Locations set up to apply for food stamps

BY HOLLY LELEUX-THUBRON
THE DAILY IBERIAN
Published/Last Modified on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 2:09 PM CDT

People impacted by Hurricane Gustav last week who want to apply for food stamps can begin doing so today at various locations throughout the Teche Area.

Almetra Franklin, St. Mary Community Action Agency director, said these are different from typical food stamps and applicants will be allowed to deduct some storm-related expenses from their income amounts to help more people qualify for the program.

She said applications will be taken from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and offices will be open for the next seven days.

Applicants must have lived in one of the 31 parishes affected by the storm as of Aug. 29, said Louisa Reddell, community specialist with the state Department of Social Services.

Reddell said applicants should provide photo identification, name, date of birth and Social Security number for all household members and proof of residency.

The disaster income limits for food stamp assistance according to the Department of Social Services is $2,079 per month for a household consisting of one person, $2,707 for a household of two, $3,108 for three, $3,663 for four, $4,033 for five, $4,504 for six, $4,770 for seven, $5,183 for eight and $413 for each additional household member after eight. For those people who experienced loss from Hurricane Gustav but do not qualify for food stamp assistance, Franklin said they can try to file a claim with their homeowners insurance to cover the cost of lost food items or try contacting FEMA.

More information about the food stamp program is available at (888) LAHELPU.

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Comments

Dealing with my loss wrote on Sep 23, 2008 1:15 PM:

" Tried to apply for assistance but turned down. We both work and make a 6 figure salary, we pay at least $18,000 a year in taxes, don't get jack back for that! The limit for 5 is $54,048 per year. What would it have hurt for me to get back $648 of MY MONEY, but instead I have my Chevron bill come in at $700 this month not including credit card bill and no groceries because I spent most of my Mortgage on evacuation. Just because you make more money means you have more bills!!!!!! Why do I always/have/to/pay/someone/elses/way?TOOK/IN/EVACUEES/FOR/IKE/AND/FED/THEM/WE/GET/JACKED "

MR CLEAN wrote on Sep 21, 2008 12:21 PM:

" Here we go again. The irate mob of disgruntled taxpayers rears its ugly head again. Do something nice for someone instead of looking down your nose at the downtrodden. It is just remarkable how these busybodies take interest in the affairs of others.

You know what? Life isn't fair, and all this negative banter just fuels more dissension in our community. There are quite a few Iberia Parish residents who evidently need a dose of anger management counseling. "

My Tax Dollars contd wrote on Sep 18, 2008 9:38 PM:

" Why should we, after all, everyday we miss work is one day of no taxes being paid. And our government and those on the medical card, food stamps, and welfare (regularly) wouldn't have that without our tax money. We lost food, also, but the government didn't double our bank account to cover our food expenses. I guess it's because we work, and don't sit on our butts all day long. So, we will enjoy spending our hard earned tax money. We deserve it. "

My Tax Dollars wrote on Sep 18, 2008 9:31 PM:

" I did qualify for the disaster relief food stamps. Why shouldn't I, my husband and I work everyday to pay taxes to fund that program. I assure you we pay 10 times more than that in taxes PER YEAR. It's time we get to live off of our hard earned tax dollars. The government doesn't have a problem bailing out falling corporations or sending billions overseas. It's time America helps well-deserved, taxpaying American citizens. I don't think the working people should have to stand in line, though. "

AC wrote on Sep 17, 2008 3:24 PM:

" I would Also like to point out and thank the Probation and Parole officers, National Guard, and Sheriff's Deptupties, they were all very nice and were as helpful as they could be. Too bad that the state "social service" workers were not as nice and friendly, looking for every penny to add up to get you disqualified.
PS I was only over by $80...dont you think they should make it a sliding scale? I was over by $80 so subtract $80from the amount I would get, and I get the rest?That seems much better than the current method. "

AC wrote on Sep 17, 2008 3:17 PM:

" I work 25 Hours a week while school in school, I dont live with my parents, and I pay for my own tuition at UL,but becuase I have some money saved for next semester's tuition as well as bills that are coming due in the next week, that is counted as income.So I "make too much money".Please tell me how $220 per week is too much money?I lost food becuase of the power being out.That's all I wanted,to replace that.Next time I will lie about how much I have in the bank. It truly makes me sick to my stomach. "

Working Class wrote on Sep 16, 2008 10:17 AM:

