PRESS RELEASE

DSS Extends Hours of Disaster Food Stamp Sites, Requests Extension of Process
Department of Social Services News Update
BATON ROUGE , La. (September 10, 2008) - Department of Social Services Secretary Ann Silverberg Williamson announced today that the hours of the Disaster Food Stamp application sites will be extended. All sites will remain open until 8 p.m. as needed and the highest volume sites in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Jefferson, Lafayette and Sorrento will open at 6 a.m. in order to help process as many applicants as possible. Click here for a list of locations

Williamson also announced that DSS has requested a seven day extension with the USDA Food and Nutrition Services which will allow the application process to continue through Tuesday, September 23, 2008. "These measures, along with the sites that we continue to add should help speed the process and get much needed help to our citizens," said Williamson. "DSS continues to work with local officials to find sites that are large and that have air-conditioning. Again, I urge the federal government to waive the requirement for face-to-face interviews in order to avoid the challenges that we have faced in the last 24 hours."

After reports of citizens becoming upset when they learned that they would not be receiving cash cards, Williamson stressed that the Disaster Food Stamps Program has strictly defined income eligibility and can only be used for the purchase of food. She also reminded participants in the regular Food Stamp Program that they do not need to apply since their benefits will automatically be lifted to the maximum amount allowable for September and their August benefits have been increased by 20% in order to replace lost food.

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