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USDA approves hot meal waivers for North Carolina food stamp recipients

Posted at 1:59 PM, Oct 15, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-15 13:59:46-04

RALEIGH, N.C. – The United States Department of Agriculture will allow hot food waivers to food stamp recipients in all 100 counties of North Carolina, according to North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the Division of Social Services requested approval for the hot food waiver across the state after many North Carolina citizens were displaced from their homes after Hurricane Matthew.

The waivers will allow recipients to buy hot food prepared for immediate consumption from Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) retailers.

Hot food prepared to eat immediately is usually not eligible to buy at EBT retailers, but an exception was made due to the widespread impacts left by the storm.

EBT retailers are updating their systems to authorize hot food purchases, which will be available on Saturday, October 15.

The waiver will continue until November 14, 2016.

For more information, call 2-1-1 or go to the United Way’s N.C. 2-1-1 site at http://www.unitedwaync.org/nc211.