SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
(Carson City, Nev.) – Nevada is ranked third in the country for the number of new people enrolling in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps. In March 2011, there were 329,105 people enrolled in SNAP which is a 21 percent increase over the same month a year ago. That’s on top of an already high enrollment growth of 47 percent in 2009, and an additional 27 percent increase in 2010.
Within the last year, Nevada has held the first and second ranked positions for caseload growth of SNAP applications. According to Administrator for the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services, Romaine Gilliland, holding the top spots, for this long, is unique. “It’s significant that Nevada has remained in the top rankings because it means we’ve had some of the highest and longest-lasting caseload growth,” Gilliland said. “We continue to have more and more people eligible, and enrolling for SNAP benefits.”
SNAP benefits are 100 percent federally funded and intended to provide food assistance to people with little to no money. Benefits are transferred electronically to SNAP participants using an EBT card system. The SNAP card can only be used to make food purchases.
The more people enrolled in the program, the more federal dollars come to the state. For the time period of March 2010 to March 2011, $462,839,511 of SNAP federal money was injected into our state’s economy. According to the USDA, every SNAP dollar spent in a community generates an additional $1.79 in economic activity. Using this calculation, the economic impact SNAP generated within the last year in Nevada has been over $800 million.
In addition to economic impact, the high volume has created opportunities to improve processes. The current application processing time can often take up to 30 days. Gilliland is hopeful that within the next two years the application process will be significantly reduced. “Someone could enroll in the program the same day they walk into our office, and have benefits transferred to their card within 48 hours,” Gilliland said. SNAP is currently piloting this system in a handful of offices using an electronic application system. “We hope to have this available at all of our offices in 2013,” Gilliland said. Ultimately, this process will be more efficient for staff as well, reduce the potential for human error, and reduce the cost associated with processing applications.
Gilliland is extremely proud of the work his staff has done to manage the significant demand. “Staff has been working under extraordinary and difficult conditions, and they take to heart the importance of the work they do to meet the needs of the community. They’re conscientious people who work diligently to process each application as quickly and timely as possible,” said Gilliland. “They know the work they’re doing helps put food on the tables for those in need.”
