Georgia SNAP recipients in areas hit hard by Hurricane Michael can - at least for a while - use their benefits to buy prepared or hot foods from USDA-approved retailers.
Georgia officials announced a partnership with the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to waive certain rules for the food stamp program and provide recipients in storm-affected areas with greater flexibility in feeding their families.
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The state was battered by the storm, which caused billions of dollars in damage and was particularly devastating to the state’s farmers.
Georgia's Division of Family and Children Services officials made the decision after touring the area.
The move allows low-income Georgians who continue to be affected by power outages to buy foods they typically would not be able to buy with an Electronic Benefits Transfer card.
SNAP recipients are typically prohibited from buying prepared or hot food. Instead, they are required buy food that they can cook themselves.
The waiver is in place for 23 South Georgia counties hardest hit by the unusually strong storm.
Earlier this month, Georgia released the October allotment of food stamp benefits early to help families most affected by the storm and the division extended the deadline for families to report food lost in power outages to Oct. 31.
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The prepared food waiver is in effect until Nov. 17 and covers recipients who live in Baker, Ben Hill, Brooks, Calhoun, Clay, Cook, Crisp, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Randolph, Sumter, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, Webster and Worth counties.
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