LawHelp State Frequently Asked Questions

LawHelp.Org/LA is Administered by Southeast Louisiana Legal Services

LawHelp/LA Home Page > Government Benefits > Food programs

Larger Text

Food Stamps: How to Apply
by: Southeast Louisiana Legal Services
Q.	I need food stamps. Where do I get them?

A.	In Louisiana, the food stamp program is run by the state's Department of Children & Family Services, Office of Family Support. The Office of Family Support has offices in each parish. You can find the office nearest you by looking in the telephone book's government listings (blue pages) under State of Louisiana, or looking on the Department of Social Services' website at www.dss.louisiana.gov .

Links:	http://www.dss.louisiana.gov/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&nid=34&pnid=7&pid=93&catid=0

Q.	How do I get food stamps?

A.	Apply. If you are applying for or already getting SSI, you have the right to apply for food stamps at any Social Security office. If you are refused an application there, you should speak with a lawyer. Anyone can apply at any Office of Family Support office. Even if it is the wrong office, it should send your application to the right office. If you are refused the right to apply, speak with a lawyer. Some offices may tell you they only take the first 15, 20, or so people. If you are told this, speak with a lawyer. Fill in the application form with your name, address and the date, sign it, and leave it. That is all you have to do in the beginning. You do not have to finish the entire application at the time you apply. The quicker you turn the application form in, the more food stamps you might get. Leave the application at the office if they tell you they do not have time for you that day. If they do not let you do this, speak with a lawyer.

Q.	What happens after I file the application?

A.	Interview. The Office of Family Support ("OFS") will set up an interview for you with a worker. Usually, you have to come to the OFS office for the interview. But you do not have to if all people living in your house are 65 or older, or disabled, and you cannot get someone to go to OFS for you. OFS must then interview you by telephone or meet with you somewhere easier for you to get to. Before you leave your interview, write down your worker's name and telephone number so you know who to call if you have a question or problem. Proof. You must give verification (proof) of some of your application answers. For example, you must prove the identity, income, immigration status, and some other things, of everyone in your house who is getting food stamps. The worker must give you a list in writing of what proof you need to get. By law, you have 10 days to get this proof to your worker. If you need help. If you cannot get the proof, ask your worker for help. By law, the worker must try to help you if you ask. When you give any proof to OFS, keep a copy if you can or have a witness to when and how you return it. The agency often loses papers. If you think you are being asked for something illegal, or the agency will not help you when you need it, talk with a lawyer.

Q.	I don't have any money to eat. How quickly can I get food stamps?

A.	Your food stamp application by law must be decided in 30 days, unless you do not have needed proof. But you can get food stamps quicker than that, in 7 days instead of 30, if: Money available to you is less than your housing costs (rent, mortgage, and utilities), or Your monthly income is less than $150 and other money you have is $100 or less, or You are a migrant worker with no job income, you have $100 or less in other money, and you do not expect more than $25 from any other income in the next 10 days. Getting food stamps so quickly is called "expedited" food stamps. The state is supposed to ask you questions the first time you come to the food stamp office to see if you should get "expedited" food stamps. If you are not asked any questions be sure to tell the food stamp office workers if you think you should get "expedited" food stamps.

Q.	What are my rights if the food stamp office does not give me food stamps on time? What can I do?

A.	You may have a right to get food stamps in 7 days. You may have a right to get them in 30 days. If the food stamp office does not get you food stamps on time, you should talk with a lawyer immediately. Free legal services programs can help you with this urgent problem. You can also try talking with a supervisor at the food stamp office. If that does not help try to talk with a lawyer.


	Search

	Tips on Searching

Live Chat by LivePerson

Find Legal Help On Food programs

Related Resources

School Meals: Questions and Answers (Separate Website)
By: Food & Nutrition Service

Food Stamp Program -- Information in Other Languages (Separate Web site) (Separate Website)
By: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service

Food Stamps -- Using SNAP (Separate Website)

more...

	Last Reviewed On: 06/03/09

Información en Español sigue el Inglés.

Click to hear a sound recording of this information.

Information Not Legal Advice. This web site has been prepared for general information purposes only. The information on this web site is not legal advice. Legal advice depends on the specific facts of each situation. Some information in this web site may not be correct for where you are. The information in this web site is not guaranteed to be up-to-date. The information in this web site cannot replace the advice of competent legal counsel licensed in your state.

Lawyer Advertising. In some jurisdictions this web site may be considered lawyer advertising. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements.

Any listing of an attorney does not constitute a recommendation of the attorney. Before hiring any attorney, you should investigate the attorney's reputation and qualifications.

