If the 2026 wildfires in eastern Washington have affected your family, there’s a state assistance program that may help you cover essential expenses while you recover.
Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has activated its Disaster Cash Assistance Program (DCAP) for residents affected by the wildfires.
Eligible households may receive emergency cash assistance ranging from up to $450 for a single person to $1,662 for households of 10 or more, depending on household size, income, and other eligibility factors.
And unlike a loan, this assistance does not have to be repaid.
But there’s an important deadline: Applications are available through October 30, 2026, or until funding runs out, whichever happens first.
Here’s who may qualify, which areas are covered, and how to apply.
What Is Washington’s Wildfire Disaster Cash Assistance Program?
The Disaster Cash Assistance Program provides temporary financial assistance to eligible Washington residents affected by qualifying disasters.
In August 2026, Governor Bob Ferguson authorized a special activation of DCAP in response to wildfires affecting communities across eastern Washington.
This activation provides emergency financial support to qualifying households in designated counties and Tribal areas.
The state allocated $1 million specifically for wildfire-related DCAP assistance.
Because that funding is limited, the program may stop accepting applications before its scheduled closing date.
This is also a separate, time-limited activation of Washington’s existing disaster cash assistance program.
If you’ve previously read our general guide to Washington’s Disaster Cash Assistance Program, keep in mind that the 2026 wildfire response has its own geographic coverage and application period.
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify for wildfire-related DCAP assistance, you must meet the program’s eligibility requirements.
Generally, applicants must:
- Live in a county or Tribal area covered by the governor’s 2026 wildfire emergency proclamation.
- Have been affected by the wildfires.
- Meet the program’s income and resource requirements.
- Meet the applicable rules concerning eligibility for other cash assistance programs.
DCAP is generally intended for households that aren’t receiving or eligible for certain other cash assistance programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Aged, Blind or Disabled (ABD) cash assistance.
You do not need to apply for SNAP, unemployment benefits, or every other assistance program before requesting DCAP simply because you’re applying for wildfire relief.
However, DSHS may review your eligibility for other available cash assistance programs as part of the application process.
Eligibility depends on your household’s circumstances, and applying does not guarantee approval.
Which Washington Counties Qualify?
The 2026 wildfire activation covers residents of 12 counties included in the governor’s emergency proclamation.
These counties are:
- Benton
- Chelan
- Columbia
- Douglas
- Ferry
- Grant
- Kittitas
- Okanogan
- Spokane
- Stevens
- Whitman
- Yakima
The proclamation also includes the following Tribal areas:
- Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation
- Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
- Spokane Tribe of Indians
The original emergency declaration was expanded on August 31, 2026, to include Benton, Columbia, Grant, Kittitas, and Whitman counties.
If you live in one of these areas and were affected by the wildfires, you may qualify for assistance.
Because emergency declarations can be amended, check the latest DSHS wildfire assistance announcement before applying.
How Much Money Can You Receive?
The amount of DCAP assistance depends on your household size and financial circumstances.
For the 2026 wildfire activation, DSHS lists maximum benefits ranging from:
| Household Size | Maximum Assistance |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $450 |
| 2–9 people | Varies by household size |
| 10 or more people | $1,662 |
The $1,662 amount is not the standard payment for every household.
It is the maximum available to households of 10 or more people.
Smaller households have lower benefit limits.
The amount you actually receive may also depend on your income, resources, and other eligibility factors.
For example, a one-person household cannot receive the $1,662 maximum simply because wildfire-related expenses exceed that amount.
DSHS determines each household’s eligible payment according to the applicable program rules.
What Can the Money Help With?
DCAP is intended to provide short-term financial support to households affected by disasters.
Wildfires can create unexpected expenses and financial hardships, including disruptions to housing, transportation, employment, and everyday living costs.
Depending on your circumstances and the program’s requirements, emergency cash assistance may help you manage essential needs during recovery.
However, DCAP is not a reimbursement program that automatically pays for every wildfire-related loss.
The amount available is limited, and DSHS must determine your eligibility.
If you’re unsure whether your circumstances qualify, you can still explain your situation when applying and ask a DSHS worker to review your options.
How Do You Apply?
Washington residents can apply for DCAP online or through a local DSHS Community Services Office.
