DSNAP Approved for 3 More Parishes; Phase 1 Extended

BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has received federal approval to operate a Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP) in three more parishes - Caddo, LaSalle and St. Landry - and will add those parishes to the Phase 2 schedule, which begins tomorrow (Thursday, Sept. 17).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) also approved DCFS's request to extend Phase 1 for another week, until Sept. 23, allowing residents impacted by Hurricane Laura in the nine Phase 1 parishes additional time to apply for DSNAP benefits. Those nine parishes are Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Rapides, Vermilion and Vernon.

Today (Wednesday, Sept. 16) is an open application day for Phase 1 parishes, meaning any resident of those nine parishes may apply, regardless of their last name's first letter.

When Phase 2 begins tomorrow (Thursday, Sept. 17), Phase 1 parishes will follow the same alphabet system as Phase 2 parishes. That schedule - and all parishes participating during Phase 2 - will be as follows:

Parishes Participating:  Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Caddo, Calcasieu, Cameron, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, LaSalle, Lincoln, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Sabine, St. Landry, Union, Vermilion, Vernon and Winn.

Schedule for All Parishes Participating in Phase 2:

• Day 1 (Sept. 17) – Residents with last names beginning with A-C
• Day 2 (Sept. 18) – D-G
• Day 3 (Sept. 19) – H-L
• Day 4 (Sept. 20) – M-R
• Day 5 (Sept. 21) – S-Z
• Days 6 & 7 (Sept. 22-23) – Open for all (letters A-Z) in the participating parishes

On their scheduled day, residents will call the LAHelpU Customer Service Center at 1-888-524-3578 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to apply. On A-Z days, the call center will extend its hours to 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

DSNAP Eligibility

Eligibility for DSNAP benefits is determined by looking at the applicant’s take-home pay in the month following the disaster, adding all available cash resources (including checking and savings balances), and deducting the total dollar amount of money spent or expected to be spent on any disaster-related expense for the disaster benefit period (which, in the case of Hurricane Laura, is August 25 to September 23).

Preparing to Apply: What Applicants Need to Know

1. Register Online First

Residents who have not yet pre-registered for DSNAP are strongly encouraged to do so before calling to apply. Registering in advance is not the same as applying - residents must still call to apply and be interviewed to determine eligibility. However, registering in advance will help speed the application process, reducing call wait times.

Step-by-step instructions for how to create an online account and register for DSNAP can be found at www.dcfs.la.gov/DSNAP.

2. Download LA Wallet

Residents are also encouraged to download the LA Wallet mobile app, which will help speed the identity and residency verification process during their phone interview. Information about the app, including download links, can be found at LAWallet.com.

3. Gather Needed Documents & Information

When residents call to apply, a worker will verify the applicant’s identity and residency, and obtain information about their income, resources and disaster-related expenses. A list of what information is needed can be found in the FAQs at www.dcfs.la.gov/page/dsnap-faqs. 

For additional information on DSNAP related to Hurricane Laura, see Related News below or visit www.dcfs.la.gov/DSNAP-Laura.

Related News:

• 09.14.2020 - DSNAP A-Z Days for Phase 1 are Tuesday, Wednesday
• 09.11.2020 - DSNAP Approved for 2 More Parishes
• 09.08.2020 - DSNAP Approved for 16 Louisiana Parishes

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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.