Newsroom

Louisiana DCFS to Issue March SNAP Benefits on March 1st and 2nd

Modified Schedule Designed to Help Close Gap Caused by Partial Government Shutdown

February 12, 2019

BATON ROUGE - All Louisiana Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients can expect to receive their March SNAP benefits by March 2.

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is adjusting its usual SNAP issuance schedule in March to help close the gap for clients who have been stretching benefits since January as a result of the partial federal government shutdown. The March schedule is as follows:

Recipients who usually receive SNAP benefits between the 1^st and 4^th of each month (days set aside for SNAP households classified as elderly and disabled) will receive their benefits on March 1, 2019.
Recipients who usually receive SNAP benefits between the 5^th and 14^th of each month will receive their benefits on March 2, 2019.

To take advantage of a funding loophole, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service advised states to issue most clients' February benefits in January. Accordingly, on January 17, DCFS announced it had issued $88.5 million in federal SNAP benefits to 337,927 households and encouraged these recipients to closely budget their benefits to make them last through March.

Without the schedule change, the early issuance would have created a gap in benefits of up to 57 days.

"This extended period between SNAP issuances has been challenging for SNAP recipients, about 66 percent of whom are elderly, disabled or children," DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters said.

Roughly 50,000 cases, including new applications and those still under review on January 14, were processed to receive benefits in February according to the regular schedule.

Should there be another shutdown in Washington, D.C., this week, March SNAP benefits will not be affected. DCFS will continue to provide updates on the status of SNAP benefits for Louisiana residents as needed.

For more information about the issuance of SNAP benefits due to the partial federal government shutdown, visit the DCFS website at www.dcfs.la.gov.

For a flyer with the March 2019 SNAP issuance schedule, visit www.dcfs.la.gov/MarchSNAPFlyer.

###

SNAP Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.