In mid-August 2024, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) obtained federal approval to extend until September 15 the period in which beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP benefits) affected by Hurricane Beryl can purchase hot foods and prepared meals with their benefits.
This measure includes the addition of seven new counties eligible to receive replacement SNAP benefits, in addition to those approved in July for the purchase of hot food legally with EBT cards:
- Bowie
- Cass
- Fayette
- Morris
- Panola
- Red River
- Washington
Abbott underscored the importance of this extension, saying it is particularly important that SNAP benefit recipients continue to have access to the fresh, quality food they need to sustain themselves and their families following the devastating effects of Hurricane Beryl.
According to the governor, the measure responds to the need for continued support in communities that are still recovering from the effects of the hurricane. He also thanked the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for its collaboration with federal authorities to ensure the provision of healthy food to affected residents.
Extension of SNAP benefits — Replacement of food damaged by Hurricane Beryl
Molly Regan, HHSC Deputy Executive Commissioner for Access and Eligibility Services, explained that the extension of the hot food waiver, along with the addition of new counties, ensures that Texans still in the recovery process have access to the necessary resources. He highlighted the importance of this measure to meet the basic needs of the affected population.
Federal approval allows SNAP recipients to use their Lone Star cards at participating establishments to purchase hot food through September 15. Initially, the deadline had been set until August 14, but it turned out to be insufficient since thousands of families are still struggling to recover from the severe weather event. Foods allowed under this exemption include options such as roast chicken, pizzas, and deli or prepared products that are heated at the point of sale and taken home hot.
What Procedures Should I Do to Access This Extra SNAP Allowance?
To access this additional benefit, SNAP recipients do not need to take any specific action, as the extension is automatically applied to users in designated areas.
Texans who need to apply for benefits, including SNAP and Medicaid, can do so through the YourTexasBenefits.com platform or by using the Your Texas Benefits mobile app to manage their benefits. Additionally, individuals requiring additional resources, such as food or shelter, can contact the number 2-1-1 and select option 1 for assistance.
SNAP payment dates in Texas in September 2024
The distribution of SNAP benefits in Texas has two ways of grouping its beneficiaries: households certified before June 1, 2020, and households certified after June 1, 2020.
- SNAP households certified before June 1, 2020:
Benefits are available during the first 15 days of September, based on the last digit of the Eligibility Determination Group (EDG) number:- EDG ends in 0: benefits available September 1st.
- EDG ends at 1: benefits available September 3rd.
- EDG ends at 2: benefits available September 5.
- EDG ends at 3: benefits available September 6.
- EDG ends at 4: benefits available September 7.
- EDG ends at 5: benefits available September 9.
- EDG ends at 6: benefits available on 9/11.
- EDG ends at 7: benefits available September 12.
- EDG ends at 8: benefits available September 13.
- EDG ends at 9: benefits available September 15.
- SNAP households certified after June 1, 2020:
The benefits are distributed staggered between September 16 and 28, based on the last two digits of the EDG number:- EDG ends 00-03: benefits available September 16.
- EDG ends 04-06: benefits available September 17th.
- EDG ends 07-10: benefits available September 18th.
- EDG ends 11-13: benefits available September 19.
- EDG ends 14-17: benefits available September 20.
- EDG ends in 18-20: benefits available September 21.
- EDG ends 21-24: benefits available September 22.
- EDG ends 25-27: benefits available September 23rd.
- EDG ends 28-31: benefits available September 24.
- EDG ends at 32-34: benefits available September 25.
- EDG ends at 35-38: benefits available September 26.
- EDG ends at 39-41: benefits available September 27.
- EDG ends at 42-45: benefits available September 28.
- EDG ends at 46-49: benefits available September 27.
- EDG ends at 50-53: benefits available September 28.
- EDG ends at 54-57: benefits available September 16.
- EDG ends at 58-60: benefits available September 17.
- EDG ends at 61-64: benefits available September 18.
- EDG ends at 65-67: benefits available September 19.
- EDG ends at 68-71: benefits available September 20.
- EDG ends at 72-74: benefits available September 21.
- EDG ends at 75-78: benefits available September 22.
- EDG ends at 79-81: benefits available September 23rd.
- EDG ends at 82-85: benefits available September 24.
- EDG ends at 86-88: benefits available September 25.
- EDG ends at 89-92: benefits available September 26.
- EDG ends at 93-95: benefits available September 27.
- EDG ends at 96-99: benefits available September 28.
