(Des Moines, Iowa) –The Department of Human Services (DHS) announces that residents of Boone, Jasper, Polk, Poweshiek and Story Counties may be eligible to receive Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). Those who were impacted by the derecho and subsequent power outages due to the August 10 storm can apply for benefits in person during their county’s application period listed below. DHS recently distributed over $2.5 million dollars in D-SNAP benefits to Linn County residents.
Those who are eligible to receive D-SNAP benefits will receive food dollars on an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card that is equivalent to the maximum allotment of Food Assistance benefits for their household size.
Households who have already received Food Assistance/SNAP benefits in August or September 2020 are not eligible for D-SNAP because maximum allotments were already issued for those households due to the ongoing COVID-19 emergency. D-SNAP eligibility differs from Food Assistance, so households should review the eligibility criteria for application.
You are eligible if you have suffered at least one of the following disaster-related expenses:
- Destroyed or spoiled food
- Lost or no access to income due to the disaster, including reduced, terminated or delayed receipt of income
- Home or business repairs
- Temporary shelter expenses
- Evacuation or relocation expenses
- Home or business protection
- Disaster-related personal injury
Due to COVID-19 precautions, and in order to expedite the distribution process, DHS has set up accessible sites in each county where applications will be processed and cards distributed. Applicants must apply in person to receive D-SNAP benefits. Sites will reserve the first hour of operation to process applications for the elderly and individuals with disabilities. Applicants should not arrive more than one hour earlier than the posted start time. Residents of Boone, Jasper, Poweshiek, and Story can apply for D-SNAP benefits from Tuesday, September 15 through Saturday, September 19. Residents of Polk County can apply for D-SNAP benefits from Tuesday, September 15 through Sunday, September 20. The Polk County site has different operating hours, please see the information below.
Tuesday, 9/15 – Saturday, 9/19 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Boone
Boone County Fairgrounds
Commercial Exhibits Building
1601 Industrial Park Rd
Boone, IA 50036
Jasper
Iowa Speedway
Newton Club
3333 Rusty Wallace Drive
Newton, IA 50208
Poweshiek
Eagles Club
616 4th Ave
Grinnell, IA 50112
Story
Research Park Building 2
Iowa State University
2625 North Loop Drive
Ames, IA 50010
Tuesday, 9/15 – Saturday, 9/19 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday, 9/20 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Polk
Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center
855 5th Ave, North Entrance
Des Moines, IA 50309
D-SNAP 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. Applicants will be asked to provide information about their household, the money coming into the home during the 30-day disaster period, and out-of-pocket expenses paid as the result of the August 10 storm. Applicants need to provide proof of identification and are encouraged to bring something showing their address in one of the eligible counties. Each site will have access to Language Line, which can provide tele-translation services for applicants. All applications will be provided in English, and Spanish.
Information for D-SNAP in additional counties will be announced as details are confirmed. For more information about the program, including where D-SNAP benefits can be used, please visit our website or view the program flyer.
