snap benefits

Louisiana is suspending its temporary assistance program that would provide November funds to most Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in the state amid the ongoing government shutdown.

Luisiana usará 150 millones de dólares en fondos del estado para crear un programa de asistencia temporal para financiar subsidios para algunos beneficiarios del Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, o SNAP) en noviembre durante el cierre del gobierno federal.

Gov. Jeff Landry said a temporary assistance program will provide benefits to the state's "most vulnerable" SNAP recipients in November amid the federal shutdown.

The move makes Louisiana the only state in the Gulf South attempting to fund SNAP benefits for residents next month amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.

A letter from Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein to staff at LDH states that employees will be furloughed without pay for up to 240 hours between November 3 and December 2.

The bulk of sales for many independent grocers come from SNAP. Cuts to the program could leave some making hard decisions about their future.

Louisiana is one of several states asking the Trump administration to make changes to its food stamp program.

The most debated parts of the bill were the school meal restrictions and proposed limits on SNAP, formally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The 80-year-old bill requires updates from Congress every five years to account for inflation and shifting welfare and agricultural policies. While some conservative circles argue the subsidies distort free markets, the omnibus bill has traditionally enjoyed broad bipartisan support. Urban and rural constituencies depend on its programs, while policymakers view a stable food source as imperative to national security.

Qualifying Louisiana residents in areas Hurricane Francine impacted last week will be able to receive federal assistance with replacing or supplementing their food, state officials announced Friday.