Tagged News

• USDA increases monthly maximum for SNAP households

  October 1, 2021 12:49 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Those who supplement their grocery purchases with assistance from the federally funded food stamp program will notice an increase in their monthly allotment, according to a recent news release from the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). As of October 1, the Thrifty Food Plan's... more »

• 'Hot Foods' waiver extended through October 28 for Ida survivors

  September 29, 2021 4:22 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana received a waiver extension allowing recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Disaster SNAP (DSNAP) and Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits to use to purchase “hot” or prepared foods through October 28, 2021. Normally, SNAP benefits cannot be used to purchase “hot food products prepared for... more »

• DSNAP application process for Hurricane Ida victims continues; find out how to apply here Play Video

  September 20, 2021 7:07 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Those who lost food due to the impact of Hurricane Ida can begin applying for food assistance to help replace the items lost, beginning Monday. According to The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), a number of Louisiana residents in 25 parishes will be... more »

• Disaster food assistance approved for parishes impacted by Ida; apply here

  September 8, 2021 3:56 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana residents impacted by Hurricane Ida can now apply for federal disaster food assistance. The state says Disaster SNAP benefits was approved for 25 parishes impacted by the storm. Those parishes include Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines,... more »

• Replacement SNAP benefits approved for 18 Parishes following Hurricane Ida

  September 6, 2021 7:22 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Over the weekend, Louisiana's Department of Children and Family Services announced that recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in 18 Louisiana parishes impacted by Hurricane Ida will receive automatic 55% replacement benefits. The extra help, officials say, is in response to the volume of... more »

• Due to Ida's impact, SNAP benefits can be used to purchase hot food in Louisiana

  September 1, 2021 6:33 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) announced Wednesday that its Louisiana participants can use their benefits to purchase “hot” or prepared foods through September 28. The allowance is the result of a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). Typically,... more »

• DSNAP applications open for some La. residents affected by May flooding

  June 17, 2021 6:49 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The state received federal approval to take applications from households that need food security in the wake of last month's severe flooding . The areas approved for the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program include the following zip codes: Ascension Parish : 70734, 70737, 70769... more »

• DSNAP approved for 23 Parishes impacted by winter storms Play Video

  March 30, 2021 10:51 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) announced Tuesday, March 30 that it has received federal approval to begin virtual Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP) operations in 23 parishes severely affected by the winter storms on Feb. 15-18, 2021. The application process will... more »

• La. spreading out distribution of SNAP benefits each month Play Video

  December 2, 2020 4:28 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services will begin adjusting the schedule it uses to distribute SNAP benefits to families each month. According to DCFS, the distribution of those benefits will gradually shift from the first two weeks of each month to the first 23... more »

• Change to DSNAP program allows all La residents to apply any day, regardless of last name

  September 21, 2020 5:39 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana officials announced Sunday that following a change in the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP), residents in all 21 parishes approved for DSNAP benefits can apply for benefits any day of the week, regardless of their last names, until Wednesday, September 23. This new allowance... more »

• St. Helena Farmers Market matches SNAP benefits

  July 10, 2020 9:01 AM

  GREENSBURG — A farmer's market in Louisiana wants to ensure everyone has access to fresh and nutritional produce. The St. Helena Farmers Market announced Thursday that it plans to match SNAP spending on fresh fruits and vegetables. The match program offers $3 in free tokens for every $1... more »

• Officials: Pandemic EBT cards to arrive via mail in plain white envelopes, do not toss!

  June 10, 2020 11:02 AM

  BATON ROUGE - As the first round of Louisiana Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) cards arrive this week, recipients should be on alert for plain white envelopes with an Austin, Texas, return address. The envelope will include the household’s P-EBT card along with instructions for activating and using the card. ... more »

• Federal program allows special food stamps for families of kids on free, reduced lunch

  May 20, 2020 12:36 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Though Phase 1 of the statewide reopening allows many of Louisiana's residents to return to work, needy families whose financial hardships have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic continue to struggle. So, the federal government has taken steps to protect the nutritional well-being of school-age children... more »

• Additional assistance for workers affected by COVID-19 arriving soon from feds Play Video