Links. This web site contains links to other resources on the Internet. Those links are provided as citations and aids to help you identify and locate other Internet resources that may be of interest, and are not intended to state or imply that we sponsor or are affiliated or associated with the persons or entities who created such sites, nor are the links intended to state or imply that we are legally authorized to use any trade name, registered trademark, logo, legal or official seal, or copyrighted symbol that may be reflected in the links.

E-mail. Viewing this Web site, or transmitting an e-mail message through this Web site, does not create an attorney-client relationship. Sending e-mail to an attorney mentioned in this site does NOT create an attorney-client relationship between you and the attorney. Unless you are already a client of the attorney, your e-mail may NOT be protected by the attorney-client privilege. Moreover, unless it is encrypted, e-mail can be intercepted by persons other than the recipient. Deadlines are extremely important in most legal matters. You may lose important legal rights if you do not hire an attorney immediately to advise you. Many people do not check their e-mail daily, and some attorneys do not respond to unsolicited e-mail from non-clients.

Information, Not Legal Advice.

Esto es solamente información, no es consejo legal.

This web site has been prepared for general information purposes only. The information on this web site is not legal advice. Legal advice depends on the specific facts of each situation. Some information in this web site may not be correct for where you are. The information in this web site is not guaranteed to be up-to-date. The information in this web site cannot replace the advice of competent legal counsel licensed in your state.

Este sitio del Internet fue preparado para dar solamente información. La información en este sitio no es consejo legal. Consejo legal depende de los datos específicos y las circunstancias de cada situación. Es posible que alguna información en este sitio no comporte con el área o la jurisdicción donde usted vive. Es posible que la información en este sitio no esté corriente. La información en este sitio no puede sustituir el consejo de un abogado competente y licenciado en su estado.

Lawyer Advertising. In some jurisdictions this web site may be considered lawyer advertising. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements.

Propaganda de Abogados. En algunas jurisdicciones, este sitio puede ser considerado propaganda de abogados. Contratar con un abogado es una decisión importante que no debe depender solamente sobre anuncios.

Any listing of an attorney does not constitute a recommendation of the attorney. Before hiring any attorney, you should investigate the attorney's reputation and qualifications.

Información sobre un abogado no es una recomendación del abogado. Antes de contratar con un abogado, usted debe investigar la reputación y las capacidades del abogado.

Links. This web site contains links to other resources on the Internet. Those links are provided as citations and aids to help you identify and locate other Internet resources that may be of interest, and are not intended to state or imply that we sponsor or are affiliated or associated with the persons or entities who created such site, nor are the links intended to state or imply that we are legally authorized to use any trade name, registered trademark, logo, legal or official seal, or copyrighted symbol that may be reflected in the links.

Conexiones. Este sitio tiene conexiones a otros recursos del Internet. El sitio ofrece estos conexiones para ayudarle identificar y localizar otros recursos del Internet que pueden ser beneficiosos. Estas conexiones no declaran o insinúan que nosotros patrocinamos o que estamos asociados con las personas o entidades que han creado cualquier otro sitio. Los conexiones no declaran o insinúan que nosotros podemos legalmente usar cada nombre de comercios, marca registrada, logotipo, sello legal, o símbolo de los derechos reservados de autor que estén reflejados en las conexiones.

Correo Electrónico. Si usted mira este sitio, o si usted envía un mensaje de correo electrónico por este sitio, esta acción no crea un relación entre abogado y cliente. Usted no tiene relación entre abogado y cliente si usted envía correo electrónico a un abogado que el sitio mencionado. Si usted no es un cliente del abogado, es posible que su correo electrónico a este abogado no tendrá protección del privilegio entre abogados y clientes. Si su correo electrónico no tiene clave secreta electrónica, es posible que su correo electrónico pueda ser interceptado por otras personas que no son el recipiente.

Fechas topes son muy importantes en la mayoría del los asuntos legales. Usted puede perder derechos importantes si usted no contrata con un abogado inmediatamente quien le pueda dar consejo legal. Muchas personas no miran el correo electrónico cada día, y algunos abogados no responden a correo electrónico que no es solicitado de las personas que no son clientes.

Make LawHelp better! Click here to take our survey.

Learn how to use this site: click here to hear and see a slide show. En Espanol: oprima aqui.

Are you trying to handle a legal problem on your own, without a lawyer? Use this survey to tell us what resources would help you most.

Advocates, librarians, social service agency workers and others: help spread the word about LawHelp. Here is a brochure in English and here is a brochure in both English and Spanish.

Your support makes a difference! Please mail your tax-deductible donation to:

Southeast Louisiana Legal Services P.O. Drawer 2867 Hammond, Louisiana 70404