Louisiana FITAP (Cash Assistance)
Last updated August 2026
FITAP, the Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program, is Louisiana's TANF cash assistance for needy children in their own homes, paired with job preparation. Like SNAP, it is now administered by the Louisiana Department of Health. Apply with the same application used for SNAP: online through the LA CAFE self-service portal, by phone at 888-LAHelp-U (888-524-3578), or on paper.
The grant is a flat monthly amount by household size, with your countable income subtracted from it: $244 for one person, $376 for two, $484 for three, $568 for four, rising to $954 for nine. So a family of three with no other income gets up to $484.
Eligibility centers on the children. Your family must be a Louisiana resident and financially needy, and the child must be under 18, or 18 and a full-time secondary-school student, living with a qualified relative. Your monthly countable income cannot exceed the flat grant amount, but earned-income deductions, a standard $120 per employed member plus a time-limited $900 for six months, help you qualify.
The clock is firm and has two parts. There is a 60-month lifetime limit, and a family is also ineligible if a parent has already received benefits for 24 of the prior 60 months. Treat every month as scarce.
The program comes with obligations. Work-eligible participants must join STEP, the Strategies to Empower People program, doing work activities toward a career, unless exempt. And you must assign child- and medical-support rights to the state and cooperate with Child Support Enforcement, unless good cause is shown.
Because the cash is modest, stack the rest. The same application reaches SNAP, Louisiana expanded Medicaid covers adults and children on friendlier rules, and 2-1-1 tracks local emergency funds.
Phone 1-888-524-3578
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Louisiana families with a child in the home who meet an income and resource test
- Most work-eligible adults must take part in the STEP work program, and federal and state time limits cap how long you can receive cash
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Apply through the LA CAFE portal, by phone at 888-524-3578, or on paper; one application also covers SNAP.
- 2
Provide proof of income (earned-income deductions apply) and your children's information.
- 3
Join the STEP work program and cooperate with child support.
- 4
Apply for SNAP and Medicaid at the same time.
What to have ready
- ID and Social Security numbers for the adults applying
- Proof of income for the household
- Proof that a child lives with you. Your parish office confirms the full list.
What the application looks like
Common questions
How much does FITAP pay?
A flat monthly grant by household size, minus your countable income: $244 for one person, $376 for two, $484 for three, up to $954 for nine.
How long can I get it?
There is a 60-month lifetime limit, and a family is also ineligible if a parent already received benefits for 24 of the prior 60 months.
Do I have to work?
Work-eligible participants must join the STEP program, doing work activities toward a career, unless exempt.
How do I apply?
Through the LA CAFE portal, by phone at 888-524-3578, or on paper. The same application covers SNAP.
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