7 CFR § 274.6(a)(1)-(4)


EDGs losing food purchased with SNAP benefits may qualify to have the value of their lost food replaced.  The loss of food must be due to an EDG misfortune, such as but not limited to:

  • Flood 
  • Fire 
  • Hurricane
  • Power outage of at least 4 hours.


Approved replacement benefits are issued for the cost of the lost food, up to the amount of the monthly benefits last issued.  If the issuance included restored benefits, replace the full value of the restored benefits.


The EDG must:

  • report the loss within 10 days of the misfortune, and 
  • complete, sign, and return a Request for Replacement of Food Purchased with SNAP Benefits (W-1225/W-1225S), within 10 days of the report date. 

Note:  If the 10th day falls on a weekend or holiday, the report must be made by the next workday. 

Do not issue a replacement if the Request for Replacement of Food Purchased with SNAP Benefits isn’t received by the due date. 


Replacement benefits must be available to the EDG within 10 days after the reported loss, or within 2 work days of receipt of the Request for Replacement of Food Purchased with SNAP Benefits, whichever is later.


There is no limit to the number of times an EDG can receive replacement benefits, but replacements are issued only once per incident.


Note:  Federally approved natural disasters are handled differently than food lost due to an EDG misfortune.  State Operations will issue Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) instructions when a Federally declared disaster affects Connecticut.  The EDG cannot receive both D-SNAP benefits and replacement benefits due to a misfortune.  

Determining Eligibility for Replacement

7 CFR § 274.6(a)(3)-(7)


Complete the following steps to determine the EDG’s eligibility and replacement amount:

1) Determine the date of the EDG misfortune.

2) Give the EDG a Request for Replacement of Food Purchased with SNAP Benefits. The EDG must:

    1. complete and sign the form, and
    2. return the form within 10 days of reporting the loss. The form is due the first workday following the weekend or holiday if the 10th day falls on a weekend or holiday.

3) Using W-1226 / W-1226S, verify the loss through:

    1. a collateral contact,
    2. records from a community agency, such as, but not limited to the:
      1. fire department,
      2. power company,
      3. Red Cross, or
    3. by completing a home visit.

4) Review ImpaCT to ensure a benefit replacement request has not already been made.

5) Determine the benefit amount issued. The replacement amount is equal to the cost of the lost food, up to the amount of monthly benefits last issued.

6) Record your actions related to the replacement request including the following information:

    1. Type of EDG misfortune
    2. Date of the loss
    3. Date power was restored (if the misfortune was due to a power outage of 4 hours or more)

7) Scan the Request for Replacement of Food Purchased with SNAP Benefits to the case record.

8)  Issue replacement benefits:

    1. Within 10 days after the loss report, or
    2. 2 workdays from receipt of the signed Request for Replacement of Food Purchased with SNAP Benefits, whichever is later;

9) Send a W-1227, Denial of Request for Replacement of Food Purchased With SNAP Benefits, advising the EDG of the approval or denial.