OLYMPIA -- The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will implement the "Feed Washington Families" Disaster Food Stamp Program (FSP) in Grays Harbor and Lewis counties to assist residents who have suffered significant losses due to storm-related damage.

To qualify for the "Feed Washington Families" benefits program, applicants must have lived or worked in Grays Harbor or Lewis County and have suffered a disaster related loss, such as damage to their homes or self-employment property, loss of food, reduction of income, or have incurred other disaster related expenses. Applicants must also be financially eligible.

People must apply in person at a DSHS Community Service Office (CSO) or a Home and Community Service (HCS) field office, be able to verify identity and residency, complete and sign a simple application form. Applicants will be asked questions about their residency, household composition, income and losses, or expenses due to the disaster.

People must apply by Friday, December 21, to receive the food stamp benefit. To help with larger volumes, the regional call center (1-877-980-9180) and two CSO offices in Grays Harbor and Lewis counties will be open extended hours from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, December 10 – 14, 2007. See addresses below for offices.

Combined income and assets cannot exceed program limits. The Disaster Gross Income is calculated by taking a family's gross income and subtracting any disaster related losses or expenses. Only available income from December is counted. The income limit after deductions for one person is $1,416 and the limit for a four person family is $2,295.

Benefits are based on family size. One person is eligible for $162 in Disaster Food Stamp benefits. A family of four is eligible for $542. Eligible individuals and families will be issued Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to use at authorized food retailers.

Once a person is authorized for disaster food assistance, they will be able to access the benefits the same day if authorized before 3 p.m. Authorizations made after 3 p.m. will be available the next day.

People can apply for benefits at the following DSHS offices:

Grays Harbor County:

• Aberdeen CSO -8 a.m. to 8 p.m. -415 West Wishkah, Aberdeen, WA 98520
• Aberdeen HCS -8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - 503 West Heron Street, Aberdeen, WA 98520

Lewis County:

• Chehalis CSO -8 a.m. to 8 p.m. -Temporarily located at:3401 Galvin Road, Centralia, WA 98531
• Chehalis HCS -8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - 1651 South Market Blvd., Chehalis, WA 98532

Individuals, who have been displaced by the storm and are now living outside of these counties, may apply for the disaster food stamp program at any CSO. However, other CSOs will operate at normal business hours, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.