(USDA)
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Retail food stores were enabled last week to accept SNAP benefits for hot food and foods intended to be consumed on retailer premises.
Special disaster rules were issued by the United States Department of Agriculture. Authorized SNAP retail food stores licensed by the Food and Nutrition Service in select counties may sell those foods to SNAP benefit holders. The rules are in effect through Jan. 17, 2022.
The foods will not be eligible for sales tax, according to a news release from the USDA.
The waiver applies to the counties of Adair, Allen, Barren, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Casey, Christian, Crittenden, Edmondson, Fulton, Graves, Green, Hart, Hickman, Hopkins, Larue, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, McClean, McCracken, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Simpson, Taylor, Todd, Trigg, Warren and Webster.
FNS has notified SNAP authorized retailers in the approved counties of the hot foods waiver approval.
The FNS approved Kentucky’s request to waive the statutory definition of “food” under Section 3(k)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended, and companion regulations at 7 CFR 271.2 as a result of power outages, tornados, straight-line winds and flooding that began on Dec. 10, 2021.
On Dec. 17, 2021, FNS approved Kentucky Department for Community Based Services request to waive the 10-day reporting requirement for replacement of food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of power outages, tornados, straight-line winds, and flooding that began on Dec. 10, 2021. The waiver applies to counties of Caldwell, Fulton, Graves, Hopkins, Marshall, Muhlenberg, Taylor and Warren. The waiver is in effect through Jan. 10, 2022.
