Governor Ige declares fourth emergency relief period to address food insecurity
Posted on Sep 19, 2022 in 2020 COVID19, Emergency Proclamations, Information and News Releases, News Stories
DAVID Y. IGE
GOVERNOR
Governor Ige declares fourth emergency relief period to address food insecurity
DHS continues to advocate for food security with feds
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 19, 2022
HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige signed a fourth emergency proclamation to allow the continuation of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) emergency allotment benefits in line with the federal COVID emergency. The disaster emergency relief period continues through November 18, 2022.
“Food insecurity is just one of the lingering effects of the pandemic, and SNAP benefits provide Hawaiʻi families with nutritious food,” said Gov. Ige. “It’s important for families to reach out so they can get the help they need.”
The SNAP program provides crucial food and nutritional support to qualifying low-income and needy households, and those making the transition from public assistance to self-sufficiency.
In Hawaiʻi, the Department of Human Services (DHS) Benefit, Employment & Support Services Division (BESSD) administers the program and remains committed to providing food security for individuals and families in Hawaiʻi.
SNAP is managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is the largest food nutrition assistance program in the country. DHS reminds the public that the federal government requires recipients of SNAP and Financial Assistance Programs (FAP) to recertify, or renew, their eligibility annually (for most households) to receive continued benefits.
Households are now able to upload required documents at https://pais-benefits.dhs.hawaii.gov/.
However, renewal interviews should be completed via telephone, and recipients needing assistance with this process or information about the status of their recertification should call the Public Assistance Toll Free Information Line at 1-855-643-1643.
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Media Contacts:
Amanda Stevens
Public Information Officer
Department of Human Services
Cindy McMillan
Communications Director
Office of the Governor
Office: 808-586-0012
Mobile: 808-265-7974