Major Changes in Louisiana SNAP Benefits Begin This Week

Based on current figures from the United States Census Department there are just over 300,000 people living in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. That number, 300,000 is about the same number of households in Louisiana that receive monthly stipends via the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

You probably are more familiar with that program from its acronym, SNAP. Yeah, roughly 300,000 Louisiana households receive monthly SNAP benefits, and no, they aren't all in New Orleans. The benefits are used by families to purchase nutritious foods that qualify under the very specific guidelines of the program.

Major Changes Coming For Louisiana SNAP Recipients

As prices on certain items have risen over the past few months it has been harder and harder for all of us in Louisiana to make ends meet. For those using SNAP benefits where the amount of buying power is fairly stagnant, we have some good news. As of this week, your monthly stipend to help feed your family will be increasing.

The new adjustments are designed to help offset the rising cost of food and other essential items that SNAP helps people cover. The changes to the program began officially on Tuesday, October 1st.  And thanks to this Cost of Living Adjustment, you'll now have a little more room on your EBT card to get the items you need for your family.

Here is how the adjusted SNAP benefits look through September of next year.

• 1 person household - $292
• 2 person household - $536
• 3 person household - $768
• 4 person household- $975
• 5 person household - $1,158
• 6 person household - $1,390
• 7 person household - $1,536
• 8 person household - $1,756
• Each additional person adds $220 to the monthly total.

We should note that in Louisiana almost 20% of the population rely on these benefits. Our state is ranked third in the nation in SNAP participation, only New Mexico and the District of Columbia have higher participation rates.

If you need assistance with your family food budget, you might qualify for SNAP as well. Follow this link for eligibility requirements and details on how to apply.