Patrick Traynor, Health and Human Services Interim Commissioner | North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services
Patrick Traynor, Health and Human Services Interim Commissioner | North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services
North Dakota residents who lost food bought with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to power outages or storm damage from the June 20 severe weather now have more time to apply for replacement benefits. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), has approved North Dakota Health and Human Services' (HHS) request for a disaster waiver, extending the application deadline to July 21, 2025.
"HHS was able to verify power outage information based on county-wide impacts," allowing households in Barnes, Burleigh, Cass, Foster, Grant, Griggs, Kidder, Logan, Morton, Ransom, Sioux, Steele, Stutsman and Traill counties to request replacement benefits without needing further verification of food loss due to outages.
SNAP households in other North Dakota counties may still be eligible if they experienced food loss but must verify a power outage of four hours or more to receive replacement benefits. Verification can include notifications from a power company through website updates or text notifications.
Impacted households can request replacement benefits by submitting a completed Request for Replacement Due to Loss of SNAP Benefits form within 10 days of reporting a loss. This can be done via the Self-Service Portal (SSP), email at applyforhelp@nd.gov or returning it to a human service zone office.
Additionally, households can contact the Customer Support Center by email at applyforhelp@nd.gov or phone Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. CT at (866) 614-6005 or (701) 328-1000. They can also mail requests to the Customer Support Center at P.O. Box 5562, Bismarck, ND 58506.
The program will replace the amount of the loss up to the monthly benefit amount. For example: "if a household reports a food loss of $250 and the household received $300 in SNAP benefits for the month," then $250 in replacement benefits will be issued once verified.
The maximum replacement cannot exceed one month of the SNAP benefit amount received by the household. For further inquiries or assistance people are encouraged to visit hhs.nd.gov/applyforhelp/snap or contact customer support.
North Dakotans affected by this disaster who may be struggling or in crisis can seek help through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or visiting chat at 988lifeline.org.
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