PRESS RELEASE Secretary Ann Williamson Sends Letter to USDA Amending Gustav Disaster Food Stamp Program to Accommodate Some August Payrolls Although DSS's revisions of the program's period will help ensure eligibility for those impacted by Hurricane Gustav in the month of August, Secretary Williamson added that the state still needs the federal government to waive the "cash on hand" eligibility requirement in order to fully ensure that citizens' liquid assets do not count against their eligibility for assistance during a time of disaster. Williamson said, "We requested a waiver of the 'cash on hand' eligibility requirement in order to ensure our citizens were declared eligible for the food stamp benefit by the clear determinations of income and the location of their residence, which would prove they are in a disaster-impacted area. We still need this waiver from our federal partners in order to ensure that our citizens are provided the benefits they need in times of disaster and emergency, and I haveasked for this again today." On September 3, 2008, DSS Secretary Williamson asked USDA for a waiver of the "cash on hand" eligibility requirement, and this waiver was denied the same day. This waiver would have meant that eligibility for the disaster food stamp program would be based on the clear determining factors of a citizen's income (paycheck stubs) and their place of residence (proof of address in a disaster declared area). Secretary Williamson's letter to USDA follows: September 14, 2008 Undersecretary Nancy Johner Dear Undersecretary Johner: This letter is to inform the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Consumer Services Department that the Louisiana Department of Social Services has revised the Gustav Disaster Food Stamp Program period from August 29th to September 27th to run from August 30th to September 28th. This change will ensure that families in need of disaster food stamps will qualify for the program and not be adversely affected by a rare occurrence in the calendar affecting the number of paychecks they receive in a month. In the month of August, citizens who are paid every other Friday or every Friday receive three or five paychecks respectively. Therefore, some citizens are unfairly penalized due to this occurrence in the calendar, even though their annual incomes clearly reflect their need for disaster food stamps. In an analysis of total possible paydays for different start dates for the program (weekly, bi-weekly and first and middle of the month), the period of August 30th to September 28th captures the fewest possible pay dates for all pay schedules. Specifically, this period only includes four Fridays (the most common weekly payday) and two bi-weekly paydays. The USDA Food and Nutrition Consumer Services Department advised the state today that this change will not negatively impact any food stamp recipient that has already received their benefit. With our change of the period for this program to now start on August 30th, those who were declined eligibility for the Gustav Disaster food stamps because of this occurrence in the calendar are encouraged to reapply for the food stamp benefit. Citizens who have applied and been determined eligible based on the August 29th through September 27th disaster period will continue to be categorized as such based on their status at the time of application. The State of Louisiana will implement this adjusted disaster period beginning Monday, September 15th. The State of Louisiana informed the USDA Food and Nutrition Consumer Services of the change to this program earlier today and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation in providing this benefit to all those who are eligible during these times of emergency, as our citizens continue to recover from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Sincerely, Ann Silverberg Williamson ###
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