In response to the damage caused by Hurricane Helene, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved a waiver allowing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in 84 Georgia counties to purchase hot foods with their benefits. This temporary provision is available now through November 7th, 2024.

Typically, SNAP benefits cannot be used to buy hot foods intended for immediate consumption. However, this waiver comes as many residents have been displaced by the hurricane, with limited access to food storage and cooking facilities. As a result, they will be able to purchase hot meals from authorized retailers in the affected areas.

The 84 counties included in this waiver span much of southern and central Georgia, and residents in these areas will not be charged sales tax on any hot food purchases made with SNAP benefits. The USDA has urged retailers in these counties to post notices informing customers of this temporary provision.

The full list of approved counties includes Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baldwin, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bleckley, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Franklin, Glascock, Glynn, Habersham, Hancock, Hart, Henry, Irwin, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lamar, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, Madison, McDuffie, McIntosh, Mitchell, Montgomery, Morgan, Monroe, Newton, Oglethorpe, Pierce, Rabun, Richmond, Rockdale, Screven, Spalding, Stephens, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Towns, Treutlen, Turner, Twiggs, Walton, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wilcox, Wilkes, Wilkinson, Wheeler, and Worth.

As Georgia continues its recovery from Hurricane Helene, this waiver aims to support vulnerable populations in their efforts to access food while rebuilding.