On October 25, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) approved the state’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) extension request to waive the statutory definition of “food” under Section 3(k)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended and accompanying regulations at 7 CFR 271.2. This extension waiver approval allows Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households statewide, including those with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, to continue to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through December 4, in order to increase access to food after power outages as a result of Tropical Storm Helene that began on September 26. Customer questions should be directed to the EBT Call Center at 1-866-719-0141.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.