Tennessee Reissues SNAP Benefits After Winter Storm Fern

Over 36,000 households to receive automatic repayments worth 45% of January benefits

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The USDA has approved automatic repayments worth 45% of January SNAP benefits to over 36,000 households across several Tennessee counties affected by prolonged power outages from Winter Storm Fern. Households can submit an affidavit to receive the remaining 55% of their January benefits.

Why it matters

The reissuance of SNAP benefits helps ensure low-income households in the affected areas can meet their basic food needs during the recovery from the winter storm, which caused widespread power outages across Tennessee.

The details

The automatic repayments will go to SNAP households in Chester, Davidson, Decatur, Hardeman, Henderson, Hickman, Macon and Wayne counties, and will be reissued starting on February 13th. Households that wish to receive the remaining 55% of their January SNAP benefits must submit a Household Misfortune Affidavit to the Tennessee Department of Human Services by February 23rd.

  • The USDA approved the automatic repayments on February 16, 2026.
  • The 45% of January SNAP benefits will be reissued starting on February 13, 2026.
  • Households have until February 23, 2026 to submit an affidavit to receive the remaining 55% of their January SNAP benefits.

The players

Tennessee Department of Human Services

The state agency responsible for administering SNAP benefits in Tennessee.

Clarence Carter

Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Human Services.

USDA

The United States Department of Agriculture, which oversees the SNAP program nationwide.

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What they’re saying

“As communities across Tennessee continue to recover from the January winter storms, we are committed to providing efficient relief to all eligible SNAP households in the areas most affected by the prolonged power outages. This automatic replacement ensures households receive timely support without additional paperwork, allowing families to focus on recovery and meeting their basic needs during a difficult time.”

— Clarence Carter, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Human Services (johnsoncitypress.com)

What’s next

Households in the affected counties have until February 23rd to submit an affidavit to receive the remaining 55% of their January SNAP benefits.

The takeaway

The reissuance of SNAP benefits demonstrates the state's commitment to supporting low-income families in Tennessee who were impacted by the prolonged power outages caused by Winter Storm Fern, helping them meet their basic food needs during the recovery process.