Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Replacement Benefits | State of Hawaii Department of Human Services Updates

(SNAP Replacement Benefits) The Hawaii Department of Human Services (DHS) announced an important update regarding the replacement of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits following severe weather, flooding and power outages associated with Tropical Cyclone Lala. Following DHS’s request submitted on August 17, 2026, the Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) has approved a statewide waiver extending the deadline for households to report food loss and request replacement SNAP benefits. Reports made by September 13, 2026, will be considered timely. Replacement benefits allow eligible households that lost food purchased with SNAP benefits due to storm-related household misfortune, including extended power outages (more than 4 hours) to be reimbursed for the food that was destroyed. The amount of replacement benefits is based on the value of food lost, not to exceed the household’s monthly SNAP allotment. DHS is currently accepting applications for SNAP replacement benefits from SNAP households statewide. To qualify, SNAP recipients must submit a signed, written statement reporting the food loss. The statement must include: -The name of the SNAP participant -Date of food loss (please provide a specific date; not a range) -Estimated value of food lost (please provide a specific dollar amount; not a range) -A description of what occurred and when -Contact information for the participant -Signed A sample written statement, https://humanservices.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Application-for-Replacement-of-Food.pdf, is available on the DHS website; however, recipients may submit their own written statement and are not required to use the sample form. A signed written statement is required. Another person may deliver or submit the statement on behalf of the SNAP recipient; however, the recipient must sign the statement and include their contact information so Eligibility Workers can verify the information directly if needed. If a statement is submitted without the recipient’s signature, DHS will need to contact the individual to obtain the required signature before processing the request. Written statements may be submitted to any DHS Processing Center statewide. Once received, submissions will be reviewed and validated. Approved applicants will receive replacement benefits following the review process. For more information and to view the sample written statement, visit the website, https://humanservices.hawaii.gov/. Website for the announcements: https://humanservices.hawaii.gov/dhs-announces-snap-replacement-benefits-for-current-recipients-affected-by-tropical-cyclone-lala/ https://humanservices.hawaii.gov/dhs-announces-extended-deadline-for-snap-recipients-requesting-replacement-benefits-after-tropical-cyclone-lala/ https://humanservices.hawaii.gov/dhs-announces-automated-snap-mass-replacement-and-extended-deadline-after-tropical-cyclone-lala/