In mid-August 2024, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) obtained federal approval to extend until September 15 the period in which beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP benefits) affected by Hurricane Beryl can purchase hot foods and prepared meals with their benefits.
This measure includes the addition of seven new counties eligible to receive replacement SNAP benefits, in addition to those approved in July for the purchase of hot food legally with EBT cards:
- Bowie
- Cass
- Fayette
- Morris
- Panola
- Red River
- Washington
Abbott underscored the importance of this extension, saying it is particularly important that SNAP benefit recipients continue to have access to the fresh, quality food they need to sustain themselves and their families following the devastating effects of Hurricane Beryl.
According to the governor, the measure responds to the need for continued support in communities that are still recovering from the effects of the hurricane. He also thanked the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for its collaboration with federal authorities to ensure the provision of healthy food to affected residents.
Extension of SNAP benefits — Replacement of food damaged by Hurricane Beryl
Molly Regan, HHSC Deputy Executive Commissioner for Access and Eligibility Services, explained that the extension of the hot food waiver, along with the addition of new counties, ensures that Texans still in the recovery process have access to the necessary resources. He highlighted the importance of this measure to meet the basic needs of the affected population.
Federal approval allows SNAP recipients to use their Lone Star cards at participating establishments to purchase hot food through September 15. Initially, the deadline had been set until August 14, but it turned out to be insufficient since thousands of families are still struggling to recover from the severe weather event. Foods allowed under this exemption include options such as roast chicken, pizzas, and deli or prepared products that are heated at the point of sale and taken home hot.
What Procedures Should I Do to Access This Extra SNAP Allowance?
To access this additional benefit, SNAP recipients do not need to take any specific action, as the extension is automatically applied to users in designated areas.
Texans who need to apply for benefits, including SNAP and Medicaid, can do so through the YourTexasBenefits.com platform or by using the Your Texas Benefits mobile app to manage their benefits. Additionally, individuals requiring additional resources, such as food or shelter, can contact the number 2-1-1 and select option 1 for assistance.
SNAP payment dates in Texas in September 2024
The distribution of SNAP benefits in Texas has two ways of grouping its beneficiaries: households certified before June 1, 2020, and households certified after June 1, 2020.
- SNAP households certified before June 1, 2020:
Benefits are available during the first 15 days of September, based on the last digit of the Eligibility Determination Group (EDG) number:- EDG ends in 0: benefits available September 1st.
- EDG ends at 1: benefits available September 3rd.
- EDG ends at 2: benefits available September 5.
- EDG ends at 3: benefits available September 6.
- EDG ends at 4: benefits available September 7.
- EDG ends at 5: benefits available September 9.
- EDG ends at 6: benefits available on 9/11.
- EDG ends at 7: benefits available September 12.
- EDG ends at 8: benefits available September 13.
- EDG ends at 9: benefits available September 15.
- SNAP households certified after June 1, 2020:
The benefits are distributed staggered between September 16 and 28, based on the last two digits of the EDG number:- EDG ends 00-03: benefits available September 16.
- EDG ends 04-06: benefits available September 17th.
- EDG ends 07-10: benefits available September 18th.
- EDG ends 11-13: benefits available September 19.
- EDG ends 14-17: benefits available September 20.
- EDG ends in 18-20: benefits available September 21.
- EDG ends 21-24: benefits available September 22.
- EDG ends 25-27: benefits available September 23rd.
- EDG ends 28-31: benefits available September 24.
- EDG ends at 32-34: benefits available September 25.
- EDG ends at 35-38: benefits available September 26.
- EDG ends at 39-41: benefits available September 27.
- EDG ends at 42-45: benefits available September 28.
- EDG ends at 46-49: benefits available September 27.
- EDG ends at 50-53: benefits available September 28.
- EDG ends at 54-57: benefits available September 16.
- EDG ends at 58-60: benefits available September 17.
- EDG ends at 61-64: benefits available September 18.
- EDG ends at 65-67: benefits available September 19.
- EDG ends at 68-71: benefits available September 20.
- EDG ends at 72-74: benefits available September 21.
- EDG ends at 75-78: benefits available September 22.
- EDG ends at 79-81: benefits available September 23rd.
- EDG ends at 82-85: benefits available September 24.
- EDG ends at 86-88: benefits available September 25.
- EDG ends at 89-92: benefits available September 26.
- EDG ends at 93-95: benefits available September 27.
- EDG ends at 96-99: benefits available September 28.