Governor Announces Food Assistance to Storm Victims

Governor Quinn has announced that the Illinois Department of Human Services will offer immediate food assistance to 15 counties beginning Wednesday, December 11.

The USDA's Food and Nutrition Services has authorized IDHS to offer special Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to residents in those counties declared federal disaster areas as a result of severe storms November 17.

Individuals may be eligible for Disaster SNAP if they lived in Fayette or Jasper or any of the other 13 counties included in the disaster declaration.

To qualify, persons must have had damage to home or business, paid disaster-related expenses that were not reimbursed, or loss or reduction of income as a result of the storms on November 17.  Applicants must bring proof of identity, proof of residence in a disaster area prior to the disaster, and any unreimbursed disaster expenses paid during the dates of November 17 and December 16.

Disaster SNAP benefits will be provided to families based on total income and assets available to a household during the severe weather event.  Non-reimbursed disaster-related expenses are allowed as a deduction from income and assets if verification of the expense is provided.