Supplemental SNAP Benefits, Other Changes Approved for August

BATON ROUGE - Louisiana recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits who are not already receiving the maximum amount for their household size will receive supplements in August to bring them up to the max. This is the sixth consecutive month Louisiana SNAP recipients have been approved for added benefits as part of federal COVID-19 relief. Supplements for the first five months totaled more than $211 million.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) approved the emergency supplemental benefits for August this week, along with several other waiver requests from the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to streamline the application and recertification processes due to the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic.

As dictated by federal law, households already receiving the maximum SNAP allotment for their household size will not receive supplemental benefits.

The additional benefits are scheduled to be loaded onto current SNAP recipients' EBT cards on Aug. 21. New applicants approved for August benefits will receive their supplements on a rolling weekly basis after their cases are certified as eligbile.

The maximum monthly SNAP allotments by household size are:

Under other FNS-approved waivers, SNAP cases for clients whose annual recertifications or simplified reports were due in August 2020 have been automatically extended until February 2021. Initial interviews for SNAP applicants have also been waived during the month of August.

Clients who previously received notices requiring them to reapply for benefits by August 15 will receive a new notice in the coming months with an updated deadline. There is no need to call or reapply until then.

Additionally, the federal rule that limited Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) to three months of SNAP benefits unless they met federal work requirements has been temporarily suspended through August 31, 2021, or until other new standards come into effect.

For more information about SNAP, including step-by-step instructions for how to apply for benefits, visit www.dcfs.la.gov/getSNAP or text GETSNAP (no spaces) to 898-211.

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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.