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The information provided on this post does not, and is not intended to, represent legal advice. All information available on this site is for general informational purposes only. If you need legal help, you should contact a lawyer. You may be eligible for our free legal services and can apply by calling our Covid Legal Hotline at 1-844-244-7871 or applying online here.

Everyone getting SNAP will get lower payments starting March 1, 2023. Keep reading to find out what to do to make sure you get everything you should.

How Much SNAP Will I Lose?

Most households will lose at least $95.00 per month. Your household may lose less or more than $95.00 in March.

Many elderly people on Social Security  will remember getting only $20 in SNAP before the pandemic. Most of these people will return to getting only $20, unless they can claim new expenses, mentioned below.

Most other people will get a little more than what they got in 2019 unless they have or can report changes to the agency.

What Should I Do Now?

Make sure DCFS has up to date information about your income and bills. During the COVID emergency, DCFS may have given you extra SNAP without getting all of the paperwork and information it usually needs.

Act now to give DCFS the right information about your income and expenses. This can help make sure you get the right amount of SNAP in the future. Do not wait. DCFS may be busy and hard to reach once SNAP lowers in March 2023.

The items listed below can make your SNAP amount go up or down. The list says what information DCFS may need for each item:

• How much each person earns or gets in benefits (paperwork may be pay stubs, W-2 forms, income tax returns, employers’ statements, award letters about disability benefits).
• Money spent on child care so you can work (paperwork could be things like bills for child care).
• Money above $35.00 in medical costs paid to care for older or disabled household members (paperwork may include medical bills).
• Child support you pay (paperwork may include wage withholding statements and court orders).
• Rent or mortgage costs (paperwork includes things your lease or promissory note).

There are websites that can help you figure out how much your SNAP amount should be. Use only trustworthy sites. Here is a site you can use: http://www.nolafoodpolicy.org/snapcalculator.

DCFS will send letters in early February telling you how much you will lose in March.

How Do I Give DCFS My New Information?

You can send documents through DCFS’ online LA CAFÉ system. You can use this online system at this website: https://sspweb.ie.dcfs.la.gov/selfservice/selfserviceJSPController?id=0.1772418717047336&tab=1.

The site will ask you to log into your LA CAFÉ account. If you do not have an LA CAFÉ account, you will need to set one up. You will need to create an LA CAFÉ profile and link your SNAP case. Once you log into LA CAFÉ, the site will show you how to upload your paperwork for DCFS.

You can also send your paperwork to DCFS by mail, fax, or by visiting any DCFS office in person. Keep copies of any paperwork you send to DCFS!

DCFS’ mailing address is:

Department of Children and Family Services ES
Document Processing Center
P.O. Box 260031
Baton Rouge, LA 70826

DCFS’ fax number is 225-663-3164.

Be sure to include your Case ID number or Social Security Number (SSN) on every page so DCFS can match your paperwork to your case.