The deadline for Sandy-related food stamps is Tuesday

December 14, 2012 Mary Frost Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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More than a month since Superstorm Sandy, many New Yorkers living in areas devastated by the storm are unaware that they may be eligible for special disaster-related food stamps — and the deadline to apply is Tuesday.

The program — called Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) — supplies special food assistance to households that would not ordinarily receive benefits. This is particularly important for people living in hard-hit neighborhoods in Coney Island, Red Hook, Gerritsen Beach, Staten Island and Far Rockaway.

Officials estimate that 30,000 New York City households are eligible, totaling approximately $13 million in aid if they all apply.

Applicants must live in affected neighborhoods, meet specific income guidelines and must have suffered damages or lost income from the storm. Recipients will receive a temporary one-time benefit on an EBT card.

Residents of the following neighborhoods are eligible:

• Coney Island, Brooklyn (zip codes 11224 and 11235)
• Red Hook, Brooklyn (zip code 11231)
• Gerritsen Beach South of Allen Avenue, Brooklyn (partial area of zip code 11229)
• Lower East Side, Manhattan (zip code 10002)
• Staten Island: Southeast shore (zip code 10306), and North Midland Beach South of Seaview Avenue (partial area of zip code 10305)
• The Rockaways, Queens (zip codes 11691, 11692, 11693, 11694, and 11697)

To receive benefits, applicants must apply in person in either Downtown Brooklyn, at 495 Clermont Avenue from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (through Tuesday); or on Staten Island at New Dorp High School, 465 New Dorp Lane, on Friday, December 14, 4-8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, December 15-16, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Monday, December 17, 4-8 p.m.

Those who apply must have disaster-related expenses from October 27 to November 25, such as home damage, car damage, hotel expenses, etc. Applicants must also prove their identity and provide documents regarding residence, income, resources and family composition.

People already receiving regular food stamps are not eligible, but they may receive a one-time increase to the maximum allowable benefit.

Download application forms at: http://hungersolutionsny.org

For more information, call 311 or visit NYC.gov