The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) announced today it has received approval from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to issue emergency food stamps to residents of Clark, Crawford, Dearborn, Jackson, Knox, Lawrence, Martin, Pike, Spencer and Switzerland counties who suffered losses due to the severe weather that began September 12. Emergency help may apply to residents of those counties who have been affected by the disaster, including those not currently receiving state assistance.

Those applying for the Disaster Food Stamp Program (DFSP) should answer "yes" to one of the five questions below.

1. Did the disaster damage or destroy your home or self-employment property?

2. Does your household have any additional expenses as a result of the disaster?

3. From September 14 through October 13, did your household have to pay for food to replace what was lost in the disaster?

4. Did the disaster delay, reduce or stop any of your household's income?

5. Does your household have any cash or money in checking or savings accounts which you cannot get to because the bank is closed due to the disaster?

Families have seven days to apply beginning October 8, 2008 and ending October 14. The one-month benefit period covered by this disaster application runs from September 14th through October 13th. When applying, applicants should bring a state driver's license or other form of identification, such as work or school ID, birth certificate, wage stub and a document that verifies their home address. Applicants may be asked for their Social Security number. If a client currently receiving benefits was given the maximum food stamp allotment for their household size in September and has received a replacement for these benefits, they will not be eligible for any further disaster food stamp benefits.

Please note, persons who purposely provide false information on a food stamp application may be denied food stamps and legal action may be taken. To report potential public assistance recipient fraud, all parties can express their concerns to the fraud hotline at 1-800-446-1993. For further details on eligibility or to submit your application, visit these assistance centers, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Locations where victims may apply for DFSP beginning October 8 include:

Clark County One Stop Shop
Clark County Fairgrounds
9608 SR 62
Charlestown, IN 47111

Crawford County Division of Family Resources
4030 East Goodman Ridge Rd., Suite C
Marengo, IN 47140

Dearborn County Division of Family Resources
230 Mary Street, Suite 140
Lawrenceburg, IN 47025

Jackson County Division of Family Resources
1406 East Tipton Street
Seymour, IN 47274

Knox County Division of Family Resources
1001 Washington Avenue
Vincennes, IN 47591

Lawrence County Division of Family Resources
918 16th Street, Suite 100-C
Bedford, IN 47421-3824

Martin County Division of Family Resources
609 Ravine Street
Shoals, IN 47581

Pike County Division of Family Resources
2105 E. Main Street, Ste B
Petersburg, IN 47567

Spencer County Division of Family Resources
201 Elm Street
Rockport, IN 47635

Switzerland County Division of Family Resources
1035 W. Main St, Ste 3
Vevay, IN 47043

For more information on FSSA, go to: www.in.gov/fssa.

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