Special SNAP Services in South Carolina

Certain situations may qualify residents for special SNAP services. These programs offer assistance during emergencies, after natural disasters, or provide simplified applications for specific groups like older adults.

Expedited SNAP (Emergency SNAP)

This program provides food assistance to households facing an immediate financial crisis. To prevent hunger, benefits are issued within seven days of the application interview for those who qualify for this emergency service.

A household may be eligible if it meets specific financial criteria. These include:

• Monthly gross income under $150 and liquid resources of $100 or less.

• Income and cash are less than current rent or mortgage plus utilities.

• The household has a destitute migrant or seasonal farmworker and liquid resources of $100 or less.

To apply, submit a regular SNAP application online or at a county DSS office. Staff will screen the form for expedited criteria and issue benefits accordingly.

Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP)

D-SNAP is activated after a federal disaster declaration. It provides a one-time food benefit to households that suffered uninsured losses or lost income due to the event, helping them replace food quickly.

This assistance is only available in counties named in the disaster declaration. Applicants must have lived in the area at the time of the event and must not be receiving regular SNAP benefits.

To qualify, you must show unreimbursed disaster expenses, damaged housing, or lost income. Apply during the announced D-SNAP window by phone or at temporary DSS disaster sites with proof of identity, address, income, and losses.

SNAP Replacement Benefits For Food Loss

Current SNAP recipients can request replacement benefits if food bought with SNAP is destroyed. This covers losses from power failures, fires, floods, or storms, preventing sudden food insecurity from household misfortune.

Households that lost food due to a disaster or a power outage of four hours or more can receive up to one month of replacement SNAP. Other qualifying misfortunes are also covered under this policy.

To apply, file DSS Form 1634B with your county DSS office within 10 days of the loss. You must include verification, like outage notices. In some cases, mass replacements may be issued automatically.

Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP)

ESAP simplifies the SNAP application process for older residents. It uses a shorter form and has fewer reporting requirements, which reduces paperwork barriers for eligible elders who often have stable, fixed incomes.

To be eligible, a household must consist only of members aged 60 or older. Additionally, the household must have no earned income and not be currently receiving regular SNAP benefits.

You can apply by mailing the ESAP paper form, submitting an online application, or calling an outreach partner for assistance. Approved households get benefits for an extended period with minimal reporting requirements.

How to Use Your SNAP Benefits in South Carolina

Once approved for SNAP, you'll need to know how to use your benefits, including what you can buy and where.

What is an EBT Card and How to Use it?

An Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card is how you receive and spend your SNAP benefits. It functions much like a debit or credit card. Your monthly food assistance funds are loaded directly onto the card.

When you check out at an authorized store, you simply swipe or insert your EBT card into the card reader and enter your Personal Identification Number (PIN). The purchase amount is then deducted from your SNAP account balance.

What Can You Buy with SNAP Benefits?

You can use your EBT card to purchase most grocery food items. The program is designed to cover household staples that help you prepare meals. Eligible foods include:

• Fruits and vegetables

• Meat, poultry, and fish

• Dairy products

• Breads and cereals

• Snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages

However, some items are not covered by SNAP. Benefits cannot be used to purchase non-food goods or certain prepared items. Ineligible items include:

• Alcoholic beverages and tobacco

• Vitamins, medicines, and supplements

• Hot, ready-to-eat foods

• Non-food products like pet food, cleaning supplies, and cosmetics

Where Can You Use Your EBT Card?

Your EBT card is accepted at most authorized food retailers, including grocery stores, supermarkets, and many corner stores. You can also use your benefits at participating farmers’ markets to purchase fresh, local produce. Just look for the Quest or SNAP logo at the store entrance or checkout.

Additionally, you can shop for groceries online with your EBT card. Several major retailers, such as Amazon and Walmart, accept SNAP for eligible food purchases. This allows you to have groceries delivered or schedule them for pickup, offering greater flexibility and convenience for your household.

Download Benny for Free and Earn Cash Back on EBT

With the Benny app, you can stretch your grocery budget further. Earn cash back when you shop at stores like Target, Walmart, and Dollar Tree. You can also get rewards on services you use every day, including Uber and Lyft, helping you save money on essentials.

Download Benny for free. Connect your EBT card and earn cashback as you shop.