Incident: New Mexico Wildfires
Began: April 6, 2022
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- On Sept. 7, 2022, FNS approved New Mexico’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. The waiver applies to all counties in the state of New Mexico. This waiver approval will allow SNAP households to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through Sept. 30, 2022. Retailers may need as much as 24-36 hours to make changes that will allow for sale of hot foods.
- On June 13, 2022, FNS approved New Mexico’s extension 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. The waiver applies to all counties in the state of New Mexico. This waiver approval allows SNAP households to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through July 12, 2022.
- On June 2, 2022, FNS approved New Mexico’s request to operate D-SNAP in 5 IA declared counties (Colfax, Lincoln, Mora, San Miguel and Valencia) in response to the impact of wildfires that began on April 6, 2022. The state agency will begin the application period on June 7, 2022, and will operate until June 13, 2022.
- On May 17, 2022, FNS approved New Mexico Human Services Department’s 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 and wildfires that began on May 1, 2022 through May 10, 2022. The waiver applies to the following four counties: Colfax, Mora, San Miguel and Taos. The waiver will be in effect through June 10, 2022.
- On May 14, 2022, FNS approved New Mexico’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. The waiver applies to all counties in the State of New Mexico. This waiver approval will allow SNAP households to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through June 13, 2022. FNS has notified SNAP authorized retailers in all counties in the State of New Mexico of the hot foods waiver approval.