SNAP benefits can be replaced in Ky. counties impacted by Hurricane Helene

Other county residents can request benefits as well that were affected by the storm

                                       

(Story Courtesy of Kentucky Today)

FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that households in 15 Kentucky counties impacted by Hurricane Helene could be eligible for replacement of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

This is one of many recent steps the USDA says they have taken to ensure those who were impacted by Hurricane Helene in need have food to eat. 

Rather than require SNAP households to report food losses by applying individually, the USDA is allowing the state of Kentucky to approve automatic mass replacements for residents of certain counties and zip codes who lost food because of the hurricane.

The USDA is authorizing the mass replacement of 60 percent of regular SNAP benefits for households that were issued in the calendar month prior to September 26, 2024, in the following 15 counties: Anderson, Bath, Boyd, Bracken, Estill, Green, Greenup, Lee, Leslie, Lewis, Menifee, Owsley, Powell, Robertson, and Rowan counties.

SNAP recipients residing in other affected areas beside the 15 counties covered by this action, may also request replacement benefits, but they will have to file an affidavit with the local office attesting to their disaster-related loss.

More details on SNAP benefits replacement will be made available through the website of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.