OLYMPIA -- The "Feed Washington Families," Disaster Food Stamp Program has extended the deadline for applying for the benefits until January 2, 2008.

The program provides food benefits to people who have suffered significant losses due to storm-related damage.

The benefits are issued through Electronic Benefit Transfer cards, which can be used at any time -- a month from now or even 10 months from now -- until the benefits are depleted. People can apply at the following DSHS offices. (The offices will be closed on December 25 and January 1, 2008).

Grays Harbor County:

Aberdeen Community Service Office - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - 415 West Wishkah - Aberdeen, WA

Aberdeen Home and Community Service Office -8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - 503 West Heron Street - Aberdeen, WA

Lewis County:

Temporary Location -8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - 3401 Galvin Road -Centralia, WA 98531

Chehalis Home and Community Service Office -8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - 1651 South Market Blvd. -Chehalis, WA

Chehalis Community Service Office - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Lewis County Mall

151 NE Hampe Way -Chehalis, WA

The regional call center (1-877-980-9180) is also open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for December 25 and January 1.

To qualify for the food assistance program, applicants must have lived or worked in Grays Harbor or Lewis counties 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.

Combined income and assets cannot exceed program limits. 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.

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. 

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.

In addition, school children in families that qualify for the food benefit program are temporarily eligible for reduced or free meals at school. The schools will be notified of this benefit and families should contact their local school for more information.

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 DSHS Community Services Office.