Louisiana’s $250 front-line worker payment may run out by the end of the week

Louisiana’s supplemental $250 payments for front-line workers looks likely to run out in the next day or so. Gov. John Bel Edwards encouraged people who qualify to file their applications in a matter of hours if they want to receive a payment. 

The state has already received 125,000 applications for the $250 payment since the program opened just two days ago. It only has enough money to pay the first 200,000 people who apply for the funding.

“We should exceed that 200,000 either today or tomorrow,” Edwards said. “I am encouraging people to apply as quickly as they can.” 

Grocery store workers, janitors, delivery people, bus drivers and health care workers can qualify for the $250 one-time payment as long as they submitted an income of $50,000 or less on their 2019 tax return. They must also have had to report for work outside their home for 200 hours from March 22 through May 14. 

The Louisiana Legislature set aside $50 million from the federal government for coronavirus relief to fund the program. State Rep. Sam Jenkins, D-Shreveport, sponsored the legislation.

Those interested should apply at frontlineworkers.la.gov. About 25 percent of the program’s funding has been set aside to make sure those who apply using the paper form — which can be downloaded from this website — will still be able to access the funding even if their applications are received later than those who apply online.