DCF to interview eligible disabled, elderly via phone for Disaster SNAP

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Children and Families received approval for a waiver from the Department of Agriculture to administer telephone interviews for people with disabilities and the elderly who preregistered online by Nov. 9, for the federal Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Those who are the head of a household, age 60 or older, or those with a disability, who preregistered online but were physically unable to visit a DSNAP Food for Florida site personally or send an authorized representative may participate in the interviews, which will be conducted on Saturday and Sunday.

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Electronic benefit transfer cards will be sent to the mailing addresses of those who are deemed eligible.

Those who qualified for the interview and provided cellphone numbers with their preregistration may also receive direct communication from DCF.

Those who meet the criteria with last names beginning with A-L should call 855-278-7136 on Saturday. Those who meet the criteria with last names beginning with M-Z should call 855-278-7136 on Sunday.

Callers should have their Florida driver license or identification and Social Security number ready. Callers will be asked questions to verify identity.

During the DSNAP benefit period, from Sept. 27 through Nov. 9, DCF administered the federal program in Florida for 45 consecutive days, serving more than 1 million families and distributing nearly $900 million in DSNAP benefits.

DCF processed more than 1.1 million DSNAP applications, and DSNAP benefits were issued to 3.1 million individuals. Together, with disaster food assistance provided through the regular SNAP program’s replacements and supplements, DCF provided more than $1.5 billion in benefits that families can use as they continue to recover.

Those who do not meet the above criteria as specified in Florida’s federally approved DSNAP waiver for phone interviews may apply for regular SNAP food assistance and other public benefits here.


About the Author:

Dawn Jorgenson, Graham Media Group Branded Content Managing Editor, began working with the group in April 2013. She graduated from Texas State University with a degree in electronic media.