Option 1: Apply Online
Visit WashingtonConnection.org to begin your application.
Follow the instructions for requesting cash assistance and provide the information requested about your household.
Be sure to explain that you were affected by the 2026 wildfires.
Option 2: Apply at a Community Services Office
You can also visit a DSHS Community Services Office for help with your application.
A worker can explain the requirements and help determine which assistance programs may be available to you.
Complete Your Interview
After submitting an application, you may need to complete an eligibility interview.
DSHS offers interviews by telephone or in person.
DSHS Customer Service: 877-501-2233
During the interview, be prepared to explain how the wildfires affected your household and answer questions about your income, resources, and living situation.
DSHS will tell you if additional verification is needed.
How Will You Receive the Money?
According to the state’s wildfire assistance information, approved DCAP benefits may be issued through an existing Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card.
If you already have a Washington EBT card, ask DSHS whether your approved payment will be deposited onto that card.
If you don’t have an existing card, DSHS can explain the payment process that applies to your situation.
Keep in mind that approval and payment timing may vary.
When Is the Application Deadline?
Washington’s 2026 wildfire DCAP activation has a limited application window.
Application Start Date: August 12, 2026
Application Deadline: October 30, 2026
However, there’s an important condition.
The program may close before October 30 if the available funding is exhausted.
The state allocated $1 million for this particular DCAP response, so assistance is subject to available funds.
As of October 11, 2026, the published deadline has not passed, but that does not guarantee funding remains available for every applicant.
If your household was affected, consider applying as soon as possible rather than waiting until the final days.
You can confirm the latest program status through the official DSHS announcement.
Is There Other Financial Help for Washington Wildfire Victims?
Yes. Washington has also announced separate disaster recovery assistance for certain households whose primary residences were destroyed or sustained major damage.
This assistance is not the same program as DCAP.
According to the governor’s wildfire emergency response announcements, the state authorized additional disaster funding, including assistance for qualifying households that lost their homes.
That assistance may be available regardless of household income or insurance coverage, subject to the separate program’s requirements.
The state uses damage assessment standards to determine whether a primary residence was destroyed or suffered qualifying major damage.
The applicable disaster dates and geographic coverage may differ from those used for DCAP.
If your home was destroyed or seriously damaged, ask about this separate assistance even if you don’t qualify for DCAP.
You can review Washington’s official disaster recovery information through the state’s emergency management resources.
What If You Already Receive SNAP?
If you receive SNAP benefits and lost food purchased with those benefits because of the wildfires, you may also qualify for replacement food benefits.
This is separate from DCAP.
SNAP replacement benefits may be available when food is destroyed because of a qualifying household disaster, such as a wildfire or related power outage.
However, replacement requests generally have a short reporting deadline.
Washington typically requires households to report the loss within 10 days, unless a special extension or exception applies.
If you recently lost food because of a wildfire, contact DSHS promptly to ask whether replacement benefits are available.
You can call 877-501-2233 for assistance.
What If You Don’t Qualify for DCAP?
Even if your household doesn’t qualify for wildfire DCAP, other resources may be available.
You can ask DSHS about additional cash, food, or emergency assistance programs.
You may also call 211 to ask about local disaster recovery organizations, emergency housing, food assistance, and other community resources.
If the wildfires damaged or destroyed your home, be sure to ask specifically about disaster housing and recovery programs.
For more information about assistance in Washington, you can also read our general DCAP guide.
Relief Recap
Recovering from a wildfire can take a serious toll on your finances, especially if your family has been displaced, your income has been interrupted, or you’re facing unexpected expenses.
Washington’s special 2026 wildfire activation of the Disaster Cash Assistance Program may provide temporary financial relief to eligible households in designated counties and Tribal areas.
Maximum payments range from $450 for a one-person household to $1,662 for households of 10 or more, although actual awards depend on eligibility and household circumstances.
The assistance does not have to be repaid.
Applications opened August 12, 2026, and are scheduled to remain available through October 30, 2026, or until funding runs out.
If you’ve been affected by the wildfires, visit WashingtonConnection.org to begin your application or call 877-501-2233 for help.
And if your home suffered major damage, ask about Washington’s separate disaster recovery assistance, which may offer additional support beyond DCAP.
