Hawaii is giving storm-hit families more time to get lost food benefits replaced, and Kauai households are getting automatic help — good news for SNAP recipients recovering from recent storms.

• People who lost food bought with SNAP benefits during Tropical Cyclone Iona or Hurricane Keli can still file a written request at any DHS processing center statewide.
• The deadline is September 23 for the tropical cyclone and September 28 for the hurricane.
• The USDA also approved an automatic replacement for Kauai households hit by the hurricane, so no application is needed there.
• Kauai families will automatically get back 60% of their August SNAP benefits, and that money is already available.

Outlook: Storm-affected households outside Kauai need to file their written statements before the deadlines to get their benefits replaced.