USDA approves automatic SNAP replacement benefits for Lafayette, Panola counties

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service has authorized mass replacement Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for 15 Mississippi counties hit hardest by Winter Storm Fern, including Lafayette and Panola. Households in those counties that were receiving SNAP before the storm will receive replacement benefits automatically and do not need to submit the MDHS-EA-508 replacement benefits form.

"Households in Lafayette and Panola counties do not need to submit a form to receive replacement benefits. Eligible clients in these counties will be issued benefits automatically," Oxford Eagle reported. State officials and local advocates say the move removes a key administrative barrier for residents whose food was spoiled by storm-related outages.

Mississippi Department of Human Services guidance limits replacement benefits to current SNAP recipients and caps the amount at each household’s normal monthly allotment. "MDHS officials said replacement benefits are available only to current SNAP recipients and will not exceed the amount of benefits a household normally receives. To qualify, food loss must have resulted from a weather-related power outage lasting more than four hours or from a disaster-related event such as tornadoes, flooding or heavy snow," Delta Daily News summarized from MDHS statements.

The 15 counties approved for automatic issuance are Alcorn, Choctaw, Claiborne, Grenada, Holmes, Humphreys, Lafayette, Montgomery, Panola, Sharkey, Tallahatchie, Tippah, Tishomingo, Yalobusha, and Yazoo. Residents in these counties should monitor their SNAP accounts over the coming weeks for issuance; state notices stress that timing may vary. "Issuance dates may vary, and clients are encouraged to monitor their SNAP accounts over the next several weeks," Delta Daily News advised.

A separate federal waiver extends the deadline to request replacement benefits for 28 additional affected counties to February 23, 2026. Residents in those counties must submit the MDHS-EA-508 attestation to request assistance; the form may be downloaded and submitted using the Mississippi Department of Human Services’ secure document upload feature. MDHS and reporting outlets emphasize that submission of the replacement benefits attestation is a legal request and must be truthful and accurate.

For Lafayette County households and local partners, the automatic issuance reduces immediate paperwork and speeds access to funds that cover food lost to extended outages. County and community organizations that assist SNAP clients should still help residents confirm account activity, review eligibility, and, for those in the 28 counties covered by the waiver, file the MDHS-EA-508 by Feb. 23, 2026.

What comes next: monitor your SNAP account for the credited replacement benefits, keep records of food loss in case verification is requested, and if you live in one of the 28 non-automatic counties submit the MDHS-EA-508 attestation before the Feb. 23 deadline to ensure consideration. Marcus Williams, Lafayette County reporting.