On Monday, the first day of a three-week filing period, the state Department of Children and Family Services received 250-350 calls per second from people trying to apply for food stamps for disaster.
The situation wasn’t much better on Tuesday morning, at least when there are angry commentators on the DCFS Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Call volume was high, with an average wait time of around 50 minutes, said Sean Ellis of DCFS. The agency processed 11,339 applications on Monday, which is more in a day than the entire program processed for some previous storms.
DCFS estimates that 185,000 Louisiana residents will eventually apply for the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
So many people tried to apply for emergency food stamps the first day that the agency’s phone system simply couldn’t handle the volume on Monday.
The system can handle 1,500 calls simultaneously, meaning those lucky enough to get through will have to wait a long time for an agent to take the application. Many other callers are simply sent to the telephone spoilage. Comments on social media claims wait two to four hours before an employee comes on the line. Others say they still haven’t gotten the phone number (888) 524-3578 to even connect.
Still others complain that their applications have been rejected after a long wait. Even taking storm damage into account, applicants were still taking home too much money to qualify for grocery stamps. Those who are rejected can appeal within 90 days.
The decision letter that applicants receive from DCFS contains instructions on how to file a complaint. You must complete and sign the section under “Fair Hearing Information” and return it to the address provided in the letter.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday gave the go-ahead for a change in rules that will allow many families access to grocery stamps even though they are under n …
Because of Hurricane Ida, the federal government relaxed the qualification rules for receiving food stamps. By including storm-related expenses in the calculation, D-SNAP is temporarily opening the door to grocery stamps for some households who typically earn too much for the service – up to $ 680 in groceries for a family of four – whichever way a lot of storm costs they have dispose of.
To apply, a member of the household must call the agency and be interviewed by staff between 7.30 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. on the specified day. Applicants will be asked about income, checking and savings account balances, and other financial assets, as well as a variety of costs caused by the storm. The interview lasts about 22 minutes. Most applicants know immediately if they qualify and for how much.
On Tuesday, the agency added a waiting message to see who could apply during that period in the hopes that those who don’t call during their allotted application time will hang up and give their place in line to someone else.
DCFS has created a schedule that allows applicants from specific communities to call at specific times in hopes of reducing the waiting time to around 10 minutes. In fact, applicants have three days to apply: the scheduled day for surnames that begin with certain letters, then two additional days, Friday and Saturday, for people from those communities to call, regardless of which one Letter begins her surname.
It is expected that up to 150,000 households who would otherwise not qualify – including some with six-figure salaries – food stamps as q …
Phase 1 began on Monday and was dedicated to people whose last names begin with the letters AF and who live in East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberia, Orleans, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana parishes.
Tuesday is for residents of parishes with last names beginning with GM. Wednesday is NS for the last name and Thursday is TZ.
Applicants can also phone on Fridays and Saturdays, regardless of their last name, provided they live in one of the parishes concerned that are being processed in this phase.
PHASE 2 – September 27th to October 2nd
For residents of Ascension, Assumption, Iberville, Jefferson, Livingston, Plaquemines, St. Helena, St. Martin (lower St. Martin zip codes only 70339 and 70380), St. Mary and Tangipahoa.
- Day 1 (Monday, September 27) – Residents with surnames ending with AF. kick off
- Day 2 (Tuesday, September 28th) – GM
- Day 3 (Wednesday, September 29) – NS
- Day 4 (Thursday, September 30th) – TZ
- Day 5 (Friday, Oct. 1) – Open to everyone (letters AZ) in the parishes of phase 2
- Day 6 (Saturday, Oct. 2) – Open to everyone (letters AZ) in the parishes of phase 2
It is expected that up to 150,000 households who would otherwise not qualify – including some with six-figure salaries – food stamps as q …
PHASE 3 – Oct. 4-9
For residents of Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, and Terrebonne parishes.
- Day 1 (Monday, October 4) – Residents with surnames ending with AF. kick off
- Day 2 (Tuesday October 5th) – GM
- Day 3 (Wednesday, October 6th) – NS
- Day 4 (Thursday, October 7th) – TZ
- Day 5 (Friday, October 8th) – Open to everyone (letters AZ) in the municipalities of phase 3
- Day 6 (Saturday, October 9th) – Open to everyone (letters AZ) in the municipalities of phase 3
For more information on the emergency food stamps, send an SMS to LADSNAP at 898-211 or visit www.dcfs.la.gov/DSNAP. Translation services are available for people whose primary language is not English.
Please check back later for more information and updates
