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Food stamp program raises benefit levels

  • Advocate Capitol News Bureau
  • Published: Oct 1, 2008 - Page: 14A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.
Food stamp program recipients will receive a raise in their benefits starting this month, the state Department of Social Services announced Tuesday.

Eligibility and benefit amounts will increase in accordance with limits set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Thrifty Food Plan, and the gross and net income limits, according to a release from the agency’s Office of Family Support.

The Thrifty Food Plan is a federal estimate of how much it costs to provide nutritious, low-cost meals. It is adjusted annually based on food prices. Annual adjustments to the income eligibility standards are based on federal poverty levels.

For example, the maximum monthly food stamp allotment for a family of four would increase from $542 to $588. Their maximum monthly net income for eligibility would increase from $1,721 to $1,767. Their maximum monthly gross income in order to be eligible would increase from $2,238 to $2,297.

Louisiana residents may be eligible for food stamps if they work for low wages, receive other public assistance payments, or are homeless.

Anyone wanting to apply for food stamp benefits should contact a parish Office of Family Support. Those offices can be found at http://www.dss.state.la.us/departments/ofs/OFS_Parish_Offices.html. They are also listed in the telephone directory.

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