Florida residents affected by Milton Helen will soon be able to receive food replacement assistance

Florida residents affected by Hurricanes Helen or Milton, including those whose refrigerated foods were damaged during the power outage, may be eligible for food assistance.

Although this assistance is called the Supplemental Disaster Food Assistance Program, commonly referred to as disaster food stamps, you do not have to regularly qualify for food stamps to receive it.

You don’t actually have to receive regular food assistance, but you do have to meet other financial requirements, although the Florida Department of Children and Families has not provided specific news release about future payments. You must also suffer “disaster-related losses,” such as damage to your home, loss of food, reduced or lost income or other “disaster-related expenses,” the department said.

Those who are approved for assistance will receive a card in the mail that can be used to purchase food at authorized outlets.

Florida residents can pre-register online for the program starting Sunday, although there are specific days set aside for residents of different counties. After online pre-registration, applicants must complete a telephone interview with the department, which is also limited to certain dates based on the first letter of your last name. For those unable to apply virtually, the department will soon announce in-person events, according to a press release.

Schedule of information by district and surname can be found here.

People living in Pinellas and Pasco counties, for example, will be able to pre-register online Nov. 3-8, with phone interview dates Nov. 4 and Nov. 6-8. Gillsborough residents will have until next week to apply.

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