The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that low-income residents in eight Louisiana parishes affected by Hurricane Francine may be eligible for assistance through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). The hurricane began impacting the area on September 11, 2024.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack noted that around 40,000 households, which might not usually qualify under regular SNAP rules, could be eligible for D-SNAP if they meet specific criteria, including disaster income limits and qualifying disaster-related expenses.

“USDA is committed to ensuring that Louisiana residents impacted by Hurricane Francine get all the help they need,” said Vilsack. “This waiver will provide the vital food assistance that individuals and households need to help them get back on their feet.”

To qualify for D-SNAP, a household must reside in an identified disaster area, have been affected by the disaster, and meet D-SNAP eligibility criteria. Eligible households will receive one month of benefits equivalent to the maximum monthly amount for a SNAP household of their size. These benefits can be used to purchase groceries at SNAP-authorized stores or from select retailers online. Louisiana will operate its D-SNAP application from September 25 to October 1, 2024, with additional information about application dates and locations provided through local media.

The timing of D-SNAP varies based on each disaster's unique circumstances but always begins after commercial food distribution channels have been restored. Before starting a D-SNAP operation, a state must ensure proper public information dissemination, staffing, and resources are in place.

Current SNAP households are not eligible for D-SNAP; however, USDA has approved Louisiana to automatically issue supplemental SNAP benefits to current SNAP households in six parishes: Ascension, Assumption, Lafourche, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary, and Terrebonne. This adjustment aims to bring their allotment up to the maximum amount for their household size if they don’t already receive that amount. Additionally, SNAP households in St. Charles and St. James parishes may request supplemental benefits from their state SNAP agency.

Today's announcement is part of several USDA actions aimed at helping Louisiana residents recover from Hurricane Francine:

- A waiver allowing mass replacements of benefits lost due to power outages in four parishes: Assumption, Lafourche, St. Mary, and Terrebonne.

- An approval waiving the 10-day reporting requirement for food purchased with SNAP benefits lost due to power outages in 20 parishes.

- A waiver extending certification periods and waiving periodic reporting requirements for ongoing SNAP households statewide scheduled to expire between October and November 2024.

For more information about this aid or other available support programs in Louisiana: dial 2-1-1 or call 1-888-524-3578. Additional details about Louisiana SNAP can be found on the Department of Children and Family Services' website.

The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service works towards ending hunger and improving food security through over 16 nutrition assistance programs serving one-quarter of Americans annually.