DCCA: Emergency food stamps still available

Those who want to avail of emergency food stamps from the government in connection with the supertyphoon Chaba disaster have until today to apply for assistance on Saipan.

The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs said the application period was extended to accommodate the high number of persons interested to avail of the emergency assistance.

The original deadline for filing applications on Saipan fell Friday. The U.S. Food and Nutrition Services, however, granted a three-day extension, following the request made by DCCA’s Nutrition Assistance Program.

Last week, hundreds of Saipan residents could be seen waiting in long lines for their turn to file their applications at the emergency food assistance centers in Susupe. Some even reportedly started falling in line at dawn.

Emergency food stamps, which should be used until Sept. 30, could be used to buy food items such as vegetables, fruits, fish, rice, meat, canned foods, baby formula, milk and other daily products, eggs, drinking water, and bread and other bakery products, according to the DCCA.

They could not be used to buy alcoholic beverages, tobacco, soap, detergents, paper products, medicine, cosmetics, toilet tissue, pampers, and betelnut, the DCCA said.

DCCA pubic information officer Catherine Anderson said residents who suffered losses due to the onslaught of Chaba could apply for emergency food assistance at the centers in the former courthouse in Susupe and at the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library. The centers open from 8am to 8pm.

“Residents may qualify if their home or belongings were damaged or destroyed and they have substantial disaster-related expenses and/or if they have lost income, resources, or their food supply as a result of Supertyphoon Chaba,” Anderson said.

“Determination of eligibility will also be made based on liquid assets, including cash and money in the bank. The resource limit of heads of households under age 55 is $2,000. The resource limit for heads of household age 55 and older is $3000,” she added.

Anderson said applications would be audited and reviewed, warning that the government would look into possible commission of fraud.

“Applicants must provide official identification, Social Security number, verification that they reside in the CNMI (i.e. utility billing, voter’s registration card, entry or work permit, employment contract), verification of income (i.e. last check-stub or earnings document, Social Security benefits, child support, alimony, retirement pension, veterans benefits), verification of resources or liquid assets (i.e. savings passbooks, bank statement or savings and/or checking accounts, latest ATM receipt), verification of disaster-related expenses (i.e. receipts of building material, storm shutters, fuel, generator, hotel stay due to uninhabitable home condition), sketch to permanent residence and temporary residence, if any,” the DCCA stated in a media release. (John Ravelo)