Request Replacement Benefits for SNAP and SEBT

 
 
 
 
 
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What you need to know

​​​​What are replacement benefits?

Replacement SNAP or S-EBT benefits may be provided in cases in which food purchased with SNAP or S-EBT benefits were destroyed in a disaster affecting household(s). Examples of disasters that may have caused food to be destroyed include but are not limited to:

  • Fire;
  • Flood;
  • Natural disasters; or,
  • Power outages.

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Who is eligible for replacement benefits?

Eligible individuals or households must have lost food purchased with SNAP or S-EBT benefits due to a disaster or household misfortune.

Refrigerated food may be replaced if power has been out for four or more hours, while frozen food may be replaced if power has been out for 24 or more hours. Verification of the the disaster will be completed with the household's provider prior to replacing benefits. 

Ways to request Replacement Benefits:

Households must report the loss to iServe Nebraska Economic Assistance within 10 days of the power being restored.

To report the loss and request replacement benefits, the following options are available:

  • Complete, print, and sign the request for replacement form and return it to DHHS within 10 days from the disaster or from when the power was restored. Completed and signed forms can be submitted by:
  • Call the iServe Nebraska Economic Assistance Hotline toll-free at 800-383-4278 within 10 days of the disaster or the power being restored.
    • A replacement form will be completed over the phone and mailed to the household. It must be signed and returned within 10 days.
  • Visit a local DHHS office​ within 10 days of the disaster or outage.

Please note: If you lost benefits with both SNAP and S-EBT, two separate requests must be made.​

Forms

Request for SNAP Replacement

Request for Summer EBT (SEBT) Replacement


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Are replacement benefits the same as Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP)?

A1: No, within the SNAP and S-EBT regulations, replacements can be requested anytime due to a household disaster or misfortune. D-SNAP is a separate program, and a federal disaster must be declared with personal assistance for a state to operate a D-SNAP program.

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Q2: Do I need to provide pictures or receipts showing the destroyed food?

A2: No, the household will complete a form declaring how much food was lost in the refrigerator and the freezer.

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Q3: My power was out due to non-payment to the utility company. Am I eligible for replacement benefits?

A3: No, electricity being disconnected by the power company due to non-payment of the utility bill is not considered a household misfortune or disaster.

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Q4: How much will I receive in SNAP replacement benefits?

A4: It varies. Households will receive replacement SNAP benefits for the amount of food the household reported lost or destroyed as long as it does not exceed their monthly SNAP allotment.

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Q5: How much will I receive in SEBT replacements?

A5: It varies. Households will receive replacement S-EBT benefits for the amount of food the household reported lost or destroyed as long as it does not exceed their S-EBT allotment.    

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Q6: How do I receive my replacement benefits?

A6: Replacement benefits are issued to your SNAP EBT or S-EBT cards. You can log into ebtEDGE to view transactions and review issuances.

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Q7: My SNAP benefits closed last month, but I still had food purchased that was destroyed due to a power outage. Am I eligible to request replacement benefits?

A7: Potentially, as long as the agency can determine that the household may have had benefits remaining, they can be replaced. The time between the last issuance and the disaster will make a difference. For example, it is unlikely that food purchased three months ago would still be good in a refrigerator, making it ineligible for replacements.

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Q8: I receive both SNAP and S-EBT benefits. Can I do one form or request for both replacements?

A8: No, these requests are two different types of benefits and must be completed on two separate forms.

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Q9: I do not have access to print the online form. Is there any other way I can sign this?

A9: The online forms do not accept a typed or electronic signature. If you cannot print the form, you can go to a community agency, library, or other public place to see if they can print it. If unable to do so, you can call iServe Nebraska to complete the request over the phone, and a form will be mailed to you. If you go into a local DHHS office, they can print and assist with the form.

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Q10: How will I receive my replacement benefits?

A10: Replacement benefits are issued back to your SNAP or S-EBT Card. If you receive SNAP and S-EBT replacements, they will return to those cards.

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