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DSS Offers Pre-Application for Disaster Food Stamps

Apply Early - It's Easy!

June 01, 2009

All low- to moderate-income Louisianians may be eligible for Disaster Food Stamp benefits in the event of a natural disaster and should pre-apply now for benefits online or by phone. Current Food Stamp recipients do not need to pre-apply and would receive disaster benefits automatically.

The Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services today announced that Louisiana residents can now pre-apply online or by phone for Disaster Food Stamps in order to prepare for hurricane season, save time, and avoid long waits in the event of a disaster.

"I urge all low- to moderate-income residents, especially those who were affected by hurricanes Gustav and Ike last year, to take advantage of our Disaster Food Stamps pre-application process," said DSS Secretary Kristy Nichols. "Collecting the required income information for the Disaster Food Stamp application is easier to do before a hurricane strikes rather than after an evacuation. I hope all residents who may be eligible will make pre-application for Disaster Food Stamps part of their hurricane preparation plan."

Disaster Food Stamps provide food assistance for eligible low- to moderate-income households that do not receive regular food stamps who need help buying groceries due to lost income or damages following a disaster. Exact requirements for the program are determined following the event and are based on location and income.

Louisiana residents who already receive regular Food Stamps do not need to pre-apply. If regular Food Stamp recipients are eligible for additional benefits, they will be added to their monthly benefit amount automatically.

To pre-apply, residents can visit https://dss.louisiana.gov and provide the following information:

Names, Social Security Numbers and Dates of Birth for each household member
Current address and parish of household
Monthly income for each household member
All liquid resources for each household member (cash on hand, checking & savings account balances, certificates of deposit and money market balance)

The information will be kept securely on file and will be confidential.

If residents do not have on-line access, they may call 1-888-LA HELP U (1-888-524-3578) to apply as well.

Pre-application will be accepted online or by phone only. Pre-applications will not be accepted at DSS Office of Family Services Food Stamp offices.

Pre-applying does not guarantee benefits. After a disaster, residents who have pre-applied only need to visit a Disaster Food Stamp issuance site to verify their information and identity to determine final eligibility and receive their benefit cards. Eligibility requirements and DFSP locations will only be announced after a disaster.

Louisiana's system is the first year-round Disaster Food Stamps pre-application process in the nation. Florida's pre-application concept is available for use only in the days before a hurricane makes landfall, compared to Louisiana's system which is available year-round.