Nevada SNAP, TANF benefits delivered as usual despite cyber attack

By Jeniffer Solis

Nevada Current

It’s been more than a week since a cyber attack prompted the state to shut down or limit several state government services in Nevada, including state offices, websites, and phone lines.

Several websites in the state of Nevada remain down as the state struggles to recover from the attack, including an online portal that allows Nevadans to apply for medical and nutrition assistance.

Access Nevada — which state residents use to apply for Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) — remains down, but in-person services have resumed, providing some relief.

State officials said payments for existing SNAP and TANF customers have not been affected, and clients can expect benefits to arrive in their accounts without delay.

New customers or those who need to renew their benefits will need to complete a paper benefit application and submit it to a Division of Social Services office in person.

Nevada residents who were in the process of applying or renewing benefits for SNAP and TANF when the cyberattack took place, should not be impacted by the disruption in services. Those applications will be processed as normal.

A list of open state offices that can accept applications can be found at https://www.oem.nv.gov/recovery/snap-food-stamps-medicaid-tanf/

Paper applications can be found at the state district offices across the state, where caseworkers are available during business hours to assist individuals in person if they need help in completing a Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF eligibility application.

Nevada residents who need additional assistance for Medicaid, SNAP and TANF can call a dedicated number with concerns: In Southern Nevada, 702-486-1646; in Northern Nevada: 775-684-7200

State officials said they don’t have a projected timeline for when normal operations in the state will be fully restored, but are prioritizing public-facing and critical services.

Residents can follow updates on the restoration of state government services on a dedicated website hosted by the Nevada Office of Emergency Management. The website will provide Nevadans with daily “service status” updates and functioning contact information for state agencies and departments.

Few details have been revealed about the cyber attack itself, including the attacker’s motive. State officials said it’s still an ongoing investigation and the state is working in coordination with federal officials at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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Jeniffer Solis was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada where she attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas before graduating in 2017 with a B.A in Journalism and Media Studies.