Louisiana DCFS gets disaster food assistance approved for families affected by Hurricane Francine
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services received federal approval on Friday, Sept. 20 for several forms of disaster food assistance for families affected by Hurricane Francine.
USDA Food and Nutrition Service approved Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program operations in eight parishes, automatic SNAP replacement benefits for four parishes and automatic SNAP supplements for six parishes in Louisiana, according to a news release.
"DSNAP provides food assistance to eligible households that are not enrolled in SNAP and need assistance purchasing groceries due to disaster-related income loss or damages," the release read.
The following parishes in Louisiana that were declared eligible for individual assistance, include Ascension, Assumption, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John, St. Mary and Terrebonne.
Residents in the approved parishes are encouraged to contact the LAHelpU Customer Service Center at 1-888-524-3578 to apply for DSNAP on their assigned day or during one of the A-Z days, according to a news release. Application hours are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Day 1: Wednesday, Sept. 25 (A-G).
- Day 2: Thursday, Sept. 26 (H-M).
- Day 3: Friday, Sept. 27 (N-Z).
- Day 4: Monday, Sept. 30 (Open to all).
- Day 5: Tuesday, Oct. 1 (Open to all).
According to a news release, approved applicants will get an Electronic Benefit Transfer card in the mail, Louisiana DCFS stated in a news release.
"Vulnerable groups, including the elderly and disabled, who are unable to apply by phone can apply in person at selected DCFS offices or community-based organizations within the affected parishes," the release said.
In Ascension Parish, there will be an in-person option at DCFS Ascension Economic Stability office in Gonzales and in Assumption Parish, there will be an in-person option at the Belle Rose Branch Library in Belle Rose for vulnerable groups, according to a news release.
Current SNAP recipients are qualified for DSNAP but may be eligible for replacement or supplemental benefits.
SNAP recipients in Assumption, Lafourche, St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes will automatically get 40% of September benefits. According to a news release, those replacement benefits will be provided to recipients' EBT cards by Wednesday, Sept. 25.
SNAP recipients in Ascension, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes who were affected by Hurricane Francine have until Monday, Sept. 30 to submit a SNAP 38 form to request replacement benefits, according to a news release.
Louisiana DCFS stated, "SNAP households in parishes that are not included in the 20 parishes listed above can still request replacement benefits if they lost power for 24 hours or more." The deadline to submit a SNAP 38 form in these parishes is Monday, Sept. 23, according to a news release.
SNAP supplements will be automatically offered to recipients in Ascension, Assumption, Lafourche, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes to bring their "households to the maximum for one month."
Click here for more information on DSNAP, SNAP supplements or replacements.
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