The Maui News

The deadline to submit applications for a federal food stamp program has been extended to April 7 following recent severe weather, flooding and landslides, the state announced Thursday.

The extension applies to households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in Haiku and Hana on Maui; Haleiwa on Oahu; Puna in South Hilo on Hawaii island; and Kalaheo, Koloa, Hanalei and Haena on Kauai.

Residents who lost food purchased with SNAP benefits due to the recent severe weather can apply for SNAP replacement benefits, the Department of Human Services and Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said. The amount of the replacement must be equal to the amount of the food loss and cannot exceed the monthly benefit issued to the household.

“When our community is impacted by severe weather, it can be difficult to recover, but when that happens amid COVID-19 when Hawaii has the highest unemployment rate in the nation, that can be devastating,” DHS Director Cathy Betts said in a news release. “Together, with HIEMA, we encourage families in impacted areas to learn more about the SNAP Replacement Benefits program and to see if you qualify to replace your food lost during the recent floods.”

SNAP recipient households in the locations who were affected by the recent flooding and landslides are eligible to apply by contacting their assigned processing center at humanservices.hawaii.gov and clicking on “Statewide SNAP (Food Stamps) and Financial Assistance Processing Centers,” or by contacting the public assistance information line at (855) 643-1643 or pais.dhs.hawaii.gov.