Sires Announces Disaster Food Aid for NJ Residents Impacted by Sandy

For Immediate Release                                                           Contact: Erica Daughtrey

November 20, 2012                                                                          201-222-2828

(Washington, D.C.)-  Today, Congressman Sires announced that New Jersey residents impacted by Hurricane Sandy will receive additional emergency food assistance.  Many residents of the New Jersey counties most severely impacted by Sandy, including Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, and Union counties, will be eligible to receive Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits to help cover the costs of food.   Current food stamp beneficiaries will directly see a supplemental benefit on their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, while other individuals will be able to apply for D-SNAP benefits to relieve food costs associated with Sandy.

 “Many families devastated by Sandy were already struggling to make ends meet prior to the storm- now they are even more vulnerable,” stated Congressman Sires. “This emergency federal aid will help these individuals and others on the road to recovery feed their families.”

Specifically, current food stamp recipients for the eligible counties do not need to apply for D-SNAP because they have already received a 30 percent October replacement allocation on their EBT card and will also receive a supplemental benefit by December 7, 2012.  Other individuals can begin to apply for D-SNAP benefits on Monday, November 26th.  Eligible recipients will receive their benefits on an EBT card that may be used for the purchase of grocery food items.  To apply, applicants will need to go to the D-SNAP location in their own county and provide: identification and proof of residency; pay stubs and bank statements from October 28th through November 26th; and receipts that show more than $100 spent on disaster-related expenses between October 28th and November 26th. 

For more information on eligibility and the application process for D-SNAP, please visit www.njsnap.org.

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