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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Floridians affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton can now receive food assistance.
On Wednesday, the Florida Department of Children and Families announced the state’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Program (DSNAP) application was approved.
The program is open to residents of disaster-declared counties who meet financial eligibility requirements, do not receive regular food assistance and suffered a disaster-related loss. If approved, recipients will receive an EBT card that can be used to purchase food.
Applicants are asked to pre-register through the DCF’s DSNAP website beginning on October 27.
- Pre-registration is only available for counties designated in each phase. View the Phase Schedule by County below.
- Verification is required for certain elements of the application.
- Eligibility can be determined more quickly and easily if a state driver’s license or identification number and a Social Security number are provided.
- Pre-registration will only be open for counties listed in the current phase.
- Residents who are unable to pre-register online can visit one of the D-SNAP event locations in-person when they are open.
- When selecting the disaster on the pre-registration form, please select the most recent storm that impacted your household.
After pre-registration, applicants must complete an interview over the phone. They may only call during the designated dates and hours for their county. Interview times are designated based on the first letter of the applicant’s last name.
Phase One
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.
Applicants must call the D-SNAP call center at (888) 348-0408 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET on the designated days below:
- 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
Phase Two
Charlotte, Hernando, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota counties may pre-register from Sunday, November 3 to Friday, November 8.
Phone interviews will take place Monday, November 4 and from Wednesday, November 6 to Friday, November 8.
Phase Three
Citrus, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee and Volusia counties may pre-register from Monday, November 11 to Friday, November 15.
Phone interviews will take place Tuesday, November 12 to Friday November 15.
DCF will hold in-person events for applicants who can’t participate in phone interviews. Those dates have not been announced.