RALEIGH, N.C. — Residents in 25 western counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians impacted by Hurricane Helene can apply for help buying food through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) which will begin on Oct.18, 2024, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced Monday. D-SNAP is open to individuals and households not currently receiving Food and Nutrition Services benefits who were impacted by Hurricane Helene. NCDHHS estimates more than 150,000 people will apply for up to $120 million in D-SNAP benefits. “We are making up to $120 million available to more than 150,000 individuals to buy food for their families — an essential step on the road to recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Helene,” said N.C. Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. “We are committed to using every tool to support the recovery of our friends, families, and fellow North Carolinians in western NC — now and for the long haul.” NCDHHS received federal approval to begin phase one of the program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture beginning on Oct. 18, 2024. People can start applying for assistance three days before the program starts during online pre-registration beginning Oct. 15 and will have seven days from the start of the program to apply. The application period will close on Oct. 24, 2024. Eligible households will be notified within three days of completing the application and receive a one-time benefit on a special debit card (called an Electronic Benefits Transfer, or EBT card) to help buy food. The exact amount will depend on household size, income and disaster losses. While there are income eligibility standards, a number of considerations are taken into account. Individuals above these limits may still be eligible dependent on disaster expenses, so we encourage everyone who needs support to purchase food to begin their application by calling the DSNAP Virtual Call Center at 1-844-453-1117. The benefits are good for up to nine months. Benefit cards will be available for pick up at the D-SNAP locations in each county or you can get the EBT card mailed to you overnight at the address you specify on your application. To be eligible, a person must: Live in Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey Counties. Be a member of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians living in zip code 28719 Have suffered losses/damages related to Hurricane Helene, such as damage to property or loss of income. Have proof of identity and proof of residency (if available). Have income and resources below certain levels. Not currently be receiving benefits through the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) program. People receiving FNS can also get extra help buying food, but do not need to fill out a D-SNAP application. They can get more information about how to get the extra help on the FNS webpage. Residents are encouraged to apply for D-SNAP by phone, when possible, by calling the D-SNAP call center at 1-844-453-1117. The D-SNAP call center will be open at the following hours: Weekdays (Friday, Oct. 18; Monday, Oct. 21; Tuesday, Oct. 22; Wednesday, Oct. 23; and Thursday, Oct. 24) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, and Sunday, Oct. 20, from 9 a.m. to noon. Residents are encouraged to apply for D-SNAP by phone on their assigned day by last name but will not be turned away if they apply any time during the application period. Oct. 18 – A-G Oct. 19 – H-M Oct. 20 – N-S Oct. 21 – T-Z Oct. 22 – Open to all Oct. 23 – Open to all Oct. 24 – Open to all Residents can also use the online ePASS Pre-Registration Tool, which will open on Tuesday, Oct. 15 and close on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Once the pre-registration is completed, applicants will be issued a confirmation number and will need to call 1-844-453-1117 between Oct. 18 and Oct. 24 to complete the interview part of the application. Residents can also apply for D-SNAP in-person at any of the following locations listed below. The D-SNAP sites listed below will be open at the following hours: Weekdays (Friday, Oct. 18; Monday, Oct. 21; Tuesday, Oct. 22; Wednesday, Oct. 23; and Thursday, Oct. 24) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, and Sunday, Oct. 20 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Alexander County Department of Social Services Alexander County DSS Office 604 7th St. SW Taylorsville, NC 28681 Alleghany County Emerson Black Building 1375 US Hwy 21 N Sparta, NC 28675 Ashe County Department of Social Services Main Ashe DSS Office 150 Government Circle, Suite 1400 Jefferson, NC  28640 Avery County Avery County Library (Basement) 150 Library Road Newland, NC 28657 Buncombe County Department of Social Services Main Buncombe County DSS Office 40 Coxe Ave. Asheville, NC, 28801 Burke County Department of Social Services Burke County DSS Office 700 E Parker Road Morganton, NC 28655 Caldwell County   Former Walgreens Building 621 Harper Ave. Lenoir, NC   28645 Catawba County Department of Social Services Catawba County DSS Office 3030 11th Ave Drive Hickory, NC 28602 Clay County Department of Social Services Clay County DSS Office 119 Courthouse Drive Hayesville, NC 28904 Cleveland County Cleveland County Schools Bus Garage 300 Kemper Road Shelby, NC 28152 Gaston County Department of Social Services Main Gaston County DSS Office 330 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way Gastonia, NC 28052 Haywood County Haywood County DSS Office 157 Paragon Pkwy #300, Clyde, NC 28721 Henderson County Living Waters Baptist Church 1284 Sugarloaf Road Hendersonville, NC 28792 Jackson County Jackson County DSS Office 15 Griffin St. Sylva, NC 28779 Lincoln County Department of Social Services  Lincoln County DSS Office 1136 East Main St. Lincolnton, NC 28092 Macon County Department of Social Services 183 Holly Springs Plaza Franklin, NC 28734 Madison County Department of Social Services Madison DSS Office 5707 US Hwy 25-70, Suite 1 Marshall, NC 28753 McDowell County McDowell County YMCA Gym: Bottom Level 348 Grace Corpening Drive Marion, North Carolina 28752 Mitchell County Department of Social Services Mitchel County DSS Office 347 Longview Drive Bakersville, NC 28705 Polk County Department of Social Services 231 Wolverine Trail Mill Spring, NC 28756 Rutherford County Department of Social Services Isothermal Community College (ICC) Foundation Performing Arts Center 286 ICC Loop Road Spindale NC 288160 Transylvania County Library 212 South Gaston St., “Rogow Room” Brevard, NC 28712 Watauga County Department of Social Services Watauga County DSS Office 132 Poplar Grove Connector, Suite C Boone, NC 28607 Wilkes County Department of Social Services Wilkes County DSS Office 304 College St. Wilkesboro, NC 28697 Yancey County   Burnsville Town Center 6 South Main St. Burnsville, NC 28714 Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Residing in 28719: Qualla Boundary Qualla Boundary 1526 Acquoni Road Cherokee, NC Jackson Jackson County DSS Office 15 Griffin St. Sylva, NC 28779 While people in Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey Counties and members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians living in 28719 are encouraged to apply in their county of residence, they can also apply in person at any of the counties approved to implement D-SNAP. NCDHHS will post information on locations and hours of the sites in each county at www.ncdhhs.gov/dsnap. Please know there may be long wait times. County officials will do everything they can to process applications as quickly as possible. People who may have a disability or are physically unable to go in-person applying for help can complete this form in English or Spanish and send an authorized representative in their place. NCDHHS is working with USDA on adding two additional counties through phase two of the D-SNAP implementation at a later date. Once approved, NCDHHS will share additional information. For information regarding Hurricane Helene and additional resources and flexibilities in place, please go to www.ncdps.gov/Helene and www.ncdhhs.gov/helene. Versión en español.