Federal funding could be cut off
Texas will hire 250 workers to process food-stamp applications at the overwhelmed state public benefits agency, in the aftermath of a warning that federal funding could be cut off.
AUSTIN, TEXAS (AP) -- A state board on Friday approved the hiring of some — but not all — of the food stamp enrollment workers the Health and Human Services Commission had requested. The commission had requested about 650 workers.
Federal official William Ludwig has advised Texas that unless the state speeds up its application processing, its federal funds will be at risk.
Recently, advocates for low-income families filed a federal class-action lawsuit against the agency alleging more than a third of food-stamp applications languished beyond the one-month processing time required by law. Some families wait months for food stamps.
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