709.17 Replacing Food Destroyed in a Disaster (FSM)

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For food destroyed in a disaster, issue replacement benefits within 10 days of the recipient’s report of the disaster or within 2 working days of the receipt of the recipient’s signed statement attesting to the disaster, whichever is later.

A disaster is any event out of the control of the recipient that results in the loss of the household’s food such as, but not limited to, a power outage, flood, earthquake, fire, etc.

For Food Stamp benefits to be replaced when destroyed in a disaster:

• The Food Stamp household must:

- report that food purchased with Food Stamp benefits was destroyed in the disaster within 10 days of the date of the disaster; and

- provide a signed statement attesting to the disaster and the value of the destroyed food within 10 days of the report of the loss. The household may use DFA Form 474, Attestation and Verification of Food Stamp (FS) Household Disaster, to satisfy this requirement; and

• The disaster must be verified.

Verify the disaster by:

• Obtaining a completed DFA Form 474 in which a 3rd party attests to the disaster;

• Receiving documentation from a community agency, such as an insurance company, Fire Department, electric company, newspaper, or the Red Cross; or

• Contacting a 3rd party, such as a community agency, neighbor, or landlord, to verify the disaster (recipients may suggest whom to contact on DFA Form 474).

Do not issue replacement benefits:

• Without verification of the disaster;

• If the Food Stamp household fails to report the destroyed food within 10 days of the date of the disaster; or

• If the Food Stamp household fails to provide a signed statement attesting to the disaster and the value of the destroyed food within 10 days of their report of loss.

An EBT FS benefit replacement issuance cannot exceed the actual value of the destroyed food or the household’s regular monthly FS allotment amount, whichever is less. Do not request another signed statement if the received signed statement attests to a loss greater than the monthly allotment. Instead, issue a replacement equal to the monthly allotment.

There is no limit on the number of times a FS household may request replacement FS benefits for destroyed food.

There is no limit on the period of intended use for the food that was destroyed in the disaster.

Documentation, including the date and reason of each FS benefit replacement request, delay, denial, or issuance must be recorded in the individual’s case file.

References: He-W 702.01(g), 7 CFR 274.6(a)