WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley today said that the Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service has made all 42 counties eligible for Individual Assistance under the Presidential Disaster Declaration also eligible for disaster food stamps. Following a Presidential Disaster Declaration, the Department of Homeland Security immediately seeks permission from the Food and Nutrition Service to offer emergency food stamps.
“As much of Iowa begins the rebuilding process, it’s important we first take care of the most basic needs,” Grassley said. “This action will help provide food for those in need.”
USDA can authorize the issuance of emergency food stamps when there is a Presidentially declared emergency or when grocery stores or other regular commercial food supply channels have been restored following a disaster. In order for a disaster food stamp program to be established, states must request that USDA allow them to issue emergency food stamps in areas affected by a disaster.
Iowa counties eligible for assistance include Adams, Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Cedar, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Clayton, Crawford, Delaware, Des Moines, Fayette, Floyd, Fremont, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Jasper, Johnson, Jones, Kossuth, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Madison, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Mills, Monona, Muscatine, Page, Polk, Story, Tama, Union, Wapello, Warren and Winneshiek.
The disaster food stamp system operates under a different set of eligibility and benefit delivery requirements than the regular Food Stamp Program. People who might not ordinarily qualify for food stamps may be eligible under the disaster food stamp program if they have had disaster damage to their homes, or expenses related to protecting their homes, or if they have lost income as a result of the disaster, or have no access to bank accounts or other resources. Those in Iowa who think they may be eligible should call Iowa’s food stamp hotline at 1-877-937-3663
People who are already participating in the regular Food Stamp Program may also be eligible for certain benefits under the disaster food program. Each household's circumstances must be reviewed by the certification staff to determine whether a particular household is eligible.
