Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare Opens District Offices in Philadelphia to Accept D-SNAP Applications for Hurricane Irene Victims

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two of the Department of Public Welfare's Philadelphia district offices have opened for Hurricane Irene flood victims to apply for the Disaster SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) due to the Disaster Recovery Centers no longer processing applications, Secretary Gary D. Alexander said today.

The Delancey and Ridge district offices will be open until 7 p.m. tonight, and will have extended hours on Monday and Tuesday. Street addresses are listed below.

"We are asking for flood-affected residents to go directly to one of the two Philadelphia district offices," said Alexander. "Given the unexpectedly high number of people who went to the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Philadelphia to apply for D-SNAP, we can no longer safely accommodate the application process at that location."

The federally-run program, called Disaster SNAP or D-SNAP, is a short-term program offered to people who live in an area that has been declared a disaster by the president. Their household must have sustained a loss of property, income or food due to a flood or power outage.

In addition, Disaster Recovery Centers in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties will stop processing D-SNAP applications. Individuals and families seeking D-SNAP benefits in those counties should go to their county assistance offices beginning Monday, Sept. 26. Those offices will also have extended operating hours on Monday and Tuesday.

"We cannot stress it enough: D-SNAP benefits are only for those people who were affected by the floods caused by Hurricane Irene," said Alexander. "We want to make sure that the D-SNAP benefits are available to those truly in need."

All Philadelphia district offices will be open with extended hours Monday and Tuesday to process Philadelphia D-SNAP applications for victims of Hurricane Irene.  

DPW Philadelphia District Offices opened Sunday, Sept. 25

Delancey                
5740 Market St, 2nd floor                
Philadelphia, PA

Ridge District                
1350 Sedgley Ave.                
Philadelphia, PA

For more information about the Department of Public Welfare, visit the department's website at www.dpw.state.pa.us

Media contact: Carey Miller, 717-364-6671

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare