If food you purchased with SNAP benefits spoiled because of a power outage, fire, flood, storm or another event outside your control, you may be able to have those benefits replaced… but most people don’t know that this replacement option even exists!
Don’t feel bad. I didn’t know it was an option when my family was receiving SNAP benefits, either. I don’t want that to happen to you.
But this particular rule has been on my mind over the last few weeks because my phone keeps buzzing with power shutoff notices. I don’t know how things are in your area, but in my area utility providers are constantly talking about Public Safety Power Shutoffs. That’s when they turn off your electricity to try to prevent wildfires — and sometimes, those shutoffs can last for days.
Although I understand why it’s necessary, I also realize that sitting in the dark for days in triple-digit heat can create its own kind of emergency. Especially if you’re on SNAP and you only shop once a month and all of your perishable groceries are in danger.
What most people don’t know — and what I wish every SNAP recipient knew — is that you may be able to get those benefits replaced if you lose them due to a “household misfortune.” This is a federal right, written into law, available in every single state.
Let’s talk about how this works.
What Situations Qualify for Replacement?
Before we get into the how, let’s be clear about the why: this isn’t a state-by-state perk that some people get and others don’t. It’s federal law.
Under 7 C.F.R. § 274.6, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service requires every state SNAP agency in the country to provide replacement benefits when a household loses food purchased with SNAP due to a “household misfortune.”
USDA explains, “A household misfortune is an event beyond the household’s control (e.g., flood, fire, tornado, hurricane) that results in the destruction of USDA Foods stored at the household’s residence… A household misfortune could also be an extended power outage that prevents the household from storing refrigerated or frozen foods properly.”
It appears that this also includes utility-initiated shutoffs like a PSPS when they are outside of your control and not due to inability to pay.
However, each states set their own requirements for how long a power outage must last before it qualifies. In several states, the minimum is four hours. For some states, like Tennessee, the outage must be at least 12 hours. Generally, states focus on whether or not the outage actually caused food to spoil. You’ll need to check with your local SNAP office to see the requirements in your area.
Who is Eligible?
To qualify for SNAP replacement benefits, you need to:
- Currently receive SNAP benefits
- Have lost food that was purchased with SNAP benefits
- Have experienced a qualifying event — power outage, fire, flood, storm, or other disaster beyond your control
- Report the loss within 10 days of when the food was destroyed
Don’t currently receive SNAP but were hit hard by a major declared disaster? You may qualify for Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) — a separate program with expanded eligibility for people who don’t normally receive food assistance. More on that below.
How Much Can You Get Back?
The amount you can get back depends on what your circumstances are and how much food was lost as a result of your household misfortune.
- The replacement benefits are supposed to cover the actual value of the food you lost.
- The maximum replacement value is one full month’s SNAP allotment.
- There is no limit on the number of times you can receive replacements. If you experience several misfortunes in a single year, you may still qualify.
After a widespread disaster or power outage, a state may issue automatic mass replacements. These replacements may equal a specified percentage of each affected household’s monthly benefits (in California, it’s usually 70%). The percentage and eligible geographic areas depend on the state’s request and USDA’s approval.
This is different from an individual replacement request, which is generally based on the actual value of the SNAP-purchased food the household lost.
How to Apply
It is extremely important that you start the process of applying for replacement benefits right away because you only have 10 calendar days to report your loss to the state SNAP agency.
In some large-scale disasters, states can request a federal waiver to extend this window or even replace benefits automatically for everyone.
This doesn’t always happen, though, so it’s often best to not count on a waiver and always report as soon as you can.
- Contact your state SNAP office as soon as possible. Reach out by phone, online or in person.
- Fill out your state’s replacement form or statement. Depending on the state, it may be called an affidavit, declaration or statement of loss. You will generally be asked for the date and cause of the outage or disaster, an estimate of the value of the SNAP-purchased food you lost, and your signature. The agency may ask for evidence of the outage or other event, but you should not delay reporting the loss while gathering documents.
- Follow up if needed. Keep an eye on your mail and EBT app. If the office needs additional information or has questions, you’ll need to follow up promptly.
- Wait for the decision. If your request is approved, federal rules generally require the replacement to be issued within 10 days after you report the loss or within two working days after the agency receives your signed statement, whichever is later.
Relief Recap
A power outage (whether it’s from a storm, a wildfire, or a utility company trying to prevent one) can wipe out a family’s entire food supply in a matter of hours. For households already living on tight margins, that’s not an inconvenience. It’s a crisis and help is out there.
Share this with your neighbors. Post it in your community group. Text it to someone who needs it. The people who need this information most are often the last ones to hear about it.
