Food Access

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.

Other Eligibility Requirements

• Identity - Individuals must show proof they are the person they claim to be. Applicants must provide proof of their identity.

• Residence - the client must be living in Louisiana.

• Citizenship - household members can include either US citizens and/or certain aliens with verifiable USCIS documentation.

• Enumeration - households must provide or apply for Social Security numbers for each member before certification.

• Work Registration - all able-bodied adults, with specific exceptions, must register for work and accept suitable employment

How To Apply For Snap Benefits

1. Fill out an application online.

   • You can also apply for the Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP) or Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP) with this application.

   • You can also download an application and fill it out by hand.

2. Gather the documents you will need to verify the information in your application. What must be verified and examples of proof.

3. Turn it in:

   • Mail the completed form to the Document Processing Center:
     DCFS Economic Stability
     P.O. Box 260031
     Baton Rouge, LA 70826

   • Drop off at the nearest local office

   • Or fax the completed form to: (225) 663-3164

4. After receiving your application, a DCFS employee will call you to conduct an interview over the phone, saving you time. Please provide a valid telephone number for contact purposes, or if a face-to-face interview is requested, you may schedule an appointment with any DCFS parish office.

Contact  1-888-LAHELP-U for help (View the LAHELPU keypad shortcuts).

Food Pantries

Lantern Light Ministries

Located at 1803 Gravier St. in New Orleans, Lantern Light Ministries provides a vital food access program offering free daily morning snacks and a hot, nutritional noon-time meal to anyone in need. This community resource costs nothing to participate in, takes approximately 30 minutes per service to complete, and rewards attendees with a fresh, balanced meal to meet their basic nutritional needs. Participants can attend Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. for morning snacks and from 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. for lunch, with no specific age limits or required documents to be eligible. 

Salvation Army

Located at 4526 S. Claiborne Ave. in New Orleans, The Salvation Army of Greater New Orleans offers a vital food pantry program providing food to meet the nutritional needs of local families. This community resource costs nothing to participate in, takes a brief visit () to complete once per month, and rewards attendees with a supply of groceries to support their household needs. Participants can attend every Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., with eligibility open to Orleans Parish community members of all ages . While registration is completed entirely during your first visit, the specific required identification or residency documents are not listed.  There is no advance application process—interested individuals simply need to register in person during their first visit—and the program can be reached for further inquiries at 504-899-4569.

Broadmoor Improvement Association Food Pantry

Located at 2021 S. Dupre St., this free food pantry serves Orleans Parish residents on Tuesdays (10-12noon) and Wednesdays(1-3pm). New participants must bring proof of residency and income. Interested individuals simply need to bring their required documents to register in person during operating hours—and the program can be reached for inquiries via email at bfp@broadmoorimprovement.com or by calling 504-249-5130.