October 23, 2025 – Baton Rouge, LA

Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge wants to ensure our community is informed about a critical update from the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown in Washington, D.C., SNAP benefits will not be issued starting November 1, 2025. However, any unused benefits already on recipients’ EBT cards will remain available and can be used as usual.

What You Need to Know:

• SNAP benefits paused: No new benefits will be issued beginning November 1 until the federal government reopens.
• Existing benefits remain active: Funds already on EBT cards from previous months are still accessible.
• New applications still accepted: LDH will continue processing new SNAP applications, but benefits will not be issued until federal operations resume.
• Stay current with requirements: Recipients must continue to:
• Report household changes
• Complete simplified reporting or recertification paperwork
• Submit verification documents by mail, in person, or by fax

Submission Options for Verification Documents:

• Mail: LDH ES Document Processing Center, P.O. Box 260031, Baton Rouge, LA 70826
• In Person: Any LDH ES parish office
• Fax: 225-663-3164
• 
  

While SNAP hotline staff are available for technical questions about applications, they cannot provide updates on when benefits will resume.

LDH’s Commitment:

LDH is actively monitoring the situation and will communicate updates directly to beneficiaries and retailers as they become available. Their priority is to resume benefit issuance as soon as federal operations are restored.

Impact:

Currently, 792,769 Louisianans in 396,157 households rely on SNAP benefits. We understand this news may cause concern, and Families Helping Families is here to support our community during this uncertain time.



Please stay connected with us for updates and resources. If you or someone you know needs assistance navigating this change, don’t hesitate to reach out.