Thousands Of Alaskans Experience Severe Delays in Food Stamp Benefits
As stated by William Ford and Tabytha Gardener, the Christmas holiday season has been quieter and more subdued than before. A prime rib roast or turkey with all the trimmings, corn for the picky eaters, mashed potatoes, gravy, salad, rolls, pumpkin and pecan pie, a green bean casserole, and apple cider usually has in Anchorage couple’s Christmas dinner.
Macaroni, hot dogs and cheese are this year’s menu items by $497 in their bank account overdrawn. Because of the exceptional backlog of applications and a staffing deficiency at the Alaska Division of Public Assistance, the couple is one of the thousands of Alaskans whose food stamp benefits and assistance have been strictly delayed and postponed over the past four months.
According to a published post by Anchorage Daily News, the State officials feature the problem to the lacking of staff, a cyberattack that disrupted and disturbed online services for months, and an invasion of recertification applications they might get early this fall when Alaska’s pandemic-era Emergency Allotment Program terminated in September.
To follow the end of that federal program, an invasion of applications has been established by all states. The Daily News was informed and educated by Leigh Dickey which is an advocacy director with Alaska Legal Services that no state seems to be going through processing delays and postponements as significant as Alaska, where delays and postponements usually range from two to four months.
Food Stamp Benefits Delayed for Alaska Residents
Alaskans with lesser incomes receive and get no-cost legal assistance and benefits from the organization. Benefits and assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are more usually referred to as food stamps and would allow and assist beneficiaries to provide and offer for their families’ nutritional needs.
Meanwhile, a lot of people who get and receive food stamps and were interviewed and questioned for this story stated that when they tried to contact the state’s SNAP call center, they were put on hold for four to five hours at a time.
They communicated dissatisfaction with a nonappearance of straightforwardness about why their advantages and benefits were being delayed and postponed and when they could get and receive some assistance, and showed increasing pressure all over the place where their next meal will come from and what they’ll do close to receive and get enough.
As stated by the long-time SNAP recipients and beneficiaries this was the longest time they had ever been without assistance and support. The Alaskans can also call the state’s Virtual Contact Center at 800-478-7778, or visit their Local Division of Public Assistance offices which are open on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
