Longview Times

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has waived the 10-day reporting requirement for 35 counties – including Gregg, Upshur, Rusk, Panola and Harrison – to apply for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which will replace food lost or destroyed by Hurricane Laura.

Residents of eight counties who are eligible for SNAP benefits are authorized for the automatic replacement benefits, according to the office of Gov. Greg Abbott. Those counties are Hardin, Jefferson, Newton, Orange, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby and Tyler. No action is needed in order to receive the replacement benefits. A portion of the August allotment for each eligible household should have been placed onto recipients' Lone Star cards by Sept. 18.

"I thank our federal partners for approving these replacement benefits and for their ongoing support as Texas recovers from Hurricane Laura," Abbott said. "This will help our communities focus on rebuilding and recovering from this storm, while helping ensure that families can continue to provide healthy food for their families."

Individuals in those eight counties who wish to report additional loss and individuals in other counties have until Sept. 30 to report other food loss and request additional benefits. Visit the Health and Human Services Commission website for more information.