Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Nevada told to speed up processing of applications for food stamps

Updated Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014 | 9:27 a.m.

CARSON CITY — The federal government says Nevada has been too slow in processing applications for food stamps, creating hardships for thousands of families.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture sent a letter to the state saying that federal funds may be withheld unless improvements are made.

It was not immediately disclosed how much federal funding could be lost.

Mike Willden, chief of staff for Gov. Brian Sandoval, said the state has a corrective plan ready to submit and he believes there will not be any penalty.

With the recession, the number of people applying for food stamps in the last three years increased from less than 200,000 to more than 400,000.

Applications are supposed to be processed within 30 days.

In fiscal 2012, Nevada processed 81.9 percent of applications within the 30-day window. The state must submit a plan to increase that rate to 95 percent by September 2015.

Willden said the state has been working with the federal government for several months to correct the problem.

“I believe we will easily come into compliance,” he said.

The state processes $45 million to $50 million a month in food stamp grants that go into the economy.

The warning from the federal government was enough to get the attention of Rep. Steven Horsford, a Democrat representing North Las Vegas and northwestern rural counties.

He sent a statement Wednesday calling the situation "deeply troubling."

"I urge the department to act as quickly as possible to fix these unacceptable delays," he said.

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