The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has received approval to implement the first phase of the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) in 25 western NC counties and for members of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians who live in zip code 28719.  We estimate more than 150,000 people in Western NC will apply for up to a combined $120 million in benefits, but the window to apply is short, and we need your help making sure people who may be eligible know about D-SNAP and apply.  

Phase one of D-SNAP begins on Friday, October 18 and the application period closes on Thursday, October 24. 

Eligible households will receive a one-time benefit on a debit-like card (an Electronic Benefits Transfer, or EBT card) to help buy food. The exact amount will depend on household size, income, and estimated losses. The benefits are good for up to nine months. 

The impacted counties are 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. 

People are encouraged to apply by phone at the D-SNAP Virtual Call Center at 1-844-453-1117 or complete a pre-registration online using the ePASS Pre-Registration Tool, which will open on Oct. 15 for pre-registration and close on Oct. 22. Applicants will then receive a call to complete the registration with an interview over the phone. People can also apply at a D-SNAP location in their county. For a full list of places to apply, and for more details, visit ncdhhs.gov/dsnap.  

Residents will be notified if they have been approved within three days of their application and will pick up their EBT card in person at their county’s D-SNAP site or have their card mailed to them overnight at the address they list in the application. 

Residents are encouraged to apply for D-SNAP by phone on their assigned day by last name.  

• 10/18 – A-G 

• 10/19 – H-M  

• 10/20 – N-S 

• 10/21 – T-Z 

• 10/22 – Open to all  

• 10/23 – Open to all  

• 10/24 – Open to all 

NCDHHS is working with USDA on adding two additional counties through phase two of the D-SNAP implementation at a later date. Once we get that approval, we will share the additional information. 

Thank you for your support and continued partnership as we work to help our friends, neighbors, and communities in every corner of Western North Carolina as they recover from Hurricane Helene.