Customers of the Department of Human Services, or DHS, are being urged to stay home and take advantage of their online services in response to COVID-19.

The department released a press release on March 16 urging this, as well as encouraging Tennesseans not to travel during the state of emergency that resulted from the virus. In the press release,  from their Nashville office, DHS lists that individuals can access a variety of programs online, such as the Supplemental Assistance Program, or SNAP, Families First, Child Support programs, Adult Protective Services, Child Certificate Program, various disability and community services. Also, in response to recent disasters, like the tornadoes that affected areas on March 3,  people can apply for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits and the Families First/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Emergency Cash Assistance program from home. The office lists that this can be done through the website, and even documents can be uploaded, as well as begin the pre application process.

“The Tennessee Department of Human Services has been in the process of transforming and modernizing our programs to make it easier for individuals who need our services to be able access them online,” said  Danielle W. Barnes, Department of Human Services Commissioner.   “These efforts are essential to our work building a thriving Tennessee and they are even more important today because they provide our customers with the ability to apply for assistance while still following COVID-19 precautions like social distancing.”

The website also provides links for people to access services online, the website also provides information on the Coronavirus itself. This includes symptoms, links to resources and even Governor Lee’s latest statements regarding the virus. Travel is also listed as being discouraged during the state of emergency declared because of the virus,

In applying for any services for DHS, it is always asked that individuals are completely honest with their documentation. Failure to do so can result in disqualification from services and even criminal charges.

For more information on DHS in Carter County, you can call their number at 423-543-3189. You can also go to their website at www.tn.gov/humanservices.