If there’s an emergency or disaster, you shouldn’t have to worry about how to pay for food. The Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program helps people buy groceries if they can’t afford them after a disaster like a hurricane or tornado. This program is also called D-SNAP.

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. An EBT card works just like a debit card. You can use it to purchase food at most grocery stores.

How do I apply for D-SNAP benefits?

If a natural disaster affects the area you live in, look for information about D-SNAP in your local news or contact your nearest SNAP office for details. In some states, you can register for disaster food benefits online in advance. This makes it easier in case of an emergency.

What are the qualifications for D-SNAP?

To see if you qualify for D-SNAP, the state will look at your household’s money—like your after-tax income, cash, checking accounts, stocks and bonds, and savings. 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.

Effective through September 2025, the 2025 income limits for the 48 contiguous U.S. states and the District of Columbia* are as follows:

Household Size

Income Limit

Maximum Benefit Amount

1

$2,171

$292

2

$2,620

$536

3

$3,068

$768

4

$3,529

$975

5

$4,015

$1,158

6

$4,500

$1,390

7

$4,948

$1,536

8

$5,397

$1,756

Each additional person 

+$449

+$220

*D-SNAP income limits are different 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 (faster) SNAP benefits: You may be able to get benefits in 7 days while your full SNAP application is reviewed. In some states, you can get expedited SNAP benefits in as few as 3 days.
  • Replacement SNAP benefits: If food purchased with your EBT card is lost due to a power outage or another household incident, you may qualify for replacement SNAP benefits. 

How do I check my SNAP eligibility?

If you don't currently get SNAP benefits, it’s easy to see if you qualify. This life-changing program can help you afford the foods you need to stay healthy, whether it’s every day 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 that can help you age well.