Emergency Food Stamp Benefits

Emergency Food Stamps are available to low-income individuals and families living in any of the 29 counties that have been declared disaster areas.  Families whose gross income will be at or below the following guidelines and have less than $5,000 in liquid assets (checking/savings account – this does not include house, car or tools) are urged to apply.  You must only show proof of residency and show proof of identity (e.g., driver license or other government ID). Applicants also will have to answer questions about their bank account balances and other assets.

The gross income guidelines are:

        Household of 1                        $1,430

        Household of 2                                    $1,925

        Household of 3                                    $2,420

        Household of 4                                    $2,915

        Each Additional Person                       Add $495

Eligible Texans in disaster areas can receive up to two months of food stamp benefits by applying before Oct. 17.  To apply:

Call 1-877-541-7905.

Register online at, https://www.yourtexasbenefits.com/wps/portal

Apply in person at the Conroe office located at 608 N. Loop 336E Conroe, TX  77301.  (Call 936-539-1161 before you travel to office to make sure they are open.) 

Social Security

If you do not receive your regularly scheduled payment from Social Security as a result of the hurricane, you can go to any open Social Security office and request an immediate payment. To find the nearest open Social Security office, call 800-772-1213 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. or go online at www.socialsecurity.gov  TTY 800-325-0778.

Special Notice about SBA Disaster Loans for Small Businesses  from Lone Star College System Small Business Development Center

Business Physical Disaster Loans: Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery, and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations are also eligible.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs): Working capital loans to help small businesses meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster.

Mitigation Loans: If your loan application is approved, you may be eligible for additional funds to cover the cost of improvements that will protect your property against future damage.

·                                                                        Applicants must have a credit history acceptable to SBA, and must show the ability to repay all loans.

·                                                                        Collateral or personal guarantees are required for certain physical loss or EIDL loans.

·                                                                        Interest rates depend on whether each applicant has credit available elsewhere.  Interest rates are fixed for the term of the loan (which can be up to 30 years) and may be as low as 4%.

·                                                                        You may be able to refinance an existing SBA loan at a lower interest rate (except for prior SBA Disaster Loans).

Contact a SBDC Consultant for more information:

        Don Ball (281-618-1187): Humble, North Harris County

        Gail Lorber (832-482-1057): CyFair, Houston Northwest

        Kerry Woodson (281-312-1770): Conroe, Kingwood

        Steve Hamilton (832-813-6523): The Woodlands, Tomball, Magnolia

American Legion's National Emergency Fund

This fund is set up to aid Legionnaires and Sons of The American Legion (SAL) members and their families during a disaster to provide immediate assistance for food, clothing and shelter.  The Departments of Louisiana and Texas are currently experiencing such a situation.   To be eligible, our Legion and SAL members must be current on their membership and reside in an area that experienced mandatory evacuation by a government agency. Because of the magnitude of this disaster, a decision has been made to streamline the National Emergency Fund grant approval process as an exception for those that reside in the disaster areas. We will be taking grant applications directly over the phone (800-588-3365) for those meeting criteria and needing immediate assistance (up to $500.00).   

To Apply for The American Legion’s Hurricane Ike Disaster Assistance and to verify eligibility:  Call toll-free at 800-588-3365 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. (Eastern Time Zone) and our Customer Service Representatives will complete the form for you.   

For those members not in dire need, you can apply using the regular procedure and can download the NEF Grant Application at this link and submit through their Department Headquarters:    http://www.legion.org/documents/legion/pdf/nefapplication_1007.pdf