Food Assistance Available To Help Readyville Community

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is making assistance available to support the health and well-being of individuals impacted by the severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes from March 31, 2023 and April 1, 2023. Qualifying households who lived or worked in Cannon, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Lewis, Macon, McNairy, Rutherford, Tipton, and Wayne counties that experienced loss as a result of the March 31st and April 1st, 2023, storms are now able to apply for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits.

D-SNAP benefits are provided through an electronic debit-like card and can be used to purchase food items at grocery stores and other authorized retailers who accept electronic benefit transfer (EBT). These cards will be mailed to qualifying families following approval.

Families who meet the qualifications for disaster assistance may apply online at the D-SNAP application page: https://tdhs.service-now.com/csp?id=citizen_registration or by visiting a TDHS County Office. Applications from residents in Cannon, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Lewis, Macon, McNairy, Rutherford, Tipton, and Wayne counties will be accepted beginning at 8:00 A.M. CST on Monday, May 8, 2023, through 4:30 P.M. CST on Friday, May 12, 2023.

D-SNAP applicants must meet income limits and will receive benefits determined by USDA Food and Nutrition Services guidance. Additionally, to be eligible, individuals or families must have experienced at least one of the following conditions as a direct result of the severe weather event:

Damage to or destruction of the home or self-employment business.
Loss or inaccessibility of income including a reduction or termination of income or a significant delay in receiving income due to disaster related problems.
Disaster-related expenses (home or business repairs, temporary shelter, evacuation, etc.) that are not expected to be reimbursed during the disaster benefit period.

Recipients of Tennessee's regular SNAP program are not eligible to receive D-SNAP, but households who received SNAP benefits in April 2023 and experienced storm- or tornado-related damage to their homes, property, or personal employment property may be eligible for supplemental payments to bring their April 2023 allotment up to the maximum allotment for their household size. To request a supplement, households must complete an Affidavit of Disaster Loss During DSNAP Only.

Customers in need of technical assistance can call the D-SNAP hotline at (615) 984-0919. Face-to-face assistance is available in local TDHS offices in Cannon, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Lewis, Macon, McNairy, Rutherford, Tipton, and Wayne counties.

Cannon's DHS Local Office is 325 Bryant Lane in Woodbury. Phone number is 615-563-4051 or 615-746-1727

More information is available at: https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/for-families/tdhs-disaster-emergency-assistance.html

Disaster SNAP Assistance is provided under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and each eligible county is approved by the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service.

Learn more about the Tennessee Department of Human Services at www.tn.gov/humanservices.