Benefits.gov - Louisiana Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP)

E-mail Page Print Page

Louisiana Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP)

Managing Agency Louisiana http://www.louisiana.gov

Program Description

The Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP) provides cash assistance to families with children when the financial resources of the family are insufficient to meet subsistence needs. The overall goal of FITAP is to decrease the long-term dependency on welfare assistance by promoting job preparation and work. Public assistance is an opportunity to become independent after a financial crisis.

The Social Security Act as amended by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 authorizes the Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program. The Department of Health and Human Services is the Federal agency responsible for its administration. The program is administered at the state level by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Social Services analysts in the parish offices throughout the state are responsible for processing applications for FITAP, as well as completing re-determinations of eligibility. Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) performs the issuance of FITAP benefits to eligible households.

General Program Requirements

In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a resident of Louisiana, either pregnant or responsible for a child under 19 years of age, a U.S. national, citizen, legal alien, or permanent resident, have low or very low income, and be either under-employed (working for very low wages), unemployed or about to become unemployed.

Your Next Steps

The following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.

Application Process

To apply, download and complete the Application for Assistance:
https://webapps.dss.state.la.us/FAApplication/#

You can find additional information about the application here:
https://webapps.dss.state.la.us/FAApplication/#

You must then return the completed application to your Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) office, which you can find here:

District offices:
http://www.dcfs.louisiana.gov/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&pid=304
Parish offices:
http://www.dcfs.louisiana.gov/index.cfm?md=pagebuilderamp;tmp=homeamp;nid=144amp;pnid=143amp;pid=295

When you apply, you will be asked to supply verification of information. This graph explains what must be verified, and provides examples of proof:
http://www.dss.state.la.us/index.cfm?md=...

After your application is received and processed, you will be contacted to set up an interview with a staff member.

Program Contact Information

To find more about Louisiana Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP), please visit:
http://www.dss.state.la.us/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&pid=139