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SNAP Benefits will continue in November
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed an emergency order on October 24, 2025 approving food assistance benefits to continue through the month of November. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) faces uncertainty due to the federal government shutdown. SNAP provides monthly benefits that help eligible low-income households buy the food they need for proper nutrition. For most Louisiana households, SNAP funds only cover a portion of each families’ food budgets monthly. Families must also use their own money to buy enough food to last throughout the month. Governor Landry will need to ask for legislative approval for SNAP if the government shutdown continues past November. SNAP will be funded out of the state’s emergency funds during the month of November.
SNAP Eligibility Requirements
To get benefits through regular SNAP, households must meet certain tests, including resource and income tests.
Resources: Individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or households including anyone who receives Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP), Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP), or Strategies to Empower People (STEP) Program benefits are exempt from the resource limit. Households not exempt from the resource limit may have up to $3000 in resources, such as a bank account, cash, certificate of deposit (CDs), stocks, and bonds. Non-exempt households that include at least one household member who is age 60 or older or includes a disabled member may have up to $4500 in resources.
Households are not exempt from the resource limit if:
- Any member is disqualified for Intentional Program Violation
- The household is disqualified for failing to comply with work registration requirements.
The following individuals are not exempt from the resource limit:
- An ineligible alien
- An ineligible student
- An individual who is disqualified for failure to comply with work registration requirements
- An individual who is disqualified for failure to provide or apply for a Social Security number
- An individual who is on strike
Income: Households must meet income tests (unless any member is receiving FITAP, KCSP, STEP benefits, or all members are receiving SSI).
Most households must meet both the gross and net income tests, but a household with a person who is 60 years old or older or a person who is receiving certain types of disability payments only has to meet the net income test.
Gross income means a household’s total, non-excluded income, before any deductions have been made. Net income means gross income minus allowable deductions. Households, except those noted, that have income over the amounts listed below cannot get SNAP benefits.
Allotment Amounts: The amount of SNAP a household receives depends on the number of people in the SNAP household and the amount of their net income. The table below shows the maximum SNAP allotments by household size.
SNAP Benefits
Benefits depend on both the number of persons in the household and the net monthly income amount remaining after all allowable deductions have been subtracted. Income deductions are subtracted from both earned and unearned income.
Budget sheets are frequently used by other organizations as proof of SNAP benefits. Print your Budget Sheet by accessing your CAFÉ account.
| Deductions | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earned Income | 20% of gross earnings | ||||||||||
| Standard |
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| Medical | A Standard Medical Deduction (SMD) of $161 is allowed for elderly or disabled household members who incur medical expenses of at least $35.01. Households with verified medical expenses that exceed $196 will receive the actual verified amount as a deduction. | ||||||||||
| Dependent Care | Payments for the care of a child or other incapacitated adult which are necessary for a household member to work, look for work or attend school or training | ||||||||||
| Child Support | Allowable for payments of legally obligated child support | ||||||||||
| Shelter |
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How are My Benefits Issued?
Check the Balance on your Louisiana Purchase Card (EBT Account)
Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) is a method of delivering governmental benefits to recipients electronically. Louisiana uses magnetic stripe card technology. The card, which is referred to as the Louisiana Purchase Card enables recipients to access benefits at Point-of-Sale (POS) machines.
SNAP benefits are posted to recipients’ accounts during the first fourteen days of the month. Recipient benefits are accessible by 5:00 a.m. the morning after they are posted. Benefits are posted on the same date every month regardless of the day of the week. Holidays and weekends do not affect the date of benefit availability. In emergency situations, benefits are available immediately.
Benefits are secure and accessible only to persons authorized by the recipient. The Personal Identification Number (PIN) is selected by the recipient and must be correctly entered in order to successfully complete all electronic transactions. As purchases are made at grocery store checkout lanes, recipient accounts are debited and the recipient is given a receipt that provides the remaining account balance.
How to Apply For SNAP Benefits
Step One
Step Two
- Gather the documents you will need to verify the information in your application. What must be verified and examples of proof.
Step Three
- After submitting your application, an interview letter will be mailed or a LDH staff member will contact you for an interview.
If a face-to-face interview is requested, you may schedule an appointment with any LDH parish office.
Source: Louisiana Department of Health/USDA
