The first of three phases of the qualification process for the recently announced Ida-related Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is underway.
DCFS Secretary Shavana Howard says the process will take place virtually over a three-week period and pre-registration is encouraged.
“It’s a completely virtual event, we will be using the alphabet system to ensure that we have adequate coverage and we can answer everybody’s questions as quickly as possible,” according to Howard.
Applicants for DSNAP interviews should call 1-888-524-3578 and have financial and personal information available for the call.
Howard says DSNAP interviews will take place six days a week through October 9th. “Monday through Saturday with calls starting at 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., the first four days are alphabets, with the fifth and sixth day A through Z days just in case you missed your date of applying,” said Howard.
Howard tells us that the DSNAP benefits are available only to those who qualify in the 25 Louisiana parishes impacted by Hurricane Ida.
She says, “We’ll be looking at your net incomes for the disaster period and looking at your resources that you have available and we’ll be looking at your expenses.”
You can pre-register at www.dcfs.la.gov/DSNAP.
Application Schedule
Residents should call the LAHelpU Customer Service Center to apply and be interviewed for DSNAP on their designated day (according to the first letter of their last name) or on the A-Z days, which are open to all residents in the approved parishes and ZIP codes for each phase. Parishes were assigned to each phase based on power, telephone/internet connectivity, mail delivery, and grocery stores are open at the time the DSNAP request was submitted.
PHASE 1 – September 20-25
E. Baton Rouge, E. Feliciana, Iberia, Orleans, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Washington, W. Baton Rouge, and W. Feliciana
Day 1 (Monday, Sept. 20) – Residents with last names beginning with A-F
Day 2 (Tuesday, Sept. 21) – G-M
Day 3 (Wednesday, Sept. 22) – N-S
Day 4 (Thursday, Sept. 23) – T-Z
Day 5 (Friday, Sept. 24) – Open for all (letters A-Z) in the Phase 1 parishes
Day 6 (Saturday, Sept. 25) – Open for all (letters A-Z) in the Phase 1 parishes
PHASE 2 – September 27-October 2
Ascension, Assumption, Iberville, Jefferson, Livingston, Plaquemines, St. Helena, St. Martin (lower St. Martin Parish ZIPs only 70339 & 70380), St. Mary and Tangipahoa
Day 1 (Monday, Sept. 27) – Residents with last names beginning with A-F
Day 2 (Tuesday, Sept. 28) – G-M
Day 3 (Wednesday, Sept. 29) – N-S
Day 4 (Thursday, Sept. 30) – T-Z
Day 5 (Friday, Oct. 1) – Open for all (letters A-Z) in the Phase 2 parishes
Day 6 (Saturday, Oct. 2) – Open for all (letters A-Z) in the Phase 2 parishes
PHASE 3 – October 4-9
Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist and Terrebonne
Day 1 (Monday, Oct. 4) – Residents with last names beginning with A-F
Day 2 (Tuesday, Oct. 5) – G-M
Day 3 (Wednesday, Oct. 6) – N-S
Day 4 (Thursday, Oct. 7) – T-Z
Day 5 (Friday, Oct. 8) – Open for all (letters A-Z) in the Phase 3 parishes
Day 6 (Saturday, Oct. 9) – Open for all (letters A-Z) in the Phase 3 parishes
Additional information about DSNAP can be found by texting LADSNAP to 898-211 or by visiting www.dcfs.la.gov/DSNAP.