If food you bought with SNAP spoiled because of a power outage, fire, flood, or other household misfortune, you can get those benefits replaced — up to one full month’s allotment — but you must report the loss to your SNAP office within 10 days and sign a replacement request form. This is a standing federal rule, not a disaster-only program, and it works for a single-home mishap (your fridge died) just as it does for a hurricane.
With summer storm season knocking power out across the country, here is the exact procedure as of July 2026.
What losses qualify for replacement?
The federal standard is food "purchased with SNAP benefits and lost in a household misfortune." Common qualifying events:
- Power outages — most states treat an outage of roughly 4 hours or more as enough to spoil refrigerated food
- Fire or flood in the home
- Refrigerator or freezer breakdown
- Storm damage, evacuation, or similar disaster events
What’s replaced is the value of the SNAP food you lost — not more than one month’s benefit for your household, and not non-SNAP purchases.
What’s the deadline and the form?
Two clocks run:
- Report the loss within 10 days of when the food spoiled — by phone, in person, or in writing to your local SNAP office.
- Return the signed replacement form (states name it differently — "Request for Replacement of Food Purchased with SNAP Benefits") within the window your state gives after the report, commonly 10 days.
You’ll state what was lost and its approximate value, and attest to the misfortune. Offices cannot require you to bring in the spoiled food as proof. For a widespread outage, agencies often already have utility verification; for an individual mishap they may ask for simple documentation (a repair receipt, a fire report).
How much comes back, and when?
The replacement equals the value of food lost, capped at one month’s allotment for your household size — the caps by family size are in how much SNAP pays in 2026. Approved replacements are loaded onto your existing EBT card, typically within about 10 days of a completed request.
Note the distinction: this covers food destroyed by misfortune. If your benefits themselves were stolen — card skimming, phishing — that is a different process with different rules, covered in EBT card lost, stolen, or skimmed.
What about mass outages and disasters?
After large storms, two extra mechanisms kick in:
- Mass replacements — states can ask USDA to automatically replace a percentage of benefits for whole ZIP codes hit by a verified outage, no individual forms needed. Watch your state agency’s announcements after a major storm.
- D-SNAP (Disaster SNAP) — in federally declared disasters, temporary benefits can extend to households that don’t normally get SNAP. That’s a separate application during an announced window.
If your area was hit and you’re unsure whether a mass replacement was approved, still file your individual 10-day report — it preserves your claim either way.
FAQ
Q. My power was out for 6 hours but I’m not sure everything spoiled. Should I still report?
A. Yes. Report within 10 days and list what was actually lost. Food-safety guidance treats a refrigerator without power for over 4 hours as unsafe for perishables.
Q. Can I get a replacement twice in one year?
A. There’s no fixed federal annual limit for verified misfortunes, but repeated claims draw scrutiny and some states require a supervisor review. Each claim needs its own verified event.
Q. Does a replacement affect my regular monthly deposit or eligibility?
A. No. It’s an add-back of benefits you already received and lost — your normal issuance, certification period, and recertification schedule are untouched.
Q. I lost food bought with cash, not SNAP. Any help?
A. SNAP replacement only covers SNAP-purchased food. For broader disaster losses, look at D-SNAP, FEMA assistance, or local food banks.