How to apply for disaster food stamps

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The Tennessee Department of Human Services is prepared to provide replacement Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to families who suffered losses due to severe weather which may have caused power outages or a household misfortune. 

These replacement benefits are available for existing SNAP recipients who:

• Lost food due to a power outage of 12 hours or more
• Lost food due to a household misfortune

Individuals requesting replacement benefits need to sign an affidavit and send it to DHS using the File Upload tool, available here: https://fileupload.dhs.tn.gov/.

Affidavit Request for SNAP Replacement Due to Power Outage (HS-3003) Instructions

Affidavit Request for SNAP replacement Due to Power Outage (HS-3003) Spanish Instructions

SNAP recipients must request replacement benefits within 10 (ten) calendar days of experiencing food loss. Once approved, SNAP replacement benefits are issued on the current recipient’s EBT card.  Replacement SNAP benefits will be authorized for the value of the loss only and can’t exceed the current month’s allotment.

D-SNAP Eligibility: Starting February 14, 2022 individuals and families located in Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Gibson, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Obion, Stewart, Sumner, Weakley and Wilson counties that experienced a loss as a result of the December 10-11 severe storms can pre-register/apply for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

D-SNAP benefits are provided through an electronic debit-like card and can be used to purchase food items at grocery stores and other authorized retailers who accept electronic benefit transfer (EBT). These cards will be mailed to qualifying homes following approval. Recipients of Tennessee’s regular SNAP program are ineligible to receive D-SNAP.

Who Can Receive D-SNAP:

If you lived or worked in Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Gibson, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Obion, Stewart, Sumner, Weakley or Wilson counties on December 10 or 11, 2021, you may be eligible for D-SNAP benefits if you meet special disaster income limits and have experienced one of the following as a direct result of the severe weather event:

• Damage to or destruction of the home or self-employment business.
• Loss or inaccessibility of income including a reduction or termination of income or a significant delay in receiving income due to disaster related problems.
• Disaster-related expenses (home or business repairs, temporary shelter, evacuation, etc.) that are not expected to be reimbursed during the disaster benefit period.

Recipients of Tennessee’s regular SNAP benefits are not eligible to receive D-SNAP.

How to Apply for D-SNAP:

Families who meet the qualifications for disaster assistance may pre-register on the D-SNAP application page. Applications/pre-registration from residents or workers in Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Gibson, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Obion, Stewart, Sumner, Weakley or Wilson counties will be accepted beginning on Monday, February 14 at 8:00 A.M. CST through Friday, February 18 at 4:30 P.M. CST. 

Special Note: Applicants may only pre-register/apply once in the one-week period for D-SNAP.

Additional Information:

Customers in need of technical assistance can call the D-SNAP hotline number at 1-888-615-8180. Face-to-face assistance is available by appointment. To schedule an appointment contact your local TDHS office in Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Gibson, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Obion, Stewart, Sumner, Weakley or Wilson counties. 

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is making additional assistance available to help families following severe storms in December 2021. Qualifying families who received damage to their homes or have been unable to work because of the December 10-11 severe storms are now able to apply for a one-time payment of Emergency Cash Assistance.

This program will provide $500 for households of up to 2 people, $750 for households of 3 to 4 people, and $1,000 for households of 5 or more. This money is available to families who live or work in Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Gibson, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Obion, Stewart, Sumner, Weakley or Wilson counties.

Families who live or work in Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Gibson, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Obion, Stewart, Sumner, Weakley or Wilson counties can apply online from Monday, February 14 through 4:30 P.M. CST Friday, February 18, 2022.

In addition to living or working in one of the 12 designated counties, applicants must also meet the below qualifications to receive Emergency Cash Assistance:

• Families must include a child under the age of 18 or a pregnant woman (regardless of trimester).
• Families must meet Families First citizenship requirements.
• Families and household members must have a valid Social Security Number.
• The family’s resources must not exceed $2,000.
• Families must be unable to live in their home (or apartment) on the date the application is filed, or the home requires significant repairs due to the damage from the disaster, or the applicant must not be able to work due to destruction of the workplace.
• The family’s gross household income must not exceed 85% of the State’s Median Income. See chart below:

Emergency Cash Assistance Income Standards

Note: Add $156 for each person over 8.

Families who qualify for Emergency Cash Assistance and currently receive SNAP or Families First benefits will receive a deposit on their existing electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card. Qualifying families who do not have an EBT card will receive one in the mail. These debit-like cards can be used to purchase items at any authorized retailer that accepts EBT or at any Tennessee EBT Cash Access Location.