Disaster SNAP Applications Close Tuesday

Low-income Connecticut residents not currently receiving food assistance benefits and who incurred disaster-related expenses from Tropical Storm Irene - including loss of income, temporary shelter costs and property repairs - have until Tuesday, Sept. 27, to apply for special assistance under the federal Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP), Social Services Commissioner Roderick L. Bremby said in a press release Monday.

Applications are being taken at all 12 Department of Social Services field offices throughout Connecticut until 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.  People still in line at that time will be issued ‘rain check’ vouchers to return for application processing.

“We urge the public to continue to be as patient as possible as our hard-working staff do their best to process a huge number of applications for this federal disaster assistance program,” Commissioner Bremby said.  “Everyone who meets the application deadline of tomorrow will be included in the process, even if we can’t get to their application by the end of the day.  For those applicants, rain checks will be provided for returning on another day for priority service.”

With a five-day application period opening last Wednesday, DSS offices have seen increasing numbers of residents applying for food benefits.  Hundreds of people were lined up early Monday morning at DSS offices in Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Manchester, Stamford, Waterbury, New Britain and Willimantic.

During the first three days of applications last week, DSS processed a total of 3,701 applications for D-SNAP assistance, with the numbers rising from 451 Wednesday to 1,301 Thursday to 1,949 Friday.  The agency has dispatched staff reinforcements to field offices, including hearing officers, trainers, investigators and other specialists, to help handle applications.

Besides DSS staff, Commissioner Bremby cited the efforts of community partners like End Hunger Connecticut!, the Connecticut Association for Human Services and the Hartford-based Hispanic Health Council with the public, including at DSS office sites.  The Town of Hamden and its M.L. Keefe Community Center have assisted with accommodating applicants in New Haven, and municipal police officers have been key to the ability to offer the D-SNAP applications at state office sites.