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Food Assistance for Union County Residents Impacted by Tropical Storm Ida

d-snap flyerUnion County, NJ – Union County residents impacted by Tropical Storm Ida may be eligible for food assistance through New Jersey’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or D-SNAP. The assistance is available to residents who are not currently enrolled in the SNAP program, and who meet income eligibility requirements.

Union County residents who live in Clark, Cranford, Elizabeth, Hillside, Linden, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Union Township or Westfield may be eligible for assistance, which will be in the form of a one-month Electronic Benefits Transfer card.

“Many of those impacted by Tropical Storm Ida have also been struggling with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The assistance through D-SNAP will provide some much needed relief, and our staff will work to ensure that eligible residents receive their benefits as quickly as possible,” said Union County Commissioner Alexander Mirabella.

“Picking up the pieces after a disaster of the magnitude is a community effort that enlists every available resource. I would like to thank the New Jersey Department of Human Services for their diligence in getting approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to apply D-SNAP benefits, and staff of the Union County Department of Human Services staff who worked alongside them to make this happen for our residents,” said Commissioner Sergio Granados, who is the Board’s liaison to the Union County Human Services Advisory Council.

The benefit can only be used to purchase grocery food items. The application period opens Monday, November 15 and runs through Friday, November 19.

To qualify for D-SNAP assistance, Union County residents in the impacted municipalities will need to show proof of identity, and proof of residency as of September 1, 2021 in the affected areas.

Applicants must also show that they paid for disaster related expenses during the month of September.

Eligibility for D-SNAP assistance also depends on household income. To determine their eligibility, households must add their net income for the month of September to liquid resources, such as bank accounts.

For example, if an individual’s net income for the month of September was $2,000 and they have $2,000 in a savings account, their combined income and resources for the month is $4,000. The D-SNAP income table below shows disaster income and resource combined limits based on household size:

Household Size           Disaster Income Limit in Sept.           Allotment Amount

1                                  $2,625                                                 $234

2                                  $3,410                                                 $430

3                                  $3,919                                                 $616

4                                  $4,619                                                 $782

5                                  $5,090                                                 $929

6                                  $5,685                                                 $1,114

7                                  $6,120                                                 $1,232

8                                  $6,553                                                 $1,408

Each added member:   +$433                                                 +$176

The application period for D-SNAP assistance in Union County will run from Monday, November 15 to Friday, November 19.

Union County’s Department of Human Services, Division of Social Services has organized two intake offices that will be open to applicants during this period, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day.

The offices are located in the Union County Services building at 535 Laurel Avenue in Roselle Park, and the Division of Social Services at 342 Westminster Avenue in Elizabeth.

Applicants are reminded to bring their documentation with them. For additional assistance, contact the Division of Social Services by phone at 908-965-2700.

D-SNAP provides food assistance to low-income households with food loss or damage caused by a natural disaster. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service must approve states to operate D-SNAP in a disaster area.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing, emergency food distribution and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

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