Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 15 and 16, will be open application days for anyone in a Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP) Phase 1 parish, regardless of last name.
Phase 1 parishes are Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Rapides, Vermilion and Vernon.
All residents in those parishes who were affected by Hurricane Laura and have not yet applied for DSNAP are encouraged to apply by calling the DCFS LAHelpU Customer Service Center at 1-888-LA-HELP-U (1-888-524-3578).
The call center will extend its hours on Tuesday and Wednesday to 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. to provide additional time for affected residents to apply.
As a reminder: Registration will help speed the application process, but it is not a substitute for applying. Residents must call and be interviewed for their eligibility determination.
For additional information about DSNAP related to Hurricane Laura, please see below.
The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) received approval on September 11 to operate a Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP) in Union and Morehouse parishes, after they were federally approved to receive Individual Assistance due to damages sustained from Hurricane Laura.
Both parishes will be added to Phase 2 of the DSNAP operations, as approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service.
On September 8, the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) received approval to begin virtual Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP) operations in sixteen parishes to provide additional food aid to families impacted by Hurricane Laura. The program will run in phases, with the first phase beginning Thursday, Sept. 10.
DSNAP, formerly called Disaster Food Stamps, provides food assistance to eligible households who do not receive regular SNAP benefits and who need help buying groceries due to lost income or damages following a disaster. The state must request that the federal government initiate DSNAP, but can only make the request after the president activates the Stafford Act and approves the parish for Individual Assistance (IA). Each IA-approved parish must also request DSNAP before the benefits can be provided to eligible residents of that parish.
The 16 parishes that have been approved for IA and have requested DSNAP are Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Sabine, Vermilion, Vernon and Winn.
DSNAP will operate in the approved parishes in two phases, with Phase 1 beginning Sept. 10 for nine parishes and Phase 2 beginning Sept. 17 for seven parishes. If additional parishes are approved for IA and request DSNAP, DCFS will add a third phase of DSNAP beginning Sept. 23. For a complete schedule, see below.
SNAP recipients are not eligible for DSNAP and should not apply. Information about SNAP benefits changes related to Hurricane Laura, including replacement benefits for food lost due to power outages, can be found at www.dcfs.la.gov/SNAPLaura [dcfs.louisiana.gov].
Due to concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic, DSNAP applications will be handled by phone, and benefits cards will be mailed or sent through FedEx to approved applicants.
Residents in the approved parishes for each phase will be assigned a day, based on the first letter of their last name, to call the LAHelpU Customer Service Center to apply for DSNAP. On their designated day, residents will call 1-888-LA-HELP-U (1-888-524-3578), between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Translation services are available for individuals whose primary language is not English.
DCFS is anticipating significant interest in the DSNAP program. Three steps residents can take before calling to apply that will help reduce call wait times are:
- Register online first. Step-by-step instructions for this can be found at www.dcfs.la.gov/DSNAP [dcfs.louisiana.gov].
- Download the LA Wallet mobile app for identity and residency verification. Information on the app, including download links, can be found at LAWallet.com [dcfs.louisiana.gov].
- Gather all information needed for the application. A list of what is needed can be found in the FAQs at www.dcfs.la.gov/DSNAP [dcfs.louisiana.gov]
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. Applicants will be told on the phone immediately after completing their application whether they have been approved to receive DSNAP and, if so, the amount of benefits they will receive. Applicants also will receive a letter by mail, confirming the eligibility decision made on their application.
Applicants may name an Authorized Representative (AR) to apply for DSNAP benefits on their behalf. The head of household must authorize the person to serve as AR on their behalf, and the worker will need to speak to the head of household to confirm that they agree for the AR to speak on their behalf.
Application Schedule
Phase 1: Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Rapides, Vermilion and Vernon Parishes
Application period opens on Thursday, Sept. 10, with residents calling to apply according to the following schedule:
- Day 1 (Sept. 10) – Residents with last names beginning with A-C
- Day 2 (Sept. 11) – D-G
- Day 3 (Sept. 12) – H-L
- Day 4 (Sept. 13) – M-R
- Day 5 (Sept. 14) – S-Z
- Day 6 & 7 (Sept. 15-16) – Open for all (letters A-Z) in the Phase 1 parishes
Phase 2: Grant, Jackson, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Sabine and Winn ParishesApplication period opens on Thursday, Sept. 17, with residents calling to apply according to the following schedule:
- 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 Phase 2 parishes
Additional information about DSNAP can be found by texting LADSNAP to 898-211 or at www.dcfs.la.gov/DSNAP [dcfs.louisiana.gov].
