From the official announcement by Texas Governor's Office ↗
According to an announcement from the Texas Governor's Office on August 3, 2026, Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) announced an extension of the deadline for SNAP food stamp recipients to submit claims for lost benefits due to the July flooding. This is the second extension: previously, the submission deadline was set for August 3, 2026 for nine counties, now extended to August 12, 2026 after the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved two additional counties, Sutton and Zavala, bringing the total number of eligible counties to 11, including Bandera, Blanco, Frio, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, Medina, Uvalde, and Val Verde.
The situation originated from heavy rainfall that swept across Texas, prompting Governor Abbott to sign a disaster declaration for 101 counties, including Harris, Fort Bend, Galveston, and Montgomery, immediately after flooding unexpectedly struck Central, South, and Southeast Texas. This declaration allows local authorities to access state resources and technical assistance without having to wait for standard approval procedures.
Those directly affected are low-income families, elderly persons, and persons with disabilities receiving food stamps in the counties mentioned above, those who had food spoiled or lost due to power outages or home flooding. The first extension, effective until August 3, 2026, applied to nine counties before being expanded further.
In practical terms, reimbursement funds will be added to the Lone Star Card within two business days after HHSC receives the request. Benefit recipients can visit the local HHSC office, or download form H1855 and mail it to P.O. Box 149027, Austin, TX 78714-9027, or fax it to 877-447-2839 if unable to visit in person. Stephanie Muth, Executive Commissioner of HHSC, stated that the agency is committed to helping Texans affected by the July flooding, so that providing meals for their families is not a burden while they focus on recovery and rebuilding.
See the official announcement from the Texas Governor's Office at the source link below.
This extended deadline will help bring food back to the table for families in need.
Analysis
Two extensions within less than a month show that the food stamp reimbursement process following a disaster typically requires approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for each county individually, causing the list of eligible counties to expand gradually over time rather than being announced all at once. This is a familiar pattern following major flooding in Texas, where the state must continually request the federal government extend deadlines as damage assessments become clearer. For families who have just lost their stored food supply due to power outages or home flooding, this approval waiting period can represent significant financial pressure, especially in a context where Texas's labor market is also showing signs of slowdown.
Diaspora Impact
SNAP food stamp recipients living in the 11 counties mentioned above, particularly families whose food was damaged by the July flooding, need to submit reimbursement claims before August 12, 2026. How to submit: visit the nearest HHSC office, or download form H1855 and mail it to P.O. Box 149027, Austin, TX 78714-9027, or fax it to 877-447-2839. No intermediary services are needed—this is a free process directly with HHSC. Readers not living in the 11 listed counties need not take action at this time, as the current program applies only to areas already approved by the federal government.