USDA Will Work with SC on Food Stamp Delay

Benita Harmon spends her days looking for jobs online, hoping to earn money to put food on her table. Since she lost her job at the end of last year she's had to rely on food stamps. But on July 1st she didn't get her benefits and she doesn't know why.

"It's really scary," Harmon said. "We've been under a lot of stress. What are we going to eat how are we going to get food?"

Harmon says went to the Department of Social Services office in Greenville for answers.

"Stood in line for over an hour," said Harmon. "(A representative) takes my social and says 'We're running behind a month and a half to two months'. I said, 'What do you mean you're running behind a month and a half to two months. What are we supposed to do?' (The representative said), 'I don't know call your caseworker'."

We went to DSS to try to find out why there's such a holdup for Harmon and so many others, but we were turned away and told to contact the agency spokesperson. Before we left we asked Program Director Bonita Cook what we should tell people calling our newsroom for help. Cook said, "This is a problem due to the recession we have a lot of new applications."

So we went all the way to the top and spoke with the USDA by phone. They are the federal agency that oversees the food stamp program, or SNAP as it is called now. They told us they would be working and talking with South Carolina to address the problem.

"We were not aware until you shared it with us that there was some delay in getting people benefits this month," said USDA Food and Nutrition Service spokesperson Jean Daniel.

In the meantime, we received good news for Harmon. DSS spokesperson Marilyn Matheus issued a statement and said, "In looking into Ms. Harmon's case we learned that she had provided the necessary documents in a timely way but her benefits were not processed. We apologize for the delay. It does not meet our standards." Matheus added, "The agency is adding temporary workers to meet the rising demand for food benefits, and supervisors are carrying caseloads."

A sigh of relief for Harmon as she worries how she'll get her next meal.

So just how many people are receiving food stamp benefits?
-In South Carolina more than 100,000 families depend on SNAP each month.
-SC is ranked 34th in the country for the number of people getting assistance.
-Nationwide, the USDA says SNAP helps put food on the table for some 31 million people per month.
-Only 66% of people eligible to receive food stamps actually apply.

For more information about how you can receive benefits call the USDA at 800-221-5689 or click here.
If you or a friend are in need of food assistance you can contact Harvest Hope Food Bank in Greenville at 864-281-3995.