BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) is implementing some new changes to SNAP benefits starting Tuesday, May 26.
Louisiana SNAP recipients will now only able to use their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards for purchases they make within the state and in ZIP codes adjacent to Louisiana’s border in neighboring states. The state say the change will protect benefits from fraud and out-of-state use.
EBT cardholders who shop at Louisiana stores and through approved online retailers won’t be affected by the policy change. Those who shop just across state lines will experience little to no disruption because many of those ZIP codes are included.
The impact will be felt if you try to make an out-of-state purchase that is outside of approved areas. If your purchase is out of the area, it will be blocked.
If you’re a SNAP recipient and you’re traveling and need temporary access to make an out-of-state purchase, you can request a short-term exemption at lifeincheckebt.com, by calling 888-LAHelp-U (888-524-3578), or visiting a local SNAP office.
If you have temporary out-of-state access, it automatically expires at the beginning of the next month, and your EBT card will default to in-state-only settings.
Download the Unfiltered with Kiran app from the Apple App Store and Google Play to stay updated on the latest news across the Capital area.
Support UWK and its mission to deliver The News You Deserve. Unfiltered. Become a monthly patron on Patreon today!
