Erin Smith
UPDATE: Residents in Bladen County can go to the Department of Social Services and complete an application to receive replacement food stamps. Those in need of D-SNAP benefits can begin applying on Friday morning.
Replacement food stamps are only available to those individuals who are already receiving food stamps, said Bladen County Department of Social Services Director Vickie Smith.
“Right now, they are replacing August benefits. They (current food stamp recipients) have to come to the DSS office for that,” said Smith.
Lisa Nance, Income Maintenance Program Administrator with Bladen County DSS, said due to the storm, there will be a “mass replacement” for those already receiving food stamps which will be handled by the NC Department of Health and Human Services. Nance said recipients will not have to do anything as the adjustment will automatically be made on their EBT cards when they are sent out.
The DSS office will be open until 6 PM Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday so those who are working can come in to apply for replacement food stamps.
D-SNAP, or the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is a program for people who do not normally receive food stamps and lost their food or lost power due to the storm, explained Smith.
Those who wish to receive D-SNAP benefits can begin applying on Friday, September 28, 2018, at the Bladen County Department of Social Services office. If they are approved for D-SNAP assistance, they will receive an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, and they can use it as a debit card.
The hours to apply for D-SNAP are:
Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, and Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018, from 8 AM until 6:30 PM.
Closed Sunday, September 30, 2018.
Monday, October 1, 2018, through Saturday, October 6, 2018, from 8 AM until 6:30 PM.
Confirmed locations to apply for D-SNAP benefits include: the Bladen County DSS office, the Bladen County Cooperative Extension Office, the Bladenboro Fire Department, the Centerville Baptist Church in Kelly, and the Tar Heel Town Hall (former fire department).
Nance said the Tar Heel Town Hall location will not be open on Saturday, Sept. 29th, but all other locations will be open.
The Bladen County DSS office will also offer a separate entrance for those with disabilities and the elderly.
Nance said once the application period for D-SNAP benefits begins on Friday, residents will have 8 days to come in and apply.
Updated information:
Current North Carolina Food and Nutrition Services recipients or Simplified Nutritional Assistance Program recipients
If you are a current North Carolina Food and Nutrition Services recipient or Simplified Nutritional Assistance Program recipient and had a food loss due to a power outage or flooding from Hurricane Florence and need benefits replaced, click here to fill out the Replacement Affidavit. You will need to print the form and take it to your County DSS office.
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