SNAP recipients in Hawaii eligible for food replacement after Lala

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) — Hawaiʻi families who rely on federal SNAP benefits can now be reimbursed for food destroyed during Lala.

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The Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services announced Tuesday an update regarding the replacement of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits following severe weather, flooding, and power outages.

The replacement assistance is available for current SNAP recipients across the state who experienced food loss due to household misfortunes, specifically flooding or extended power outages lasting four hours or longer.

To receive replacement benefits, eligible households must submit a signed, written statement to DHS within 10 days of the food loss.

Eligibility for food replacement

According to state officials, SNAP replacement benefits allow eligible households to be reimbursed for food purchased with SNAP benefits that was subsequently destroyed.

The replacement amount will be based on the value of the food lost and cannot exceed the household’s total monthly SNAP benefit allocation.

Application requirements

To apply for a SNAP replacement the submitted statement must be signed by the participant and must include the following details:

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recipients are not required to use the template and can write and submit their own statements.

Submission and validation process

Completed statements can be submitted to any DHS Processing Center statewide.

Once received, state officials will review and validate the submissions. Approved applicants will receive their replacement benefits after the review process is complete.

The replacement amount will be based on the value of the food lost and cannot exceed the household’s total monthly SNAP benefit allocation.

Supporting recovery efforts

Gov. Josh Green emphasized the state’s commitment to supporting families as they recover from the impacts of the storm.

“Our priority is ensuring that families have access to essential resources as they rebuild, including the ability to replace food that was lost during severe weather and prolonged power outages,” Green said. “These SNAP replacement benefits are an important step in supporting community resilience and helping households get back.”

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For more information on the new update please visit here.