Registration this week for state disaster food assistance related to February ice storm

Registration for the state Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP) for Avoyelles Parish residents will be open between Monday and Saturday (April 5-10).

The program is open to parish residents who do not receive regular SNAP ("food stamp") benefits but need help buying groceries due to lost income or damages sustained during the winter storms in February.

The virtual program is being administered by the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in 23 parishes -- including Avoyelles -- that sustained extensive power outages, water outages and other
damage from the Feb. 15-18 storm.

Residents who received SNAP benefits in February are not eligible for DSNAP and should not apply. Residents who began receiving SNAP benefits after February may be eligible for DSNAP.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Due to ongoing concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic, DSNAP applications will be handled by phone and benefits cards will be mailed to approved applicants. Residents will be assigned a day, based on the first letter of their last name, to call the LAHelpU Customer Service Center between 7:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. to apply and be interviewed for DSNAP.

On their designated day, residents will call 1-888-524-3578, select a language and then press 3-3-1 to be connected with a representative. Translation services are available for individuals whose primary language is not English.

Residents are encouraged, but not required, to pre-register online at dcfs.la.gov/page/dsnapregistration and download a LA Wallet mobile app for identity and residency verification. A list of all information needed for the application is also online at dcfs.la.gov/page/dsnap-faqs.

Residents who pre-registered or applied for DSNAP since March 2020 do not need to pre-register again.

During the application interview, residents will be asked to verify their identity and residency and provide information about their income, resources and disaster-related expenses.

Most applicants will be told on the phone immediately after completing their application and interview whether they have been approved to receive DSNAP and, if so, the amount of benefits they will receive. Applicants will also receive a letter by mail, confirming the eligibility decision made on their application.

Applicants may name an "Authorized Representative" to apply for DSNAP benefits on their behalf. The head of household must authorize the person to serve on the family's behalf. The DSNAP worker will need to speak to the head of household to confirm the person is authorized to speak on the applicant's behalf.

Elderly and disabled applicants who cannot complete the phone application process can apply at the local DCFS office at 607 Tunica Drive West in Marksville.

Avoyelles registration days will be Monday for A-F, Tuesday for G-M, Wednesday for N-S, Thursday for T-Z, and on Friday and Saturday for all residents who missed their designated days earlier in the week.