In keeping with federal requirements, the state Department of Human Services (DHS), Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division (BESSD) announced that beginning July 1, 2021, the department will resume processing benefit renewals for:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/ formerly known as Food Stamps
• Financial Assistance Programs (FAP)

States used the much-needed temporary flexibility in SNAP and other federal programs to respond to the COVID-19 economic crisis. With SNAP and FAP waivers coming to a close, recipients of these benefits will be required to recertify, or renew, their eligibility annually (in most cases) to receive continued benefits.

In a press release Brian Donohoe, BESSD Division Administrator said, “The Department took aggressive and proactive steps to protect the health and safety of the individuals and families we serve by maintaining these benefits and services to help the people of Hawai‘i during this COVID-19 crisis, now, as federal waivers for these benefits are soon to end, we want the public to know that we will continue to be here, and diligently help those we serve through this next phase of requirements.”

The periodic reporting requirement, also known as the Six-Month Report form, was suspended due to the pandemic from March 2020 through June 2021. Households that are affected by this change will receive a Six-Month Report form in the mail when it is time to report updates to their circumstances.

Households that were scheduled to renew their benefits in March 2020 through June 2021 received renewal extensions. Those affected by this change will receive a notice in the mail when it is time to renew their benefits.

Households are now able to complete their renewals and upload required documents at https://pais-benefits.dhs.hawaii.gov/