DSS Announces Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP) Relief for Specific Counties Impacted by Hurricane Helene

Frequently Asked Questions- Disaster Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP)

The South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) has announced counties eligible to receive Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP) Assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.

As of November 1, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved the following counties for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP) Assistance as a result of Hurricane Helene: Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Cherokee, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Kershaw, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union, and York.

Households that resided within one of the designated counties at the time of Hurricane Helene AND suffered unreimbursed disaster losses may be eligible to receive a DSNAP benefit.  Food loss alone is not a qualifying factor for DSNAP assistance. 

Non-SNAP residents in the affected counties who are seeking assistance and were unable to pre-register and complete a telephone interview between November 12^th and November 21^st may apply in-person according to the schedule below.

Each in-person event will run for three (3) days.  Individuals can only apply for DSNAP at the designated location in their county of residence.

Beginning Sunday, December 1^st, residents of Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Cherokee, Hampton, Laurens, McCormick, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union, and York counties may pre-register for DSNAP online and visit the DSNAP site in their county of residence between Monday, December 2^nd and Friday, December 6^th to complete an eligibility interview. 

Beginning Sunday, December 8^th, residents of Abbeville, Aiken, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Jasper, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, and Richland counties may pre-register for DSNAP online and visit the DSNAP site in their county of residence between Monday, December 9^th and Friday, December 13^th to complete an eligibility interview. 

DSNAP Pre-Registration

Households who applied for DSNAP between November 11^th and November 21^st and were denied after a telephone interview are not eligible to re-apply.  If you do not agree with the decision made on your DSNAP application, you may request a fair hearing by calling 1-800-311-7220 or writing to your local county DSS office.

Interviews cannot be completed at your local county DSS office.  Calling or visiting your local DSS office will not expedite the application process for DSNAP.

Applicants must have suffered a loss directly related to Hurricane Helene to be eligible for DSNAP benefits.  Households applying for Disaster SNAP must have lived in the disaster area on September 27, 2024, and must have suffered loss or damages, such as: 

• Damage to or destruction of the home.
• Loss or inaccessibility of income including a reduction or termination of income or a significant delay in receiving income due to disaster related problems.
• Disaster-related expenses (home or business repairs, temporary shelter, evacuation, etc.) that are not expected to be reimbursed during the disaster benefit period.

Individuals applying for DSNAP in-person should be prepared to provide the following:

• Proof of Identity
• Proof of Address
• Proof of Income
• Proof of the value of unreimbursed damages incurred as a direct result of the storms
• Proof of loss or inaccessibility of income

All DSNAP applications are subject to review.  If it is determined that an applicant received benefits that he/she was not entitled to, the applicant will be required to pay them back.

Per federal rules and guidelines, current SNAP recipients are not eligible for DSNAP.  Current SNAP recipients who reside in a county approved for DSNAP and received SNAP during the month of October 2024 may be eligible for a disaster supplement if their monthly SNAP benefit is less than the maximum monthly allotment for their household size.  

This disaster supplement was already issued to current SNAP recipients residing in Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Cherokee, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union, and York counties who qualify.

Current SNAP recipients residing in Kershaw County who meet all of the criteria listed below may go to the designated DSNAP site in Kershaw County between December 11^th and 13^th and file an Affidavit of Loss to request a supplement of their October SNAP benefits:

1. Received SNAP in October 2024;
2. Receive a monthly benefit that is less than the maximum monthly allotment for their household size; and
3. Suffered a disaster loss.

DSNAP Onsite Events Schedule

DSS reminds the public to be sure you are obtaining information from official sources and trusted news organizations to avoid confusion and misinformation. Additional updates will be posted to dss.sc.gov as they become available, including information about the next round of online pre-registration and screening interviews.