The Louisiana Department ofSocial Services has joined with GovBenefits.gov website to provide citizensbetter access to information on benefit programs.
”Anything that helps us give information to the public issomething that we are interested in,” said Nanette White, Louisiana Departmentof Social Services press secretary. ”It’s a link that has been set up nationally.”
The site provides informationand links to nearly 1,000 federal and state benefit programs, which now includethe Louisiana Food Stamp Program.
The Food Stamp Program providesmonthly benefits that help eligible low-income households buy the food theyneed for good health. College students are among those whom apply for thesebenefits.
“To receive food stamps there’sa list of qualifications that students can check online at www.dss.state.la.usto see if they meet the criteria,” White said.
Anderson Dye, a graduateassistant in the mass communication department said he would definitely visitthe site. “I think the site is great, it eliminates all the time of waiting tosee if you’re approved.”
The website was launched inApril 2002 and is managed by the U.S. Department of Labor. It has providedgovernment benefit eligibility information to more than 15 million visitors andgenerated more than 2.5. million citizen referrals to benefit programs tailoredto their needs. The site is available in both English and Spanish, and featuresbenefit programs for seniors, students, children, prospective homeowners,entrepreneurs, caregivers, veterans, retirees, people with disabilities,farmers and more.
“It’s a growing concept to beable to go to one source and find information from that one source,” Whitesaid.
