# § 5179. Benefits and distribution
**1** **Persons eligible; terms and conditions** [^1]P.L. 91–67184 Stat. 20487 U.S.C. 2011
Whenever the President determines that, as a result of a major disaster, low-income households are unable to purchase adequate amounts of nutritious food, he is authorized, under such terms and conditions as he may prescribe, to distribute through the Secretary of Agriculture or other appropriate agencies benefit allotments to such households pursuant to the provisions of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 of 1964 (; ) [ et seq.] and to make surplus commodities available pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
So in original. See 2008 Amendment note below.
**(b)** **Duration of assistance; factors considered** The President, through the Secretary of Agriculture or other appropriate agencies, is authorized to continue to make such benefit allotments and surplus commodities available to such households for so long as he determines necessary, taking into consideration such factors as he deems appropriate, including the consequences of the major disaster on the earning power of the households, to which assistance is made available under this section.
**(c)** **Food and Nutrition Act provisions unaffected** <sup>1</sup>7 U.S.C. 2011
Nothing in this section shall be construed as amending or otherwise changing the provisions of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 of 1964 [ et seq.] except as they relate to the availability of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits in an area affected by a major disaster.
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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 93–288, title IV, § 412, formerly § 409, May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 157; renumbered § 412, Pub. L. 100–707, title I, § 106(h), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4705; Pub. L. 110–234, title IV, §§ 4002(b)(1)(C), (E), (2)(DD), 4115(c)(1)(A)(ii), (iv), (B)(v), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1096, 1097, 1109; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title IV, §§ 4002(b)(1)(C), (E), (2)(DD), 4115(c)(1)(A)(ii), (iv), (B)(v), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1857, 1859, 1870, 1871.)
## Editorial Notes
### References in Text
The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (c), is , , , which is classified generally to chapter 51 (§ 2011 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.
This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this Act”, meaning , , . For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.
### Codification
and made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by were repealed by .
### Prior Provisions
A prior was renumbered section 415 by and is classified to .
### Amendments
2008—, (B)(v), substituted “Benefits” for “Food coupons” in section catchline.
, (2)(DD), substituted “Food and Nutrition Act of 2008” for “Food Stamp Act” in subsecs. (a) and (c).
Subsecs. (a), (b). , (B)(v), substituted “benefit” for “coupon”.
Subsec. (c). , (2)(DD), substituted “supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits” for “food stamps”.
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
Amendment of this section and repeal of by effective , the date of enactment of , except as otherwise provided, see , set out as an Effective Date note under , Agriculture.
Amendment by sections 4002(b)(1)(C), (E), (2)(DD), and 4115(c)(1)(A)(ii), (iv), (B)(v) of effective , see , set out as a note under , The Congress.
### Executive Dcouments
### Delegation of Functions
Secretary of Agriculture designated and empowered to exercise, without approval, ratification, or other action of President, all authority vested in President by this section concerning food coupons (benefits) and distribution, see section 3 of Ex. Ord. No. 11795, as amended, set out as a note under .