COLUMBIA, S.C. – The following information was provided by the South Carolina Department of Social Services about SNAP benefits in South Carolina:. “The South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) is requesting a waiver from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that if approved will allow DSS to automatically issue federally funded food replacement benefits to current SNAP recipients residing in counties where 50% or more of the total population in that county experienced a power outage lasting more than four (4) hours per federal guidelines. If the waiver is approved, the amount of replacement benefits each SNAP household will receive is based on their monthly issuance date.