DHS Announces Temporary Hot Food Waiver
for Linn County Food Assistance Recipients
August 24, 2020
(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Department of Human Services (DHS) announces a temporary rule change that will allow Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) and Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) recipients to purchase hot foods with their Food Assistance benefits in Linn County. The presidential disaster proclamation following the derecho on August 10, allows federal programs to alter or change their rules as communities recover from a disaster. Ordinarily excluded from eligibility, this waiver allows foods such as deli counter items, prepared pizza, and other hot meals to be purchased with EBT or P-EBT benefits from August 24 through September 21, 2020.
“The clean-up and recovery for Linn County will take months, securing this waiver for Linn County will help relieve some of the burden and stress the community is experiencing. We continue to seek input from derecho affected families, and we know that this will allow them more flexibility as they rebuild. This is just one component of a relief package that we are working on at the state and federal level,” said Janee Harvey, DHS Adult, Children, and Family Services Division Administrator.
Families can use their EBT or P-EBT cards and can make the purchases at any participating retailer in Linn County. This waiver is only available for Linn County. Recipients can use the FNS website to find all participating retailers.
For more information on DHS derecho resources, visit our website here.
Program contact:
641-684-3999 or
888-338-6067
Media contact:
Matt Highland
mhighla@dhs.state.ia.us
Visit dhs.iowa.gov for information on DHS and its programs.
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