For Immediate Release
Oct. 2, 2003

Richmond - The sheer volume of new applications for disaster food stamps is challenging local social services workers, who are "doing an outstanding job" processing the stacks and stacks of applications they are receiving, Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) Commissioner Maurice A. Jones said today.

VDSS now estimates 80,000 new food stamp applications will be submitted statewide as a result of Hurricane Isabel. It is estimated that disaster food stamp benefits will result in $42 million in federal money for state residents.

"Norfolk normally has 12,500 households receiving food stamp benefits. In just one week, Norfolk received more than 14,000 new applications," Jones said. "We are seeing the same scenario in Richmond. Both Norfolk and Richmond have relatively sizable populations of low-income residents who may qualify, and the local departments of social services are to be commended for their efforts."

Fifty local agencies have applied for the disaster food stamps program after Hurricane Isabel; 48 agencies have been approved. Some localities are seeking extensions to take applications for a longer period of time.

"In order to reduce long lines at local agencies, VDSS has automatically added a half month of benefits to all current food stamp participants in disaster areas," Jones said.

Loss of food alone is not enough to be eligible for food stamps. Low-income residents who have experienced loss of income or disaster-related expenses are encouraged to apply for food stamps at their local department of social services, even if they previously have never received food assistance. Disaster food stamps may replace lost food for existing food stamp clients and extend benefits to low-income residents currently not receiving food stamp benefits.

"I am very pleased that we were able to assist 48 local departments of social services representing 53 localities in obtaining federal approval in a matter of days to begin processing disaster food stamp assistance requests," said Jones. "The state and other local departments also are sending staff to help out in the hardest-hit areas."

"The state and local agencies, in partnership, are responding to Virginia’s most needy citizens," said Jones.

For new applicants in localities approved for disaster food stamps, the following table shows the income limit for eligibility and benefit amount for the household size:

Household Size	Maximum Monthly Income Limit	Benefit Amount
1	$1,240	$139
2	1,496	256
3	1,753	366
4	2,010	465
5	2,279	553
6	2,557	663
7	2,814	733
8	3,070	838
Each additional member add:	257	105

The following local departments of social services currently are participating in the disaster food stamps program:

Accomack (Tangier)	Hampton	Powhatan
Albemarle	Hanover	Prince George
Arlington	Henrico	Richmond City
Brunswick	Hopewell	Richmond County
Caroline	Isle of Wight	Southampton
Charles City	James City	Spotsylvania
Charlottesville	King George	Stafford
Chesapeake	King and Queen	Staunton / Augusta / Waynesboro
Chesterfield	King William	Suffolk
Colonial Heights	Lancaster	Surry
Culpeper	Mathews	Sussex
Dinwiddie	Middlesex	Virginia Beach
Fairfax/Falls Church	New Kent	Westmoreland
Franklin City	Newport News	Williamsburg
Fredericksburg	Norfolk	York-Poquoson
Gloucester	Northumberland
	Petersburg
(Amelia and Middlesex have applications pending to participate.)

Marcella Williamson
Public Affairs
(804) 692-1031
mkw900@dss.state.va.us

Charles Ingram
Public Affairs
(804) 692-1619
cij900@dss.state.va.us
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