Missouri’s Food Assistance Program Under Scrutiny for Continued Failures
One year after a federal ruling that Missouri’s Department of Social Services was illegally denying food aid, U.S. District Court Judge M. Douglas Harpool has issued a stern rebuke, stating the state has made “no progress” in rectifying the situation. The judge highlighted unacceptable call wait times and escalating denials for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), criticizing the system’s continued inadequacies.
In his order, Judge Harpool detailed that an alarming 56% of SNAP applications were denied in March 2023 due to failure to complete mandatory interviews, a situation exacerbated by excessive wait times — over one hour for the general line and 49 minutes for SNAP-specific inquiries. Automatic disconnections have plagued the call center, with over 50,000 calls cut off in March alone, exacerbating hardships for low-income Missourians.
The judge emphasized that Missourians living in poverty have had to go hungry due to these bureaucratic failures, undermining their access to essential food assistance. The ongoing deficiencies have drawn legal challenges from advocacy groups, including the National Center for Law and Economic Justice, which argue that the state’s “dysfunctional” call center deprives eligible individuals of much-needed benefits.
Despite a previous court ruling outlining necessary steps for compliance, Missouri has failed to implement any significant changes, leaving many still struggling for assistance. The court has now mandated specific benchmarks for improvement, including reducing wait times and ensuring a maximum of 20% application denials due to interview failures. The state must show substantial progress within six months, or face more stringent remedial measures.
As calls for action grow, the clock is ticking for the Missouri Department of Social Services to address these critical issues affecting thousands of residents.
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