11th Annual Food Stamp

ForumStacy DeanFebruary 18, 2010

Child Poverty Rate Reaches Highest Since 1997

Source: Census Bureau.

Food Stamp Caseloads Closely Track Changes in Poverty and Unemployment

*Poverty numbers are annual estimates and not yet available after 2008. Spikes in food stamp participants are from disaster food stamps after hurricanes.

Sources: Food and Nutrition Service (Food Stamp Program participants); Census Bureau (individuals in poverty); Bureau of Labor Statistics (unemployed individuals).

CA SNAP Participation Rate Steady,

National Participation Rises

·  Approximately $645 million in additional Food Stamp benefits have gone to CA through ARRA.

·  This dollar amount could be as much as doubled.

· USDA estimates that every $1 in food stamp benefits generates $1.84 in economic activity.

CA is Missing Out on SNAP StimulusCA is Missing Out on SNAP Stimulus

$52 Million in New SNAP Admin Funds $52 Million in New SNAP Admin Funds for CAfor CA

SNAP – Lots of News, SNAP – Lots of News, Little Policy ChangeLittle Policy Change

• Goal of Eliminating Child Hunger by 2015• Healthy Incentives Pilot• First Lady’s Nutrition Initiative• Need to Auto-Enroll More SNAP Children in

Free School Meals• HHS/USDA Will Work Together on Cross

Program Issues• Clarification on Public Charge• 2002 Farm Bill Final Rules Published

More Than 30 States Have Lifted SNAP More Than 30 States Have Lifted SNAP Asset TestAsset Test

AK

AL

ARAZ

CA CO

CT

DCDE

FL

GAHI

IA

ID

IL IN

KSKY

LA

MA

MD

ME

MI

MN

MO

MS

MT

NC

ND

NE

NH

NJ

NM

NV

NY

OH

OK

OR

PA

RI

SC

SD

TN

TX

UT

VA

VT

W A

W I

W V

W Y

N o Food S tam p Asset Test (22)

R aised asset lim it (3)

P lan to Im plem ent (6)

N o Food S tam p AssetTest for M ost (2)

U ses federa l asset test (18)*V irg in Is lands and G uam have a lso e lim inated the asset test.

More Than 20 States Have Lifted the More Than 20 States Have Lifted the Gross Income TestGross Income Test

A K

A L

A RA Z

C A C O

C T

D C D E

F L

G AH I

I A

I D

I L I N

K S K Y

L A

M A

M D

M E

M IM N

M O

M S

M T

N C

N D

N E

N H

N J

N M

N V

N Y

O H

O K

O R

P A

R I

S C

S D

T N

T X

U T

V A

V T

W A

W I

W V

W Y

G r o s s I n c o m e L i m i t i s 2 0 0 % o f P o v e r t y G u i d e l i n e s ( 8 )

G r o s s I n c o m e L i m i t i s B e t w e e n 1 3 0 % a n d 2 0 0 % ( 9 )

G r o s s I n c o m e L i m i t i s 2 0 0 % o f P o v e r t y G u i d e l i n e s f o r C e r t a i n H o u s e h o l d s ( 1 )

P l a n t o i m p l e m e n t ( 3 )

D C

N o t e : I n f o r m a t i o n b a s e d o n s t a t e a g e n c y r e p o r t s t o C B P P .

G r o s s I n c o m e L i m i t i s B e t w e e n 1 3 0 % a n d 2 0 0 % f o r m o s t ( 2 )

Timely Service Is a Timely Service Is a Significant ProblemSignificant Problem

• In 2008 16 states met 90% timeliness, down from 28 in 2006

• In 10 states, 1:5 cases weren’t timely.

• Numerous states are facing timeliness lawsuits.

• Media attention to delayed applications.

CA Error Rates Have Fallen While Caseloads Rise

Families Navigate A Complicated Route to SNAP Benefits

Path to SNAP Benefits Could Be More Straightforward

Seriously!

Process Changes HelpProcess Changes Help

• Identify “risk” points, clogs, and kinks in the system. Ex.

– Risk: finger-imaging– Kink: caseworkers bypass process to

make it work– Clog: supervisor approval required to

transfer a case

Policy ChangesPolicy Changes• Simplified Reporting and 12 month Certs• Aligning Certs • Dropping Duplicative Verification• Break-in-Service Waiver• Same Day Service Models• Dropping Asset Tests, Raising Income Limits

• Assessment is Key!

Technology Can HelpTechnology Can Help• Document Imaging

• Call Centers

• Case Management Tools

• Verification Tools

• Lobby Tools – check-in, applications, etc.

• Web tools: applications, check my benefits

ConclusionConclusion• Low-income Californians need more from

SNAP.• Simplifying policies & procedures can be a

win-win approach.• Can improve efficiency awaiting

modernization– Can reduce administrative work for state; cost

savings– Reduce hassles for clients and improve access