" Just because a person is gets food stamps does not automatically mean they do not work, nor does it mean that they are lazy. I too, make too much money to qualify for the emergency food stamp assistance and while I do not think it is fair that the government has decided at this devestating time to put such a low income limit on the program, I also do not agree with people on this board putting down people who work JUST AS HARD AS WE DO but, may not make enough money to make ends meet. "

B S K wrote on Sep 12, 2008 1:27 AM:

" My wife and I work hard for the money we make to barley keep our heads above the water. But beacuse our gross income is more than the government standards we never get any assistance when we need it the most. Hopefully this one time the government will do right by the honest working man . Well, we shall see!!!!!!! Or I could quit my job and have about 5 more kids then i'll get all the help i need. we will see!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

Not right wrote on Sep 11, 2008 10:50 AM:

" When hurricane rita hit, no one had to qualify for stamps, everyone received stamps if they wanted it, so what change this time, its not fair that the people who already get stamps get double of what they usually get and the people who try to work everyday and make ends meet dosen't qualify thats just stupid. Everyone took a lost, so everyone should get the same benefits. "

just a citizen... wrote on Sep 10, 2008 3:37 PM:

" Some people have to stand in lines, because they DO NEED it.
We make enough money to support ourselves usually just fine. Never needed help before... we spent 3/4 of our mortgage, which is not a small mortgage... on evacuation, gas, food, etc for our family of 4, and lost over 1200 dollars in wages, and all our food... and trust me, if I didn't need it, there is no way I would have been caught dead at the West End community center for 10 hours waiting. It's not worth it if I didn't NEED it. "

tiger wrote on Sep 10, 2008 1:02 PM:

" This qualification process is ridiculous in the wake of a natural disaster. But I'm sure some of the food stamp recipients lost things just as the rest of us, why attack them. Some are complaining about them receiving help that in your opinion they don't need, yet in the same breath complaining about not getting something I suspect some of you don't need. I lost food, spent money evacuating, bought as much gas as I could fit in my vehicles, etc. But, I'm not standing in long lines for something I might want but not NEED. "

Ticked Off wrote on Sep 10, 2008 12:26 PM:

" I am a single mother who works everyday to provide for my family. My once a month paycheck covers our monthly bills and food.I lost all the food we had in the freezer/fridge. But b/c I work to provide for my family, I don't qualify. I wont get another paycheck until the end of the month. "

Mary wrote on Sep 10, 2008 12:18 PM:

" I sat here and read all the comments.I worked all my life and I can not work anymore,the SS docter told them I was an able to work but that doent matter to them,I was turned down,My husband has polio and in a wheelchair..well we do get food stamps and if we didnt we wouldnt eat.we'll we got our emcy.stamps..what a joke.they gave us 33.50 for all the food we lost,We get 170 a month and its hard to get food for the month foe 2 people.somedays we dont eat.I dont sit on my rear end all day,dont drank. "

Just a citizen wrote on Sep 10, 2008 11:04 AM:

" p.s. - we only qualified because they DO deduct the work missed from the amount of monthly income.

Another thing.... the national guard and police were friendly and professional... but I don't know how with the ghetto people who were hollarring at them asking for food and water, and acting like they should be waited on.. then complaining cuz nobody was feeding their kids that they should have left with someone instead of dragging out there anyway. I brought a chair, had one drink all day, and shut my mouth instead of looking like trash. "

Carol Landry wrote on Sep 10, 2008 11:02 AM:

" Why can't the government figure out another way of handing out food. Why don't they make a contract with some of the stores and let the stores make up packages with just enough food for the families. Ham,bread,bottled water, chips, milk etc...that would fix alot of the problems...and maybe you wouldn't have these people buying other foods that aren't really needed. Think about it... "

just a citizen wrote on Sep 10, 2008 10:56 AM:

" Also, I came 100 dollars from exceeding the limit. Barely qualified. After losing all the food we had, and spending so much evacuating, that would have been devastating to not qualify. Something needs to change about the system. Just because we have good jobs, doesn't mean we can afford missing a week of work for 2 people, and spend almost our whole mortgage, and just recover by ourselves. If the people who don't work get help, the ones who do should SURELY be the FIRST to receive help. Glad I qualified but some don't! "

Just a citizen wrote on Sep 10, 2008 10:44 AM:

" My husband and I both have good jobs, and are not on any type of assistance. But we both missed over a week of work, and spent approximately $800 on evacuation and lost all of our food. We have 2 children so I went to apply at WestEnd. NEVER AGAIN is all I can say. We were there for 10 hours, and finally I did qualify, but many of the people were so trashy and tacky that I didn't even want to be seen in the same crowd. Big-mouthed obnoxious people. Made me sick. "

