Impacted families encouraged to request replacement Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is prepared to provide replacement Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to families who suffered losses in Tuesday’s severe weather.

These replacement benefits are available to existing SNAP recipients who:

Lost food due to a power outage of 12 hours or more.

Lost food due to home damage.

Individuals requesting replacement benefits need to sign an affidavit at their county TDHS office. This request must be made within 10 calendar days of experiencing food loss.

In Davidson County replacement benefit requests can be made at the below emergency locations:

Honey Alexander Center

2400 Clifton Avenue

Nashville, TN 37209

Nashville State Community College - East Davidson Campus

2845 Elm Hill Pike

Nashville, TN 37214

These locations will be open from 10 A.M to 4 P.M. Wednesday, March 4, while we continue efforts to identify a temporary DHS office. Offices in surrounding counties are open for regular business and are able to assist those affected.

The original TDHS Davidson County office at 1000 2nd Ave. N. is uninhabitable and remains closed indefinitely due to storm damage. Davidson County residents who may have questions about TDHS services are encouraged to call the Family Assistance Service Center at 1-866-311-4287.

Once approved, SNAP replacement benefits are issued on the current recipient’s EBT card. Cards that are lost, destroyed, or inaccessible will be replaced. Replacement SNAP benefits will be authorized for the value of the loss only and can’t exceed the current month’s allotment.

Individuals who are not existing SNAP recipients do not qualify for replacement benefits but they can apply for regular benefits online at https://faonlineapp.dhs.tn.gov

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides nutritional assistance benefits to children and families, the elderly, the disabled, unemployed and working families. SNAP helps supplement monthly food budgets of families with low-income to buy the food they need to maintain good health and allow them to direct more of their available income toward essential living expenses. TDHS staff determines the eligibility of applicants based on guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The primary goals of the program are to alleviate hunger and malnutrition and to improve nutrition and health in eligible households. TDHS has a dual focus on alleviating hunger and establishing or re-establishing self-sufficiency.

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