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SNAP recipients in Texas are now eligible to collect replacement benefits following severe storms in the Lone Star State.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are issued monthly to low- and no-income households to help them buy groceries. Following a storms and tornadoes, eligible claimants in Texas can apply for replacement benefits up to the value of the goods purchased using their SNAP electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card.
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Severe storms hit Texas beginning on Thursday, May 16, causing damage to property, flooding and downed trees, while leaving thousands without power. Four people are confirmed to have died as a result. According to a report by Reuters, more than 100,000 households and businesses are still without power.
“Due to recent severe weather and flooding that devastated communities across our state, impacted Texans will be able to apply for SNAP replacement benefits for food that was lost or destroyed during these devastating storms,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “Eligible Texans can apply for these benefits by dialing 2-1-1. I thank the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for working with our federal partners to ensure Texans have the resources they need to recover and move forward from these storms.”
Those living in Austin, Chambers, Colorado, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Walker and Waller counties are eligible to get replacement SNAP benefits if their groceries were lost or destroyed during the deadly storms.
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Recipients can apply by phone, mail or fax. Those wishing to apply by phone can dial 2-1-1 and select option two. For anyone wanting to apply by post, they should download a Form H1855 (Affidavit for Nonreceipt or Destroyed SNAP Benefits) and either mail it to Texas Health and Human Services Commission, P.O. Box 149027, Austin, TX, 78714-9027, or fax it to 877-447-2839.
Applicants must specify on the form the value of the lost or destroyed groceries, as well as how much in benefits they receive per month.
When replacement SNAP benefits become available, there is usually a 10-day time limit on applying following the discovery of lost groceries. However, the U.S. Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has clarified that in this instance the time-limit has been waived.
Newsweek contacted the FNS via email outside of normal working hours for comment.
Any SNAP recipients who live outside of the specified counties but were still affected by last week’s storms can still apply for replacement benefits, but they must do this in person at a local benefits office. However, the 10-day time limit applies to anyone not in the listed areas.
If successful, claimants will receive their replacement funds on their Lone Star Cards within two days.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – A man from El Paso, Texas, has died after being electrocuted in a hot tub at a private resort in Mexico on Tuesday evening, according to the General Prosecutor’s Office of Justice for the State of Sonora.
The General Prosecutor’s Office for the State of Sonora said the victim, identified as Jorge N., 43, was in a hot tub at the Puerto Peñasco resort when he was electrocuted due to a possible failure in the wiring.
The victim’s wife, identified as Lizzette N., 35, was also in the hot tub and suffered life-threatening injuries.
Lizzette was transferred to a hospital in Mexico and told that her burns were consistent with electric shock, according to the General Prosecutor’s Office. She was transported to the United States, where she was in critical condition as of Wednesday.
The General Prosecutor’s Office says a witness familiar with the couple said she noticed the couple was in the hot tub and were not moving.
The witness told agents at the scene that she tried to enter the hot tub after the couple was non-responsive. However, as she tried to enter the water, she was shocked. The witness then called for help.
Video shared by Nexstar’s KTSM appears to show a crowd gathering around the hot tub after the incident, some of whom sounded to be screaming.
Mexican officials are currently investigating the incident.
Family friends have since created a GoFundMe page to cover the cost of Jorge’s transportation and Lizzette’s medical bills.
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