin, and Hall counties are eligible.

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service, which oversees the food stamp program in Georgia, approved the state’s request to replace 45 percent of September’s benefit allotment for customers living in 69 counties across the state that were the impacted by the storm.

The waiver allows Georgians whose food was spoiled during the power outages to replace what was purchased with SNAP funds without the burden of  have to file paperwork to prove a power outage spoiled their food.

SNAP recipients in the counties covered by the waiver do not need to complete the Food Loss Replacement Form or take any action to receive the replacement benefits.

However, those receiving food stamp benefits in counties that are not on the list, such as Stephens County, and who experienced a loss of food due to Hurricane Irma, can still request a replacement.

Those food stamp recipients simply need to fill out a Food Loss Replacement Form either in person at their local DFACS office or by mail to the local DFCS office.

The form does not need to be accompanied with verification from the utility company.

Those in the counties on the list have already received their replacement monies, but those who need to fill out the replacement form have until Monday, October 2 to do so.

For additional information and updates, you can go to the D-FACS web site at www.dfcs.georgia.gov or visit the Georgia DFCS Facebook page.