SNAP recipients who lost food during power outages can apply for replacement benefits

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients whose food was spoiled during Winter Storm Mara can apply for replacement benefits, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission announced Feb. 8.

Due to multiday power outages caused by widespread ice storms during the first week of February, some Texans’ food may have been lost or destroyed. SNAP recipients are eligible to receive extra benefits to replace their lost food, according to a news release from the HHSC.

The HHSC received federal approval to provide replacement benefits for people in the following 67 counties: Anderson, Austin, Bandera, Bastrop, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Brazoria, Brooks, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Cameron, Cherokee, Coke, Collin, Comal, Concho, Coryell, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Erath, Falls, Fannin, Fort Bend, Franklin, Freestone, Gillespie, Harris, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hill, Hopkins, Hunt, Irion, Johnson, Kaufman, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Lamar, Lee, Leon, Limestone, Llano, Mason, McLennan, Milam, Montgomery, Navarro, Parker, Rains, Red River, Robertson, Rockwall, Smith, Sterling, Tarrant, Titus, Travis, Van Zandt, Waller, Wichita, Williamson and Wood.

Residents of the above counties have until Feb. 28 to request replacement benefits. According to the release, SNAP recipients who live in other counties are also eligible for benefits, but they must apply “within 10 days of discovering their food was lost or destroyed.”

SNAP recipients can request replacement benefits by calling 211 and selecting option 2. Texans can also fill out Form H1855, which is available here. According to the HHSC, the form can be faxed to 1-877-447-2839 or mailed to Texas Health and Human Services, P.O. Box 149027, Austin, TX 78714-9027.

Replacement benefits will be available on recipients’ Lone Star Cards within two business days after the HHSC receives the application, the release said.

“We hope that the replacement SNAP benefits will help Texas families who may have been impacted by the recent winter weather storm. These benefits will help Texans replace healthy and nutritious food that was lost due to power outages,” Wayne Salter, the HHSC’s access and eligibility services deputy executive commissioner, said in the release.

SNAP is a federal program that provides food assistance to low-income people and families across the nation. SNAP funds can be used to buy food and garden seeds, but tobacco, alcohol and nonedible items are not eligible for SNAP purchases, according to the HHSC.

On Feb. 3, state leaders announced that emergency coronavirus SNAP benefits would not be available after February. However, eligible Texans will still receive regular monthly benefits.