In the case of a real emergency or natural disaster, how to pay for your next meal should be the least of your worries. The Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, often referred to as D-SNAP, offers food assistance for people who can't afford enough food while paying for disaster-related expenses after a natural disaster like a hurricane or tornado. 

When states offer D-SNAP, they only get a short time period to take applications—sometimes only 1 week. So it's important to act quickly if you are ever affected by a natural disaster.

Who can get D-SNAP benefits?

Even if you don't qualify for regular SNAP, you might qualify for D-SNAP if you:

  • Must pay to evacuate your home or relocate
  • Lost your source of income due to a disaster
  • Are facing home or business repairs due to a disaster
  • Must pay for temporary shelter costs
  • Lost food due to power outages or flooding
  • Suffered a disaster-related injury or illness

If you already get SNAP benefits, you can apply for extra help if you have disaster-related expenses and your monthly SNAP benefits are less than the monthly maximum.

How long do D-SNAP benefits last?

D-SNAP offers short-term disaster recovery assistance with 1 month of benefits. The amount is the same as the biggest SNAP benefit amount typically given to a household of the same size.

D-SNAP benefits arrive within 3 days on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which you can use to purchase food at most grocery stores.

How do I apply for D-SNAP benefits?

If a natural disaster affects your area, look for information about D-SNAP in your local news or contact your nearest SNAP office for details. In some states, you can register ahead of time for disaster food benefits online to make it easier in case of emergency.

How do I know if I will qualify for D-SNAP?

To qualify, your household's after-tax income and assets (like your cash, savings and checking accounts, stocks, and bonds) will be valued. Then your household's unreimbursed disaster-related expenses will be subtracted from that amount. The final amount must not be more than the D-SNAP income limit for your household size.

Through September 2023, the 2023 income limit for the 48 contiguous U.S. states and the District of Columbia* is as follows:

Household Size Income Limit Maximum Benefit Amount
1 person $1,950 $281
2 people $2,343 $516
3 people $2,737 $740
4 people $3,130 $939
5 people $3,555 $1,116
6 people $3,982 $1,339
7 people $4,375 $1,480
8 people $4,768 $1,691
Each additional person  +$394 +$211

*D-SNAP income limits differ for Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

What counts as a disaster-related expense?

Some examples of qualifying disaster-related expenses include:

  • Evacuation costs
  • Temporary shelter
  • Clean-up costs
  • Storage expenses
  • Home or business repairs
  • Vehicle repairs
  • Medical expenses for a disaster-related injury or illness
  • Disaster-related pet boarding fees

Are there other types of emergency SNAP benefits?

Details vary by state, but other types of emergency SNAP benefits include:

  • Expedited SNAP benefits: You may be able to get 1 month of benefits delivered in just 7 days while your full SNAP application is reviewed.
  • Replacement SNAP benefits: If food purchased with your EBT card is lost due to a power outage of at least 24 hours or another household incident, you may qualify for replacement SNAP dollars. 

How do I check if I can get help from SNAP? 

If you don't currently get SNAP benefits, finding out if you can is quick and worthwhile. This life-changing program can help you to buy the foods you need to stay healthy, whether it’s on a regular basis or during times of disaster.

Start by clicking here and entering your ZIP code to learn more about SNAP, as well as many other benefits programs.