HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services is reminding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients affected by last weekend’s severe storms that they may qualify for replacement benefits if food was lost because of extended power outages.

Households that experienced a prolonged power outage — or are still without electricity — may request replacement SNAP benefits by contacting their county assistance office in person or by phone. Requests must be submitted within 10 days of the food loss.

“A power outage and loss of food can be extremely difficult to recover from for households on limited incomes, especially if they have already used their allocation of SNAP benefits for the month,” DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh said in a news release. “If any Pennsylvanian who receives SNAP is in this situation, help is available.”

Federal rules allow states to replace up to one month’s worth of SNAP benefits when food is destroyed because of a natural disaster or other qualifying incident.

To receive replacement benefits, recipients must complete an Affidavit for Replacement of Food Destroyed in a Household Disaster within 10 days of the reported food loss. The affidavit verifies that the food was lost because of a natural disaster or other unforeseen household incident.

Requests can be submitted through a county assistance office, by phone, through the COMPASS website or by using the myCOMPASS PA mobile app. Affidavit forms are also available at county assistance offices for those unable to print them.

Recipients can contact the Statewide Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930 or their local county assistance office for more information.