A Presidential Disaster Declaration for individual assistance was approved for four additional counties affected by extreme rainfall and flooding beginning on June 16, 2024.
This declaration allows the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to offer the Disaster Food Assistance, also known as Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) for Iowans in Buena Vista, Cherokee, O’Brien and Woodbury counties.
Disaster Food Assistance uses different qualifying rules than regular SNAP. Those who may not normally qualify for SNAP, based on income, may qualify for Disaster Food Assistance. Persons who may be eligible for Disaster Food Assistance benefits include those who:
- Lived in one of the four disaster counties, and
- Had a storm-related loss, such as:
- Loss of or no access to income due to the disaster, including reduced, terminated, or delayed receipt of income,
- Home or self-employment business repairs, including supplies paid for out of pocket and not reimbursed during the 30-day period of time
- Temporary shelter expenses, and
- Qualify based on income and resources between June 16 – July 15,
OR
- Worked in one of the three disaster counties and experienced a loss of income due to the disaster, and
- Qualify based on income and resources between June 16 -July 15.
Income and Expenses
A household’s net income, for their household size, cannot be more than the amounts listed below for the following 30-day period of time: June 16, 2024 – July 15, 2024
Any disaster-related expenses paid out of pocket and not reimbursed during that 30-day period of time can be subtracted from the household’s net income to be eligible for D-SNAP benefits.
| Household Size | Income Limit |
|---|---|
| 1 | $2,085 |
| 2 | $2,514 |
| 3 | $2,942 |
| 4 | $3,380 |
| 5 | $3,845 |
| 6 | $4,308 |
| 7 | $4,736 |
| 8 | $5,165 |
How and Where to Apply
Persons can apply for Disaster Food Assistance by phone or in-person. The hours are the same for both.
Applications and interviews can be completed over the phone by calling 877-828-5648.
Applications and interviews are completed in-person at the following locations. Please take proof of identity. You may need to provide proof of residence in the storm-affected area, income, and disaster-related expenses.
Locations:
Cherokee Mental Health Institute
1251 W. Cedar Loop
Cherokee, IA 51012
Woodbury County HHS Trosper-Hoyt Co Services Building
822 Douglas St.
Sioux City, IA 51101
In-Person Times:
- Monday, 7/15: 1pm – 6pm
- Tuesday, 7/16: 9am – 6pm
- Wednesday, 7/17: 9am – 6pm
- Thursday, 7/18: 9am – 6pm
- Friday, 7/19: 9am – 4pm
Benefits
Those who are eligible to receive Disaster Food Assistance benefits will receive food dollars on an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card that is equivalent to the maximum allotment of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for their household size. Disaster Food Assistance benefits can be used for food purchases at any SNAP-authorized retailer, including farmers markets and certain online retailers. For a complete list of authorized retailers, please see the USDA SNAP retailer locator fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-locator.
SNAP Recipients
SNAP recipients who received June 2024 SNAP benefits, lived or worked in the counties listed above and were affected can apply for Disaster Food Assistance benefits by completing SNAP Recipient Request for Disaster SNAP which is available at the Disaster Food Assistance locations and by calling 877-828-5648 on the dates and times listed above.
Purchase Hot Foods
Persons affected by the flooding may use both SNAP and Disaster Food Assistance benefits to purchase hot foods at participating retailers until August 1, 2024 in the following counties: Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Kossuth, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sioux, and Woodbury.
For more information visit: hhs.iowa.gov/dsnap.