Department of Health and Human Services is requesting an an additional $4 million to cover the cost of the food stamp backlog. Cost include overtime and pay for temporary workers, which Guilford County employed as it pushed to clear out its who knows how many backlogged food stamp cases.
As for DHHS Secretary Dr. Aldona Wos taking heat from “several Democratic legislators for initially placing the blame for the backlog on county health officials,” that appears not to be the case here in Guilford County, at least based on the Rhino’s excellent reporting which said Wos was blindsided by Guilford’s backlog along with everyone else.
Surprise —NCFAST is a government program that’s running over budget and not keeping up with demand. What I kept noticing in the Journal’s write-up was demand for food stamps has increased since 2008 –the year of Hope and Change.
What’s the answer? There are two, as stated by Rep. Verla Insko, D-Orange:
“Until DHHS and County DSS hire and train more staff – or the economy recovers and people don’t need food stamps or Medicaid – we will have periods of backlog. The state and some counties are trying to get along with a reduced workforce for the work they have to do.”
I’m personally hoping for choice ‘b.’ Either the president doesn’t want that or he’s totally incapable of making it reality. Again, I choose ‘b.’
