OLYMPIA -- The federal government has approved expanding the "Feed Washington Families" Disaster Food Stamp Program into Thurston, Mason, and Pacific counties to provide food benefits to people who have suffered significant losses due to storm-related damage. Lewis and Grays Harbor counties have already been approved for the benefit program.

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) will begin processing applications Tuesday, December 18 after 1:00 p.m. at the following community services offices (CSO) and home and community services (HCS) offices.

Thurston County:

Olympia CSO -6860 Capitol Blvd. - Tumwater, WA 98501 -(360) 725-6600

Tumwater HCS -6737 Capitol Way South (Point Plaza West) -Tumwater, WA - 8501-(360) 664-7575 -Toll Free 1-800-462-4957

Pacific County:

Long Beach Branch CSO -2601 Pacific Avenue North - Long Beach, WA 98631 -(360) 642-3791

Long Beach HCS (December 18-21, 26-28, and 31st) - 2601 Pacific Highway - Long Beach, WA 98631- (360) 642-6220 - Toll Free 1-800-280-1296

South Bend Branch CSO - 307 East Robert Bush Drive - South Bend, WA 98586 - (360) 875-6501

South Bend HCS - 307 East Robert Bush Drive - South Bend, WA 98586 - (360) 875-4222 - Toll Free 1-800-458-3747

Mason County:

Shelton CSO - 2505 Olympic Highway North, #440 - Shelton, WA 98584 - (360) 725-0600

The offices and regional call center (1-877-980-9180) are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To qualify for the "Feed Washington Families" disaster food assistance program, applicants must have lived or worked in Thurston, Mason, or Pacific counties and have suffered a disaster related loss, such as damage to their homes or self-employment property, loss of food, reduction of income, or have incurred other disaster related expenses. Applicants must also be financially eligible.

People must apply in person at the DSHS offices listed above, be able to verify identity and residency, complete and sign a simple application form. Applicants will be asked questions about their residency, household composition, income and losses, or expenses due to the disaster. The deadline for Thurston, Mason, and Pacific county residents to apply and be approved for disaster food stamp benefits is Wednesday, January 2, 2008.

Combined income and assets cannot exceed program limits. The Disaster Gross Income is calculated by taking a family's gross income and subtracting any disaster related losses or expenses. Only available income from December is counted. For example, the income limit after deductions for one person is $1,416 and the limit for a four person family is $2,295.

Benefits are based on family size. One person is eligible for $162 in Disaster Food Stamp benefits. A family of four is eligible for $542. Eligible individuals and families will be issued Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to use at authorized food retailers.

Once a person is authorized for disaster food assistance, they will be able to access the benefits the same day if authorized before 3 p.m. Authorizations made after 3 p.m. will be available the next day.

In addition, school children in families that qualify for the food benefit program are temporarily eligible for reduced or free meals at school. The schools will be notified of this benefit and families should contact their local school for more information.

Individuals, who have been displaced by the storm and are now living outside of these counties, may apply for the disaster food stamp program at any DSHS Community Services Office.