Release No. 0255.07
Contact: Jean Daniel (703) 305-2286
Printable version
USDA Awards $18 Million To States For Exceptional
Customer
Service in Food Stamp Program
WASHINGTON, September 20, 2007 – Acting Agriculture
Secretary Chuck Conner today announced that a total of $18 million will be
awarded to States that provided exceptional administration of the Food Stamp
Program in FY 2006.
"As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Food Stamp Act, we recognize the
meaningful work and significant efforts of our state and community partners to
improve the nutritional health and wellbeing of children, the elderly and their
families," said Conner. "I commend these States for their outstanding efforts to
alleviate hunger for our most vulnerable citizens."
As authorized by the 2002 Farm Bill, USDA awards $12 million in high
performance bonuses among the eight States that have excelled in the area of
program access. These States have the best, or most improved, program access
index. The index is the percentage of households below 125 percent of poverty
that are participating in the program. The following States will receive awards
for best program access index: Maine, Missouri, Tennessee, and Oregon. The
following States will receive awards for most improved program access index:
Massachusetts, Mississippi, Vermont, and Maryland.
In addition, USDA awards $6 million among the six States that processed Food
Stamp applications in the timeliest manner. Processing applications in a timely
manner also improves access and customer service, both of which are USDA
priorities for clients receiving nutrition assistance. The following States will
receive awards under this category: Massachusetts, Kentucky, South Dakota, West
Virginia, North Carolina, and New Hampshire.
USDA's 2007 Farm Bill proposals support State efforts to improve access and
participation by those eligible for this critical nutrition program, including
proposals to exclude IRS approved college education savings plans, retirement
savings accounts and military combat pay when determining eligibility for Food
Stamp Program benefits. USDA also proposes to eliminate the cap on dependent
childcare expenses.
USDA's 15 nutrition assistance programs work together to form a national
nutrition safety net that helps to meet the needs of children and low-income
people in a variety of settings. For example, among food stamp households with
school-age children, 88 percent received a free or reduced-price lunch and 68
percent received a free or reduced-price breakfast. Among those with children
under age 5, 64 percent participated in WIC.
The 14 states below will receive high performance bonus awards:
BEST PROGRAM ACCESS INDEX
State |
Bonus Amount |
Maine |
$683,692 |
Missouri |
$2,254,344 |
Tennessee |
$2,870,339 |
Oregon |
$1,695,473 |
MOST IMPROVED PROGRAM ACCESS INDEX
State |
Bonus Amount |
Massachusetts |
$1,726,484 |
Mississippi |
$1,396,703 |
Vermont |
$268,193 |
Maryland |
$1,104,772 |
Total |
$12,000,000 |
BEST APPLICATION PROCESSING TIMELINESS RATE
State |
Bonus Amount |
Massachusetts |
$1,290,453 |
Kentucky |
$1,449,389 |
South Dakota |
$224,571 |
West Virginia |
$719,588 |
North Carolina |
$2,072,590 |
New Hampshire |
$243,409 |
Total |
$6,000,000 |
In June 2007, the Food Stamp Program awarded $30
million to States for exceptional program administration. Awardees included
South Dakota, Missouri, Washington, Mississippi, North Carolina, Hawaii, the
Virgin Islands, Rhode Island, Idaho, New York, Vermont, Nebraska, Pennsylvania,
South Dakota, and Minnesota. For more information on USDA's nutrition assistance
programs, visit our website at
www.fns.usda.gov.
Last modified:
03/27/2008
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