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Special Disaster Rules for Accepting SNAP EBT Benefits for Hot Food Purchases

EO Guidance Document #
FNS-GD-2012-0064
Resource type
Policy Memos
Guidance Documents
Resource Materials

Due to Hurricane Sandy, and effective immediately, retail food stores licensed by the Food and Nutrition Service to accept SNAP benefits in the following counties may accept SNAP benefits in exchange for hot foods and foods intended to be consumed on retailer premises:

Bronx, Brooklyn (Kings), Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island (Richmond), Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, Westchester, Orange, Putnam and Sullivan

These special rules are in effect through Nov. 30, 2012

When hot foods are purchased with SNAP EBT benefits through Nov. 30, 2012, the purchases are NOT subject to sales tax, as the foods mentioned above are considered SNAP eligible during this period.

We encourage all SNAP authorized retail food stores in the above counties to post a special notice in the store letting SNAP customers know that they can use their SNAP EBT benefits to purchase hot foods and, where practical, may remain on the premises to consume those foods.

Thank you for your assistance in aiding those impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

Page updated: April 05, 2023

The contents of this guidance document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.