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The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services received federal approval to extend its Hurricane Ida Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP) operation by three days to provide the large volume of applicants more time to complete DSNAP interviews.

According to the request approved by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, the DSNAP extension period will begin on Monday, Oct. 11, and run through Wednesday, Oct. 13.

In the first phase of DSNAP operations, DCFS staff answered over 100,000 calls and processed more than 73,000 applications. Higher than anticipated call volumes jammed phone lines. At times, the DSNAP line received as many as 350 calls per second. DCFS responded by offering extended hours and a “virtual hold” in an effort to serve more callers and be mindful of those with limited phone minutes. The DSNAP extension is an attempt to serve those who were still unable to apply during their assigned week. Residents from Phase 1 parishes must wait until Oct. 11-13 to apply and interview, and should not call during Phases 2 or 3 as they will not be able to be served during those weeks. The same applies to residents in Phase 2 if they miss their week to apply, they must wait until the extension period to complete their DSNAP application.

DSNAP parishes include: Washington, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin (only lower St. Martin parish ZIP codes 70339 and 70380), St. Mary, Terrebonne, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana parishes.

During the extension, residents of these parishes who have not yet applied for DSNAP may call on the following days according to the following alphabet schedule:

• Monday, Oct. 11 — Residents with last names beginning with A-L
• Tuesday, Oct. 12 — M-Z
• Wednesday, Oct. 13 — A-Z (open to all last names)

Note that SNAP recipients from these parishes are not eligible for DSNAP and should not call to apply.

Additional information about DSNAP can be found by texting LADSNAP to 898-211 or by visiting www.dcfs.la.gov/DSNAP.

Due to ongoing concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic, DSNAP interviews are handled by phone, and benefits cards are mailed to approved applicants through the U.S. Postal Service. Applicants currently residing in a location that is different from their residential address may provide a different mailing address at the time of their interview to receive their DSNAP card.

Residents in the approved parishes must call the LAHelpU Customer Service Center, 1-888-524-3578, to apply and be interviewed for DSNAP. Applicants should call 1-888-524-3578, select their language, prompt 6 and then 1 between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on their designation interview day.

Translation services are available for individuals whose primary language is not English and special accommodations are made for the elderly and disabled.