Five Additional NYC Zip Codes Now Eligible for 50% of October Benefits to Replace Food Lost from Storm
New York State has received approval from the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to extend certification periods for
households that are receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
benefits, formerly known as Food Stamps, so that these families do not lose
their benefits due to Hurricane Sandy.
Under federal rules, households must recertify
their eligibility on a regular basis to continue receiving SNAP benefits.
New York City and Nassau, Rockland, Suffolk, Westchester, Orange, Putnam and
Sullivan Counties may now extend certification periods for SNAP households that
are set to expire in October and November by one month.
The extensions will help ensure that households unable to recertify at this time due to Hurricane Sandy do not lose access to SNAP benefits. This will also ease the administrative burden faced by the impacted local departments of social services that are recovering from the disaster.
“This extension will give New Yorkers who receive SNAP benefits in hard hit
areas more time to recertify for benefits so that they do not lose eligibility
because of the storm,” said Governor Cuomo.
“Our immediate priority is helping New Yorkers recover as quickly as possible, and I thank the USDA for their support.”
Households whose certification periods are extended through November will have
until the end of November to complete recertification; those whose
certification periods are extended through December will have until the end of
December.
New York State and the impacted counties will be
informing clients of the certification period extension via public notices.
Governor Cuomo today also announced that SNAP recipients in five additional New
York City zip codes are now eligible to automatically receive 50 percent of
their October monthly SNAP benefit amount to replace food lost as a result of
the storm.
The five zip codes (10038, 11224, 11251, 10029 and 10039) are being added to the previously announced list of 77 zip codes in New York City and seven other counties.
Additional zip codes in New York City that experienced extended power loss may be added as more details about the number of households affected becomes available.
Recipients in all five boroughs and the other seven counties affected can purchase hot and prepared foods with their benefits through the end of November, which under federal regulations, is not usually allowed.
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