  April 7, 2020 10:16 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The month of March saw 155,000 unemployment claims filed in Louisiana. Many of those came as a result of business closures due to COVID-19. Moving into April, that number is only growing. "I will tell you, and it should surprise no one, the numbers have gone... more »

• Food stamp applicants in Louisiana nearly double

  March 18, 2020 6:54 AM

  An increasing number of Louisiana residents are applying for food stamps due to the massive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. SNAP is the government program that helps nearly 770,000 Louisiana residents purchase food and according to The Advocate , on Monday of this week the number of SNAP applicants... more »

• Alcohol theft syndicates cashing in on stolen liquor, disguising illegal food stamp purchases Play Video

  August 7, 2019 7:13 PM

  BATON ROUGE – Sheriff’s deputies are trying to crack down on businesses operating two-fold fronts: selling stolen alcohol and disguising purchases so customers can illegally use food stamps to buy liquor and cigarettes. A store owner was arrested in a series of ongoing investigations headed by the East Baton... more »

• State investigates fraud for disaster food stamps Play Video

  December 9, 2016 12:07 AM

  DENHAM SPRINGS- Susan Hicks, a teacher in Livingston Parish, is one of thousands of people under scrutiny for her disaster food stamps. After her home flooded in August, she got $400 when she told the state she was broke. "I put zero because I just didn't know," said Hicks.... more »

• Additional East Feliciana Parish zip code added to DSNAP program

  August 23, 2016 3:59 PM

  BATON ROUGE – An additional zip code in East Feliciana Parish has been added to the DSNAP program. Residents living in East Feliciana Parish zip code 70789 are now eligible to apply for DSNAP benefits. Applicants can go to the Early Learning Center located at 9414 Hwy 67 (Plank... more »

• SNAP recipients can apply for replacement EBT cards

  August 21, 2016 7:08 PM

  BATON ROUGE – Residents who receive SNAP and lost their Electronic Benefits Transfer cards do to flooding can still make purchases using an EBT card number and pin. According to state officials, SNAP recipients who lost their card should contact the EBT call center at 1-888-997-1117 for a replacement... more »

• State to require job training for food stamps

  April 21, 2016 4:32 PM

  HAMMOND - The governor said he plans to require able-bodied adults ages 18-49, who have no dependents, to get workforce training for food stamps Thursday. The new regulation would keep 47,000 people on the food stamp program if they all participate. The individuals faced being kicked off food stamps... more »

• Lawmakers pushing work mandate for food stamp recipients

  March 30, 2016 3:22 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Lawmakers have advanced a proposal aimed at enacting work requirements on food stamp recipients, requirements that Gov. John Bel Edwards kept from taking effect earlier this year. A proposal by Rep. Jay Morris, a Monroe Republican, would require legislative approval to seek a federal waiver of the... more »

• Data doesn't support Jindal food stamp claim

  January 7, 2016 4:53 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Governor Bobby Jindal claimed the threat of kicking people off food stamps spurred them into the job market, but data released Thursday shows that's not exactly accurate. In October the Jindal administration announced 61,000 able-bodied adults had 3 months to find work or lose food stamps.... more »

• 31,000 could wait two weeks for food stamps Play Video

  December 29, 2015 7:09 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Some food stamp recipients in Louisiana could lose their benefits for a couple of weeks in January. Benefits for an estimated 31,000 people are set to expire Thursday. Governor-Elect John Bel Edwards has said he'll reinstate the benefits but he can't do it until he takes office.... more »

• Audit: State workers caught stealing food stamps Play Video

  December 23, 2015 8:26 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Allegations of an inside job at the Department of Children and Family Services surfaced Wednesday. Four employees stole $46,000 in food stamps over a seven year period, a legislative audit revealed. The report states less than $1,000 has been recovered and one of the employees is... more »

• Jindal sells his food stamp plan, but can't support it with data Play Video

  December 22, 2015 10:01 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Governor Bobby Jindal attempted to defend his plan requiring people on food stamps to get jobs. He claimed mandatory work requirements spurred poor people into the job market but he didn't offer data to support his argument. In late September, the state agency over food stamps announced... more »