Florida DCF announces disaster relief program in response to recent hurricanes
Deadline to call in is Thursday, Oct. 31
Heather Ainsley
ECB Publishing, Inc.
On Wednesday, Oct. 23, the Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris announced the approval for Florida's application for a Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). This program will provide food assistance for individuals and families that have been impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton who are not currently receiving assistance through the regular Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
According to a press release issued by the Florida Department of Children and Families, D-SNAP will be implemented in phases by county, starting on Monday, Oct. 28. All applicants will be required to pre-register online at MyFLFamilies.com/DSNAP.
“To ensure the fastest service to households who are eligible to receive D-SNAP, the Department will begin the first phase by offering a phone option,” reads the release. “In the coming weeks, the Department will host in-person D-SNAP events for residents who cannot participate by phone.” The in-person events will be hosted at locations that will be announced soon, and all relevant information will be made available online.
Those who are eligible for D-SNAP include applicants who are not currently receiving regular food assistance, and were currently living in a disaster-declared county and have been a resident in said county at the time of Hurricane Helene and/or Milton. Additionally, applicants must have suffered a disaster-related loss such as: damage to their home or self-employment property, loss of food, reduction or loss of income, other disaster-related expenses. All applicants must meet the financial eligibility requirement to be approved.
Here's how it works for this area, which is categorized as “Phase One”:
1. Online pre-registration will be open for Columbia, Dixie, Franklin, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, and Wakulla counites from Sunday, October 27 at 12:01 a.m. through Thursday, October 31 at 11:59 p.m.
2.Pre-register online by visiting MyFLFamilies.com/DSNAP.
3. After pre-registration is complete, applicants in the Phase One counties must call the
D-SNAP Call Center at (888) 348-0408 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on the designated day listed below to complete a phone interview.
- – Last name begins with A-F: Call on Monday, October 28
- – Last name begins with G-N: Call on Tuesday, October 29
- – Last name begins with O-Z: Call on Wednesday, October 30
- – Any last name: Call on Thursday, October 31
Note: Thursday is the last day to call if you live in a Phase One county. Residents of those counties must pre-register within the 5-day period. The Department of Children and Families will hold in-person D-SNAP events for residents who cannot participate by phone. Visit the website for ongoing D-SNAP announcements and updates.