The Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) gives food assistance to low-income households with food loss or damage caused by a natural disaster.
LaCAP is a food assistance program for Louisiana residents who are at least 60 years of age and receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI). You can buy food that meets your nutritional needs and helps you have better health through LaCAP.
Download an application and fill it out by hand. If you need an application to be sent to your mailing address, contact DCFS Customer Service by emailing LAHelpU.dcfs@la.gov or calling 1-888-LAHELP-U (888-524-3578).
Emergency allotments issuance date: Friday, October 16, 2020. Because of lingering effects from Hurricane Laura, DCFS will issue regular SNAP benefits early in October. SNAP recipients will receive their benefits on Thursday, October 1. September interviews for new SNAP applicants have been waived.
DSNAP provides eligible households - who do not currently receive SNAP benefits - with help buying groceries due to lost income or damages following a disaster.
Eligible households
can receive
food assistance through regular
SNAP or through the
Louisiana Combined Application Project (LaCAP).
Households CAN use SNAP benefits to buy:
- breads and cereals;
- fruits and vegetables;
- meats, fish and poultry; and.
- dairy products.
Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Louisiana and ordered Federal aid to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Delta from October 6 to October 10, 2020.
You can access some of the app's features online at You can also get information on your SNAP or TANF (FITAP or KCSP) case(s) through the DCFS CAFE Self-Service Portal.
Generally, this must be at or below 130 percent of the poverty line. For a family of three, the poverty line used to calculate SNAP benefits in the federal fiscal year 2020 is $1,778 a month. Therefore, 130 percent of the poverty line for a three-person family is $2,311 a month, or about $27,700 a year.
Increases in SNAP's maximum monthly food allotments for FFY 2020-2021 vary depending on the number of people in the household. For example, the maximum allotment for a family of one is increasing from $194 to $204 per month, while a family of four will see their benefits increase by $34 per month, from $646 to $680.
| Program | Family Size/Monthly Income Limits |
|---|
| LaCHIP - for children | $2,308 | $3,118 |
| LaCHIP Affordable Plan - for children | $2,712 | $3,664 |
| LaMOMS - for pregnant women | $1,468 | $1,983 |
| Medicaid Purchase Plan - for workers with disabilities | $1,064 | $1,437 |
From September 2020 through November 2020, Louisiana recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP) could use their benefits to purchase "hot" or prepared foods.
California offers the Restaurant Meals Program in many different counties!
Restaurants that accept EBT include:
- Burger King.
- Carl's Jr.
- Church's Chicken.
- Del Taco.
- Denny's.
- Domino's Pizza.
- Great Steaks.
- Jamba Juice.
??Purchase Hot Foods with SNAP & DSNAP Benefits through December 31, 2020. This waiver allows SNAP/DSNAP recipients to use their food benefits to buy foods prepared for consumption on the premises at participating retailers in the approved counties where EBT cards are accepted. FNS informed retailers of this change.
Food stamps at fast food restaurantsThe fact that some states allow EBT recipients to use their benefits at the likes of McDonalds and Pizza Hut sends some people into a lather of indignation. However, the only people who can use their EBT cards at fast food restaurants are the elderly, disabled, or homeless.
Subway can only accept EBT cards for purchases made in-store.
Food stamps can't buy hot foods or household supplies.Food stamp recipients won't have any luck with buying that rotisserie chicken because the program prohibits spending on hot foods as well as nonfood items like cleaning supplies, vitamin supplements, cigarettes or alcoholic beverages.
Amazon.com - Pay with SNAP EBT. Amazon accepts SNAP EBT in all states except Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine and Montana.
Only packaged sandwiches and deli foods that are cold, and that will be eaten at home, can be purchased with food stamps at a deli, grocery or convenience store. This can include chicken, salads, sliced deli meat and regular sandwiches. Some convenience stores do not accept food EBT cards.
Normally, SNAP benefits cannot be used to purchase “hot food products prepared for immediate consumption.” For more, go to oregon.gov/dhs/ASSISTANCE/FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/DSNAP-Hot-Foods-Waiver.aspx.
Anywhere the food is cooked and prepared for you prior to being purchased; your EBT card will not be accepted. SNAP benefits are strictly for foods you buy to prepare and eat at home. It does cover groceries that can be eaten without further preparation like fresh fruits, cheese sticks, or snacks.
You can see even more information about
your SNAP or cash case than on the mobile app. To set up an account, go to DTAConnect.com.
DTAConnect.com online case information portal
- Your SNAP Web Application Number,
- DTA Agency ID (listed on all DTA notices),
- Your Social Security Number, OR.
- Your EBT Card Number.
Here's a list of some other stores that accept EBT cards.
- Target (general merchandise)
- Family Dollar (dollar stores)
- Costco and Sam's Club (membership)
- 7-Eleven (convenience)
- Wal-Mart, Roses, etc. ( large discount store)
- Aldi (value food)
Know Your Balance Before You Shop
- Logging on to the EBT Cardholder Portal.
- Calling the EBT Customer Service number (1-888-356-3281) on the back of your card.
- Checking your food assistance or cash account balances at an ATM or POS machine.
- If your benefits have not been deposited into your account please go to
And even though fast food outlets are supposed to be disallowed in the food stamp program, numerous locations for Jack in the Box, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Subway, Domino's, Pizza Hut and Popeye's are included in the listing of participating EBT restaurants.
You have a right to use your SNAP in all 50 states. SNAP is a federal program that is “interoperable” between states.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
- LAHelpU.dcfs@la.gov.
- 1-888-524-3578.
- 1-844-224-6188 TTY.
- 1-888-997-1117 EBT Card.
- M - F, 7:30 am - 6:00 pm.
