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Louisiana

These resources – like the public health crisis itself – are constantly evolving and are only current as to the date of publication. This page was last updated on September 18, 2020.

For more up-to-date information on the relief programs available in Louisiana, we recommend that you visit the state's COVID-19 Resources or Louisiana Economic Development's Resources for Impacted Businesses.

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Description of Program and Relief

Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (“FITAP”)

This preexisting program provides cash assistance to families with children when the financial resources of the family are insufficient to meet subsistence needs. The FITAP program also promotes job preparation and work. While no specific guidance has been provided for those affected by COVID-19, individuals and families adversely impacted by COVID-19 should be eligible if they meet general eligibility requirements. Assistance is determined based on family size and can be found here. The average grant in Louisiana is $222 per month.

Government or Lead Agency

Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services

Dates Available

Available now

Eligibility Requirements/Restrictions

For eligibility information: please click here.

Generally, to qualify for FITAP, the recipient must:

1) Live in the State of Louisiana;

2) Be either a U.S. citizen, a non-citizen national, or a qualified alien;

3) Be considered financially needy to be eligible. This means that income available to care for a child does not meet the child’s needs. Monthly income (both earned and unearned) cannot exceed the flat grant amount for the number of persons in the assistance unit. Total countable income is subtracted from the flat grant amount to determine the applicant’s grant amount;

4) Provide or apply for a Social Security number for each member of the assistance unit;

5) Be under the age of 18 to be eligible or 18 years of age and enrolled full-time in a secondary school or in the equivalent level of vocational or teaching training;

6) Have a qualified relative and verify that the recipient lives at home with the qualified relative. Information on defining a “qualified relative” can be found here;

7) Participate in the Strategies to Empower People (“STEP”) Vocational Education Program. More information on the STEP Program can be found here.

9) Assign any child support and medical support rights to the state and cooperate with the agency’s Child Support Enforcement Services in establishing paternity and obtaining child support and medical support from the absent parent(s) unless good cause is established;

10) Provide sufficient evidence of immunity or immunization against vaccine preventable diseases according to the Office of Public Health schedule or evidence that such immunization program is in progress;

11) If pregnant, attend parenting skills training;

12) Cooperate in screening for the use of illegal drugs, and if necessary drug testing, education, and rehabilitation.

Minor unmarried parents and their children must reside in the home of a parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative or in an adult-supervised living arrangement in order to qualify for assistance.

Application Deadlines (If Applicable)

N/A

Contact for More Information

For more information, please call (888) 524-3578.

List of Additional Information

For more information, please click here.

To apply online, please click here.

To download an application to submit by hand, please click here. Completed applications can be mailed to:

DCFS Economic Stability

P.O. Box 260031

Baton Rouge, LA 70826


© 2021 Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. This does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. In some jurisdictions, this publication may be considered attorney advertising. Past representations are no guarantee of future outcomes.

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