January 11, 2022 - SAN FRANCISCO - Households impacted by power outages caused by record-breaking snowfall and heavy winds that began on December 26, 2021, in certain zip codes in 17 California counties could be eligible for replacement of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/CalFresh benefits, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced. This is one of many recent steps USDA has taken to ensure California residents in need have food to eat.

Rather than require SNAP households to report food losses individually, USDA allowed the state of California to approve automatic mass replacements for residents in specific zip codes in 17 counties who lost food as a result of the severe snowstorms and power outages. The waiver applies to zip codes in the following 17 counties: Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Humboldt, Mariposa, Mendocino, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, and Yuba. More details will be made available through the California Department of Social Services.

SNAP participants in areas hardest hit by the disaster may have a portion of their December benefits replaced. SNAP recipients residing in other affected areas may request replacement benefits by filing an affidavit with the local office attesting to disaster-related loss.

Additionally, USDA has approved California’s request to waive timely reporting of food loss for households in 20 counties (Alameda, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Humboldt, Lake, Los Angeles, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Sierra, and Yuba) due to power outages caused by severe winter storms that began on December 26, 2021. This waiver approval allows impacted households to make a request for replacement of SNAP benefits and includes November 2021 Emergency Allotments issued on December 4 and 11, 2021. The waiver is in effect through January 25, 2022.

Individuals seeking more information about this and other available aid should dial 2-1-1. For more information about California SNAP, visit https://www.cdss.ca.gov/food-nutrition/calfresh.

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) leverages its 15 nutrition assistance programs to ensure that children, low-income individuals, and families have opportunities for a better future through equitable access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food, while building a more resilient food system. Under the leadership of Secretary Tom Vilsack, FNS is fighting to end food and nutrition insecurity for all through programs such as SNAP, school meals, and WIC. FNS also provides science-based nutrition recommendations through the co-development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. To learn more, visit www.fns.usda.gov.
Source: USDA