This memorandum provides guidance to state administrators in making household eligibility determinations in all nutrition assistance programs administered by FNS.
This memorandum supersedes the Oct. 19, 2005 memorandum on Replacement of Commodities due to Natural Disasters.
It has recently come to our attention that under PL 104-204 and 106-419, benefits paid by the Veterans Administration to the children of Vietnam veterans born with congenital spina bifida and certain other birth defects are excludable as income for food stamp purposes.
This guidance applies to the Expanded Disaster Evacuee Policy (Sept. 2, 2005, as modified on Sept. 14, 2005).
This version replaces the guidance published on Sept. 9, 2005. We have clarified that the policy is applicable to evacuees that apply either in September or October 2005, and to households that move within the state. Concurrently, we have revised the Expanded Disaster Evacuee Policy to allow that policy to apply through Oct. 31, 2005.
This version replaces the guidance published on Sept. 2, 2005. It has been revised to extend the application period to the end of October and clarify that normal program rules apply beginning with January 2006 issuances.
This policy applies to evacuees from areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Those include counties in the Gulf Coast region in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. The unprecedented damage from Hurricane Katrina has made it necessary for people to be evacuated, not only from the project area where they are living, but even from the entire State.
This policy memo provides clarification on food loss as an eligibility factor for the Disaster Food Stamp Program.
PL 100-707 authorizes the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to pay Disaster Unemployment Assistance to any individual unemployed as a result of a major disaster.
On Dec. 8, 2004, the President signed The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005. This law contains a provision which excludes from consideration as income in the Food Stamp Program additional pay received by military personnel as a result of deployment to a combat zone.