Warren Becomes 12^th County Where SNAP Recipients Impacted by Ida Can Receive Extra Food Assistance Help

September 21, 2021

(TRENTON) – Following FEMA’s approval of another Major Disaster Declaration for counties impacted by Tropical Storm Ida, NJ Human Services has sought and received additional federal approval to provide special food assistance to Warren County residents enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

With this addition, SNAP recipients living in Bergen, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Union and Warren counties can use EBT benefits cards to purchase hot food at participating NJ SNAP retailers until Sept. 30.

The hot food waiver applies to items purchased from SNAP-approved retailers in the designated counties. The hot food assistance is provided through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). For a list of participating SNAP retailers, visit here.

Also, SNAP recipients in these counties have until Sept. 30 to request replacement benefits for food lost due to the impact of the storm. SNAP recipients must contact their local Board of Social Services before Sept. 30 to make this request. For a list of the County Boards of Social Services, visit here.

“Tropical Storm Ida recovery is ongoing for affected families,” Acting Commissioner Sarah Adelman said. “We hope SNAP families in these 12 counties will take advantage of this special assistance before it closes at the end of the month.”

Normally, hot foods cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits; however, due to the damage caused by Tropical Storm Ida where homes were flooded, without power or families needed to relocate for other reasons and cooking may not possible, Human Services requested federal approval to allow for the purchase of hot food for SNAP residents in these counties.

“This special food assistance is available until the end of the month,” Deputy Commissioner Elisa Neira said. “SNAP families in these counties should make a note of the date and use their benefits to purchase hot food and make their replacement benefits requests before then,”

 “We encourage SNAP families who live in these counties who may be immersed in the recovery process to make use of this disaster food assistance before it expires at the end of the month,” said Assistant Commissioner Natasha Johnson, who directs Human Services’ Division of Family Development, which is responsible for the SNAP program.

Individuals in the 12 approved counties may also register at disasterassistance.gov for direct assistance for Ida-related recovery, which may include home repairs, temporary housing, low-cost loans, and other programs to help recover from the effects of the tropical storm.