Seniors, disabled can call in for Irma food-aid interview

Seniors and people with disabilities who couldn’t appear in person to receive Hurricane Irma emergency food assistance will be able to complete a phone interview instead, state officials said Friday.

The federal government granted the state’s request to allow people with disabilities and those older than 60 to skip a required face-to-face interview and complete their application on the phone, according to the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Applicants must have pre-registered online as of Nov. 9 to qualify. DCF officials say the phone interviews will be offered Dec. 2 and Dec. 3 to those who meet the criteria, and additional details will be released next week.

Benefit cards will be mailed to those who qualify.

The Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program serves people who suffered storm losses but don’t normally receive food stamps.

The program produced huge crowds and long waits last month at South Florida relief sites where face-to-face interviews were conducted.

Some applicants were turned away when events reached capacity. Make-up events were held earlier this month at the BB&T Center in Sunrise and Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

The Health Rights Clinic at the University of Miami and other advocacy groups filed a lawsuit demanding the state and federal government do more for applicants with disabilities. The groups argued it was unreasonable to expect people with disabilities to spend hours standing in line.

State officials said they had a process in place to move people with disabilities to the front of the line.

The program served more than 1 million families and distributed nearly $900 million in benefits, according to DCF. The average family received about $862 in benefits.

State officials encourage those who weren’t able to get emergency food assistance and don’t meet the criteria for a phone interview to apply for the regular food stamp program.