Disaster Food Stamp Assistance Available to County Residents

COURT HOUSE – Cape May County Freeholder Kristine Gabor announced that the Cape May County Board of Social Services will be taking Disaster Food Stamp Assistance applications for those affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Disaster SNAP, called D-SNAP, is administered by the US Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services through the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the counties’ Boards of Social Services.
Eligible recipients will receive their benefits on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card that only can be used for the purchase of grocery food items.
Applications and assistance will be available at the Cape May County Board of Social Services building located at 4005 Route 9 South in Rio Grande, New Jersey and at several off site locations starting Nov. 26, 2012. The multiple locations will provide easy access for eligible county residents who experienced extreme material losses during Hurricane Sandy or subsequent flooding to apply for food assistance through the disaster-related Supplemental Nutritional Program (D-SNAP). Applications will be taken through Dec. 4, 2012.
Applications will be taken at the following locations:
Ocean City Library – 1735 Simpson Avenue, Ocean City
Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
11/26/2012 and 11/29/2012 – Last names ending A-I
11/27/2012 and 11/30/2012 Last names ending J-Q
11/28/2012 and 12/3/2012 Last names ending R-Z
Tues, 12/4/2012 – Make up day
Cape May County Board of Social Services Building-4005 Route 9 South, Rio Grande
Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
11/26/2012 and 11/29/2012 Last names ending A-I
11/27/2012 and 11/30/2012 Last names ending J-Q
11/28/2012 and 12/3/2012 Last names ending R-Z
12/4/2012 Make up day
Additionally, applications will be taken at Senior Centers for the elderly and disabled population:
Lower Cape Senior Center – 11/26/2011 and 11/29/2012
2612 Bayshore Road
Villas, NJ 08251
Hours: 9:30 a.m. – Noon
Ocean City Senior Center – 11/27/2012 and 11/30/2012
1735 Simpson Avenue
Ocean City, NJ 08260
Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 12 noon
North Wildwood Senior Center (In the North Wildwood Recreation Center Building)
Tenth and Central Avenues
North Wildwood, NJ 08262
11/28/2012 and 12/3/2012
Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 12 noon
Application rules and eligibility for D-SNAP have been modified based on lessons learned after Tropical Storm Irene in September 2011. Misinformation about the program caused long lines at designated application sites and created a potential for fraudulent activity. This year, strict criteria must be met in order for people to qualify.
Current SNAP recipients should not apply for this program because they already received a 30 percent October replacement allocation on their EBT card and will receive a supplemental benefit by Dec. 7, 2012.
Under the new rules, applicants must provide:
• Identification and proof of residency – a driver’s license, for example, would serve as both.
• Pay stubs and bank statements (cash, checking and savings) for the 30 days from October 28th through November 26th. Under the guidelines, for a family of one, the income limit is $2,268 with a benefit of $200; a family of two is $2,965 limit with a $367 benefit; a family of three is $3,416 limit with a $526 benefit; and, a family of four is $4,034 limit with a $668 benefit.
• Receipts that show more than $100 spent on disaster-related expenses between Oct. 28 and Nov. 26. The cost of replacing food cannot be included in the $100, but restaurant expenses are allowed.
Related expenses may include:
• Temporary shelter in a motel
• Home/business repairs
• Evacuation expenses
• Disaster clean up
• Disaster related vehicle repairs
• Gasoline for a generator
• Replacement of personal items, such as clothing or household items, such as appliances, tools, educational materials.
If any of the purchases were charged to a credit card, the resident must be able to document that they paid the credit card bill for these items by Nov. 26.
Applications must be received during this enrollment period. For additional information, call 609-886-6200.
Income Eligibility Chart:
Household Size – Disaster Income Limit – Allotment Amount
1 – $2,268 – $200
2 – $2,965 – $367
3 – $3,416 – $526
4 – $4,034 – $668
5 – $4,452 – $793
6 – $4,979 – $952
7 – $5,363 – $1,052
8 – $5,747 – $1,202
Each Additional Member + $384 + $150