In another blow to an agency that has been the object of considerable scrutiny for the way it runs its programs, a U.S. District Court judge granted a preliminary injunction against the Department of Social Services (DSS) for its "ongoing, persistent systemic failure" to process Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, a/k/a Food Stamps) applications in a timely manner. SNAP is a federal program that DSS administers.
By law, DSS has 30 days to grant most requests for SNAP, but it must process applications sooner in an emergency. While the judge acknowledged that the department has faced a burgeoning caseload since the recent economic downturn began (over 210,000 households were receiving benefits in November), DSS reduced its staffing by 19% between 2002 and 2009, and by another 8% in September and October 2011.
The judge cited figures in the complaint, including that (1) in November 2011, 40% of SNAP applications were pending and (2) between January 2010 and February 2012, at least 20% of applications were acted upon a month late.
The next step is a hearing to determine the appropriate injunctive relief and to define who will be included in the plaintiff class, according to Greater Hartford Legal Aid's litigation director.
