Beshear: Disaster SNAP benefits approved for eastern Kentucky counties

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Gov. Andy Beshear announced Monday that disaster food benefits have been approved for residents and people working in the eastern Kentucky counties affected by devastating floods.

In July, the president issued a major disaster declaration in Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike and Whitley counties, which has allowed for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. According to a release by the governor’s office, applications can be submitted beginning Wednesday, Aug. 24.

“The eastern Kentucky families impacted by the devastating flooding have lost everything, and these additional benefits are essential to helping these Kentuckians recover and rebuild,” said Beshear. “This will be a long road to recovery, but we will be here for our people in the weeks, months and years ahead. We are in this together.”

Applicants should call the Department for Community Based Services’ center for D-SNAP at 833-371-8570, which is the fastest way to receive benefits. Applications will be taken by phone from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST Monday through Friday and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST.

“We are grateful for this emergency funding to help Kentuckians who may have lost loved ones, employment or personal property due to the worst flooding the region has seen in generations,” said Eric Friedlander, the secretary for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

Applications may be made in person at a DCBS office or at a Disaster Recovery Center. A complete list of up-to-date locations and times is available here.

Residents who currently receive SNAP benefits may also request and apply for replacement of benefits due to power outages and other impacts by calling the D-SNAP center or by coming to the local DCBS office or DRC. Any SNAP recipient may request replacement benefits whenever food that was purchased with SNAP benefits is destroyed due to a household disaster, according to Beshear’s office.

Recipients in Breathitt, Knott, Letcher, Martin and Perry counties may automatically receive replacements. Any SNAP household receiving a replacement due to lost food in the 12-county area will automatically receive a supplement, bringing their household allotment up to the maximum for their household size for one month, according to the release.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in designated counties can apply for other types of assistance at the DRCs, through FEMA at disasterassistance.gov, on the FEMA mobile app or by calling 800-621-3362. To see DRC locations, visit governor.ky.gov/floodresources.

Beshear stated those who have been approved for assistance should sign up for direct deposit with FEMA. Call FEMA at 800-621-3362 to sign up for electronic deposits.