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DCFS Expands Capacity, Extends Hours, to Use Alphabet System at Alario Center, UNO Sites

St. John, Plaquemines and Lafourche Parishes Receive DSNAP Extensions

September 11, 2012

09.11.12 - The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) today announced that hours have been extended at both the University of New Orleans (UNO) Lakefront Arena and the Alario Center, and additional computers and staff have been brought in to process applications beginning at 6 a.m. and extending until 10 p.m. or when capacity of applicants is reached on site that can be processed by 10 p.m.

DCFS Secretary Suzy Sonnier said that for the extension period, both sites would again utilize the alphabet system beginning tomorrow. The schedule for UNO and the Alario Center is:

Wednesday, September 12 - A through M
Thursday, September 13 - N through Z

Residents in Orleans Parish should visit the UNO Lakefront Arena. Residents in Jefferson Parish should visit the Alario Center.

DCFS announced that it was also increasing processing capacity by adding the number of computers and staff who will be handling applications at the sites.

A request was sent on Tuesday to the USDA requesting a two day extension for Lafourche Parish, as well as an additional extension of seven days for Orleans and Jefferson parishes. The current deadline for residents of Orleans and Jefferson Parishes to apply for DSNAP is Thursday, Sept. 13 after DCFS received an extension for the two parishes earlier this week. DCFS has not yet received word on the Orleans, Jefferson requests.

DCFS did receive approval from the USDA for a two day extension for Lafourche parish, as well as the previously requested extension for St. John and Plaquemines parishes.

The new deadline for residents of Lafourche Parish to apply for DSNAP is now Thursday, September 13. For the extension period, all Lafourche residents should apply at the South Lafourche Parish Library in Cutoff. The other DSNAP site at Peltier Park will be closed.

The new deadline for residents of Plaquemines and St. John is Friday, September 14.

To help expedite the application process, individuals can pre-apply for Hurricane Isaac DSNAP either online at www.dcfs.la.gov/preapply or www.getagameplan.org or by calling 1-888-LAHELP-U (888-524-3578) 24 hours a day. When applying by phone, callers should select the appropriate language and then select options 3 and 3.

DSNAP is an income eligibility based program to assist eligible households who do not receive regular SNAP benefits and who need help buying groceries due to lost income or damages following a disaster. Eligibility is determined by federal guidelines and is based on an individual's known or expected income, resources (such as cash on hand, saving and checking account balances) and unreimbursed disaster expenses during the disaster period of August 26 and September 24. For more information on income guidelines visit www.dcfs.la.gov or call 211.

Applicants who knowingly provide inaccurate or incomplete information as part of a DSNAP application could face criminal prosecution and disqualification of benefits. DCFS will investigate suspected fraud and aggressively pursue recoupment and possibly prosecution.

DSNAP is administered in Louisiana by DCFS and overseen by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Read more about recipients' rights.