OLYMPIA -- Families who work or live in Grays Harbor and Lewis counties have until December 21 to access food benefits through the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Feed Washington Families Disaster Food Stamp Program.

To qualify for the program, applicants must 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.

Three DSHS locations – one in Grays Harbor County and two in Lewis County – will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, December 15, to issue the food stamp benefits. The regional call center (1-877-980-9180) also will be operating from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The locations are at 415 West Wishkah in Aberdeen, Grays Harbor County, and at 3401 Galvin Road in Centralia and at 151 NE Hampe Way in Chehalis, Lewis County.

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. For example, the income limit after deductions for one person is $1,416 and the limit for a four person family is $2,295. Any size family can apply.

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.

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.

Feed Washington Families is a partnership between DSHS and U.S. Department of Agriculture.