Georgians facing weeks without food if backlog in SNAP applications continues

ATLANTA — A pattern of delays at the Georgia Department of Human Residents is causing concern for residents.

“It’s concerning to me, that something like this may happen again,” said Patricia Gavel.

Georgians who rely on SNAP benefits reached out to Channel 2 investigative reporter Ashli Lincoln for help after waiting weeks for state issued funds for food and groceries.

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“I could not get my case manager, and I could not get the supervisor,” said Gavel.

Griffin resident Patricia Gavel says for weeks she constantly checked her state SNAP benefits account, after she realized she hasn’t received her food stamps for the month of May.

“When I did not receive food stamps, I was having to go towards more rice and beans, which I’m not supposed to have because I’m diabetic,” she said.

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Channel 2 Action News first reported on delays last November after those awaiting approvals and renewals were not able to get groceries in time for Thanksgiving.

The Georgia Department of Human Services says reoccurring issues are to blame for this lag. The state says increased applications and dealing with a worker shortage has resulted in application approval and renewals delays.

The state sent the federal government’s U.S. Department of Agriculture Food & Nutrition Service a request in March requesting for seven waivers that would allow the state to process cases faster through new technology.

The state says only three waivers have been approved, leaving four still pending. They say waiting for this approval has left a drastic impact on processing time.

“Those have been pending for about a year, and we continue to explore ways to secure more flexibility from our federal regulators to process cases more quickly and efficiently. We appreciate our customers’ patience as we work through their cases,” the State said in a statement.

Click here to contact the state regarding your SNAP benefits.

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Many Georgia families say delay in SNAP benefits forcing them to change Thanksgiving plans

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