SNAP Recipients May Apply for Replacement Benefits for Food Lost Due to Tropical Storm Olga

Recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits may be eligible for replacement benefits for food purchased with SNAP benefits and lost due to Tropical Storm Olga, if they report their loss to the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) by Thursday, Nov. 7. Replacement benefits are not automatic. SNAP recipients must apply for them. Replacement benefits are not Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) benefits. There is no D-SNAP for Olga. 

Eligibility for Replacement SNAP

Current SNAP recipients who received SNAP benefits in October 2019 and who lost food purchased with SNAP benefits due to a power outage or other household misfortune related to Tropical Storm Olga can apply for replacement benefits. For food losses due to power outage, the power must have been out for a minimum of 24 consecutive hours. DCFS works with the Public Service Commission to obtain reports of specific power outages. If DCFS cannot verify a household's power outage through these reports, SNAP recipients may be asked for verification of their power loss.

How to Apply

The sooner DCFS receives the SNAP 38 form, the sooner the request will be processed and the benefits will be issued.

1. Complete and sign the SNAP 38 Form 
2. Submit it in one of the following ways on or before Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019:

• Scan and upload to CAFÉ
• Mail to the Document Processing Center: DPC, P.O. Box 260031, Baton Rouge, LA 70826
• Fax to 225-663-3164
• Bring to your nearest DCFS Economic Stability office

If you cannot complete and submit the form by Nov. 7, call 1-888-524-3578 by Thursday, Nov. 7, and provide your parish, dollar value of food loss, length of time without power, and within 10 days of reporting the loss to DCFS by phone call, send your completed and signed SNAP 38 Form to DCFS, as described above. 

SNAP 38 Forms 

SNAP 38 Forms are available online at www.dcfs.la.gov/snapreplacementfaq and at DCFS Economic Stability (ES) offices. If a SNAP recipient cannot download the form or get to an ES office, the person can call 1-888-524-3578 to request that a form be mailed to them. For more information about Replacement SNAP, or to download the SNAP 38 Form, visit www.dcfs.la.gov/snapreplacementfaq.