Food Stamp Frustrated wrote on Sep 10, 2008 10:17 AM:

" I don't understand why they need to verify income. My monthly income pays my monthly bills, lost of previously purchased food is not included in my monthly income expenses. Some people lost all the food in their freezers that they purchased with actual money that they worked for not a previous Food Stamp Card.You have to love our government, they give people who Don't work Free food then replace it!!! Again, the middle classman suffers.
And what's this about checking all the bank accounts associated with the SS#'s from your household.....I have 3 kids, that's their college fund from grandparents! "

lost in the system wrote on Sep 10, 2008 9:59 AM:

" why does it matter what income bracket you are in. everyone needs assistance during a crisis situation & that is all they are asking for is temporary assistance during a very trying time. My husband & I work very hard for everything we have & the emergency need is very everyone affected income should not play a part in an emergency situation. we have a 5,000 ded on our ins. & just over 6,000 in damage, making a claim only gets us 1,000 I don't have the 5000 to make the repairs & make too much $ to gethelp. "

a good cajun wrote on Sep 9, 2008 9:08 PM:

" I lost everything in both my upright freezer and my refrigerator-freezer. I work in the public school system, so as soon as I got off of work I went to Westend Park Recreation center to apply for Emergency Food Stamps. When I got there I was told that they were only processing 800 applications a day, and that quota had been met by 11:00am. When I asked when the people who worked were supposed to apply, I was told that I could go to Lafayette,Vermillion, or another parish to apply. How am I supposed to get help? "

alex wrote on Sep 9, 2008 9:02 PM:

" I think the should give some food stamps to us, tax payers that have lost their food and not to the same lacy people that get the food stamps every month anyway, don't work ,don't pay taxes and all they do is sleep or if they not sleeping they drinking all day when we work hard to pay taxes. "

Vicky wrote on Sep 9, 2008 8:54 PM:

" I already lost several days of work because of the storm. I cannot take off again to go stand in line for no telling how long just to see if my application was accepted. Some of those people had started waiting in line at midnight the night before! This is just like everything else. Work your butt off and the ones sitting on their butts are the ones that get the free everything! The ones on food stamps already don't even have to do anything. It's already added to their card! What a "

T Vo wrote on Sep 9, 2008 8:40 PM:

" That is the goverment for you!!! They support low income people, so they (low imcome) continue to sit on their porch and collect, while we're out here sweating. ONLY IN America!!!!!!!!!!!! "

hurricane victim wrote on Sep 9, 2008 8:34 PM:

" I want to let everyone know that i went to apply at west end park this morning. There are only 15 workers taking apps & 800 applicants allowed daily. I went with my 86 yr old grandma & we were turned away & told to go to the Blackem Col. in Laf. We live in N.I., not Laf. I agree with i concurr. Send everyone a card or allow people with internet to apply via internet. "

St. Martin Parish Citizen wrote on Sep 9, 2008 8:32 PM:

" It's always the working class that has a few dollars to play with at the end of the month (due to budgeting) that gets the boot from assistance programs...sorry, you make $100 too much...oh well. "

disgusted wrote on Sep 9, 2008 6:32 PM:

" I lost all my food and it wasnt bought with food stamps but yet I cant get help because I make to much money cause we WORK. What a shame. My insurance doesnt cover my food lost. Why didnt the article just read those that lost food from your last food stamps come get more food stamps and buy more food. "

i concurr wrote on Sep 9, 2008 4:15 PM:

" how much you wanna bet that these people getting MORE food stamp assistance will be the same ones
that go and get 3 lb ribeyes at legnons
and eat boiled crawfish. all on my dime.. while I work hard, and clip coupons and cannot afford crawfish.
so i think they should just send everyone that lives in the parish affected a little card that has some
amount on it. I mean do they have to
buy for the whole family for the whole month, or just to replace a few days worth... "

brandy wrote on Sep 9, 2008 4:14 PM:

" If these emergency food stamps are to assist families in time of crisis,then why are they asking for application,its like we are applying for the regular food stamp program.this is unfair to families who do work and have suffered a loss due to gustav.this is no kind of assistance ,this is an everyday foodstamp application.where is the assistance for people with an income.we worked hard for the things we lost where is our restitution. "

Just a citizen wrote on Sep 9, 2008 3:33 PM:

" That is sad. It should be for everyone regarless of income. So I make 6 figures a year it is because I work my tail off to provide for my family. Why do I have to file with my insurance instead of just getting food stamps? "

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Locations set up to apply for food stamps

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