More than 250,000 food stamp recipients in Louisiana got their June benefits up to two weeks early because of what a state agency calls a computer error.
Department of Social Services spokesman Trey Williams said recipients of the federal benefit will get the same amount of free food credits for June that they usually do, but they received the credits up to two weeks early. A DSS news release said the credits should have gone out in batches in early June but have already been sent.
DSS said recipients should budget accordingly, because the benefits will have to last until July. The agency is using automated phone calls to contact all recipients to notify them of the error, Williams said.
Louisiana has 282,748 recipients of the federal benefit, known officially as the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. They receive credits on a card that can be used at stores.
The amount of the benefit depends on factors including income and the size of the family, Williams said. The maximum an individual can receive is $200 per month; the maximum for a family of four is $668.—-Contact The Daily Reveille news staff at [email protected]