606-3          REPLACING SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program BENEFITS

Alaska Quest Card Replacement

Alaska Quest cards will be reissued when the household reports that the card was never received in the mail, the card was stolen from the mail or after receipt, the card was destroyed in a household misfortune, or the card was improperly manufactured or mutilated.

Replacing Benefits Lost in a Disaster

SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits already spent will be replaced when the household reports that food purchased with SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program was destroyed in a household misfortune.  SNAP benefits lost due to a household misfortune are limited to household misfortunes such as a fire, flood, loss of electricity, equipment malfunction, or other disaster.  To be entitled to this replacement, the household must report the loss within 10 days of the household misfortune.

Note:

A household shall not receive both SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Disaster Program benefits and replacement benefits for a household misfortune.

When determining the amount of SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to be replaced, first ask the household the approximate dollar value of food lost in the disaster. The replacement benefits shall be the amount of the loss to the household up to a maximum of one month's benefit. The report must be clearly documented in the case notes including:

• the amount being replaced;
• how the replacement was determined; and,
• the reasons for the replacement.

The caseworker will need to use prudent judgment when making the decision to replace benefits.

Example:

Lisa receives her SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits of $351 on 9/1. On 9/5, a windstorm knocks out power for three days. In that time, all of the food that Lisa purchased in the previous month has spoiled due to loss of electricity. Lisa reports on 9/10 that she has lost $250 worth of food in the outage. The caseworker must use prudent judgment and document the report before replacing her food loss of $250.

Example:

A household received $300 per month in SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. On 9/15 a storm knocks out power for several days. The household reports that they have lost $200 worth of food. Even though they have only spent $100 worth of SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits this month, some items in the refrigerator and freezer were purchased in the prior month. The full $200 in SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are replaced because it is less than the $300 per month allotment. If the household reports $400 worth of food lost, only $300 is replaced because that was their monthly allotment.

To replace a current benefit month, go to the UNAU (Underpayment Authorization) screen and use the AG (Agency Caused) code. The replacement benefits are the amount spent up to the monthly allotment issued to the household.

If the case has an active SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program overpayment claim listed on the OVCM (Overpayment/Claim Maintenance) screen, contact the Benefits Issuance & Recovery Section at 465-3047 or dpa_ebt@alaska.gov before issuing the benefit. They will pend the claim until the replacement benefit is issued.

Replacing Stolen Benefits

If a client reports their Alaska Quest card has been stolen, the agency must cancel the stolen card and issue a replacement.  Only benefits used after the report is received will be replaced by the agency.

Example:

Jean called the agency on April 5th to report that her Alaska Quest card was stolen on April 1st.  The agency does not take action on Jean’s report until April 20th. The agency must replace any benefits used between April 5th and April 20th.