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Health and Family Services Cabinet
Application Period for Disaster Food Benefits Extended for Eight Counties; New deadline is Wednesday, March 28
FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 23, 2012) – The Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) is extending the application period for Kentuckians living and working in eight counties that were affected by recent tornadoes and severe weather to apply for federal disaster food benefits.
Kentuckians living or working in Johnson, Laurel, Lawrence, Magoffin, Martin, Morgan, Pendleton and Wolfe counties who were affected by the March 2, storms and tornadoes will have until Wednesday, March 28, to apply for the disaster benefits.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), approved the extension and is providing resources to purchase food for residents of these counties, part of a federal disaster declaration from the March 2 storms. People who work in these counties and have lost income may also apply.
SNAP is formerly known as food stamps. CHFS’s Department of Community Based Services administers the program in all 120 Kentucky counties.
One-time disaster food benefits
Residents who live or work in the affected counties and do not currently participate in the regular SNAP program or are not eligible for food benefits under the normal SNAP eligibility guidelines may apply for temporary help with food costs. To be eligible, the household must have:
• Experienced damage to or destruction of their home or self-owned business;
• Disaster-related expenses not expected to be reimbursed in March;
• A reduction, termination or delay in receiving income; or
• No access to liquid financial assets, such as checking or savings accounts.
The household’s income and accessible resources received in the month of the disaster will be counted in determining eligibility for the food benefits. These are one-time benefits based on the household’s size.
The household’s income and accessible resources received in March will be counted in determining eligibility for the food benefits. These one-time benefits are based on the household’s size.
How to apply
Applicants must bring proper personal identification and verification of residency. It is also recommended, if possible, that applicants bring proof of Social Security numbers for all household members; take home pay and income received in the month the disaster caused losses; accessible resources like savings and checking accounts and cash on hand; and statements to verify disaster-related expenses.
The DCBS offices in the following counties will accept applications Monday, March 26, through Wednesday, March 28. Office hours are 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Residents should contact their local office for more information.
Families who have lost income and live or work in the disaster counties can apply in the following locations:
Johnson County: 205 Main St., Suite 1, Paintsville, Ky. 41240. Phone: (606) 788-7118
Laurel County: 31 South Laurel Road, London, Ky. 40744. Phone: (606) 330-2025
Lawrence County: 180 Bulldog Lane, Suite 1, Louisa, Ky. 41230. Phone: (606) 638-4526
Magoffin County: 125 S. Church St., Salyersville, Ky. 41465. Phone: (606) 349-6131
Martin County: 104 E. Main St., Suite 200, P.O. Box 408, Inez, Ky. 41224. Phone: (606) 298-3577
Morgan County: 87 Redwine Road (Former Wrigley Elementary), West Liberty, Ky. 41472. Phone: (606) 495-8588 or (606) 495-8590.
Pendleton County: 500 Market St., Falmouth, Ky. 41040. Phone: (859) 654-6123
Wolfe County: 330 Main St., Campton, Ky. 41301. Phone: (606) 668-3175
Penalties for fraud
It is illegal to sell, trade or give away SNAP and disaster SNAP electronic benefits cards. Households that deliberately withhold or misrepresent information and receive benefits for which they are not entitled will be required to pay them back. Households who commit fraud may be disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits, fined up to $250,000, and/or incarcerated.
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