Takes Multiple Steps to Ensure Food Security
DHS Takes Multiple Steps to Ensure
Food Security
Online
Options Through Amazon and Walmart
(Des Moines,
Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) is deploying a
comprehensive approach to
address food insecurity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. DHS submitted federal
waivers to Food and
Nutrition Services (FNS) to ensure continued and expanded access to food. Food Assistance
will continue for all current recipients. Benefits will increase for current
and new recipients.
Families
First Coronavirus Response Act
This federal
legislation allows for Increased
benefits for current and newly eligible applicants o DHS will
increase April and May Food Assistance: benefits to the maximum allowable
amount per
household. o If a
household is not already receiving the maximum: amount for April and May, those
additional benefits
will be added to their EBT card with their
normal monthly benefits.
Adjustment
of Food Assistance eligibility requirements and benefits to address the loss of
school lunch
o DHS is
working collaboratively with the Department of Education to research
opportunities related to increased
food insecurity for Iowa families who rely on school lunch programs.
DHS will
share additional information as these efforts mature.
Household Size
---- Max Allotment
1 ---------------------------- $194
2 ----------------------------$355
3----------------------------
$509
4 ----------------------------$646
5 ----------------------------$768
6 ----------------------------$921
7 ----------------------------$1018
8 ----------------------------$1164
9 ----------------------------$1310
10 ---------------------------$1456
11 ---------------------------$1602
12 ---------------------------$1748
13---------------------------
$1894
14 ---------------------------$2040
15 ---------------------------$2186
16 ---------------------------$2332
Food
Assistance Auto-Recertification
Food
Assistance households who would normally have a recertification due in March,
April, or May, have had
their cases recertified for six months. A Notice of Decision will not be sent
to households regarding
this extension.
Suspension
of Food Assistance Work Requirements
The new
legislation allows states to suspend Food Assistance work requirements, except
in limited circumstances.
Food Assistance recipients will not have benefits terminated for failure to
comply with work
requirements.
New
Online Options to Purchase Food
Amazon and
Walmart now offer online options for Iowans using their Food Assistance EBT
card to purchase
food. This service is available statewide. Amazon will deliver to all Iowa ZIP
codes. Walmart provides this service for all store locations that offer online
grocery. DHS is exploring additional opportunities
to expand this program to include other retailers. Visit the
retailers’ websites to order groceries or get more information:
• Amazon
Information
• Amazon FAQ
• Walmart:
Walmart website for specific stores will state: NEW – This location offers delivery! Or
call or (800) 924-9206.
Food
Assistance recipients will be able to use their benefits to purchase eligible
food items, but will not be able
to use benefits to pay for service or delivery charges. For more information,
please visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/online-purchasing-pilot.
Emergency
Food Assistance
DHS
requested an addendum to the state plan for The Emergency Food Assistance
Program (TEFAP),
which increases access to food distribution to address food insecurity related
to the COVID-
19 pandemic.
Iowans who are in need of emergency assistance due to an income change are now eligible for
TEFAP. Iowans who are in need of food should contact their local food bank to
find TEFAP providers in
their area.
Home-Delivered
Meals
On March 18,
2020, DHS requested federal waivers to expand home-delivered meals to certain Medicaid
recipients. This will provide home-delivered meals for Iowa Medicaid members
who are home-bound
and for home- and community-based service (HCBS) waiver members if their waiver does not
have meals as an allowable service. We’ve also expanded homemaker services
which allow someone to
come into the home to prepare meals for HCBS waiver members.
written: March 27, 2020 For more information Matt Highland
mhighla@dhs.state.ia.us 515-281-4848
This information was found on the Iowa department of health webpage
