Louisiana Gov. Landry Signs Emergency Declaration To Save SNAP Benefits In The Bayou State

(KHLA - Lake Charles, Louisiana) - Governor Jeff Landry signed an emergency declaration at the end of last week in an attempt to save the SNAP benefits for Louisiana residents.

The emergency declaration is aimed at helping fund SNAP benefits for the elderly, disabled, and children in Louisiana.

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Why Are SNAP Benefits Ending In November?

Residents were informed earlier this month by the state and federal government that SNAP benefits would stop being paid on November 1 due to the continued government shutdown.

Louisiana will use its "social security net" according to Landry to pay the state's residents SNAP benefits who are covered by the national program.

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How Is Louisiana Going To Pay SNAP Benefits?

Governor Landry had this to say in a press release:

We should not allow our elderly, disabled, or children to go hungry because of the Washington, D.C. Democrats’ failure to reopen the federal government. Our social security net is supposed to help the most vulnerable, and we will try to accomplish this with today’s action.

With 396,157 SNAP households, or around 18 percent of the state, Louisiana has one of the highest SNAP participation rates in the nation.

Click here for information on how the shutdown impacts Louisiana state programs.