California still second to last in food stamp participation, federal officials report

Just half the eligible Californians were receiving food stamps in 2008, a slight improvement over previous years but well below the national average of 66%, according to federal estimates released Wednesday.

California officials dispute the way the figures are calculated and say they are outdated.

DOCUMENT: Read the full rankings

“The information is based on 2008 data which is three years old, and it doesn’t reflect the impact of some of the recent program changes that were made to increase the access of needy eligible families and adults,” said Maricela Rodriguez, spokeswoman for the California Department of Social Services.

More than 3.5 million Californians received the nutrition benefit in October, the most recent month for which state figures are available. That is nearly 46% more than in October 2008. But the number of people who qualify for the benefit has also increased and it is unclear whether enrollment has kept pace with that growth.

Advocates for low-income families said the state and counties have taken steps in the right direction but more needs to be done.

“There has been some progress in increasing the program’s visibility, but not nearly enough progress at simplifying the application” process, said Matthew Sharp, a senior advocate at California Food Policy Advocates.

California’s participation rate was up two percentage points from 2007, according to the report prepared by Mathematica Policy Research for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Researchers used U.S. Census surveys to estimate how many residents were eligible. Only Wyoming had a lower rate, 46%. The highest rates were recorded in Maine (94%), Oregon (92%) and West Virginia (91%).

California officials would like researchers to consider its recipients of federal Supplemental Security Income for elderly and disabled people as food stamp beneficiaries, which they say would improve the state's participation rate. California decided in 1974 to increase its matching grant -- known as the State Supplementary Payment -- by $10 a month in place of administering food stamps for them.

The report’s authors said they adjusted their estimates to reflect that the 1.2 million Supplemental Security Income recipients in California were not eligible to receive food stamps.

U.S. Department of Agriculture officials have pressed California for years to simplify the program's administrative requirements. The federal government pays for the benefit and for half the costs of administering the program, with the rest shared between the state and counties.

California is the only state that requires most recipients to report their income every three months.  Most states have reduced reporting requirements to twice a year, which federal officials say has cut the workload and helped needy families avoid losing benefits because of clerical errors, or because they fail to complete a form.

California is also one of a handful of states that require food stamp applicants to be fingerprinted,  which critics say drives away some potential applicants.

A bill introduced by Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes (D-Sylmar) would eliminate the fingerprinting requirement and reduce  reporting to twice a year. Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed similar bills, citing fraud concerns and the cost of switching systems. His successor, Jerry Brown, has not said whether he would sign such changes into law.

Schwarzenegger's administration implemented a number of other options offered by the federal government to improve participation, including allowing county welfare officers to interview applicants by phone and modifying the eligibility rules so low-income families do not have to use up their savings to receive the benefit. The program was recently rebranded as CalFresh, to reduce the stigma associated with food stamps.

In Los Angeles County, residents can get help with their applications at food pantries, hospitals, churches and a new mobile office van. Soon, they will also be able to apply online.

“The process is much easier now than in 2008,” said Philip L. Browning, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services. “I’m confident the numbers will improve.”

-- Alexandra Zavis

Map: Rates of participation by state. Source: Mathematica Policy Research, for the Food and Nutrition Service

Comments

[good!]

This is good news! I can't believe this state.

[lexxie]

Words fail just how ridiculous this article is. Do we REALLY want MORE people begging with their hands out, after our tax dollars? REALLY!

[Windfall]

In a sane world, the objective would be to get people off food stamps, not on.

[Windfall]

If you're over 21 years of age, not really sick or really old and can't feed yourself in the greatest economy in the world, the problem is not with "the system". The problem is with you.

Do you have any idea how many millions of people survive on a dollar or two per day - which they earn - without any assistance or safety net whatsoever and are nevertheless not convinced that the world owes them a living?

I would love to see unproductive Americans be required to give up their ticket to the dance and let someone from Africa or Asia or Eastern Europe or Latin America take their place with the duels provisos that the legal immigrants could never take a dime in government assistance of any kind and the expatriate Americans could only come back if they accumulated assets in excess of a million dollars and also agreed never to take a dime in government assistance of any kind.

[Mateo Angeleno]

What demographic characteristic do WA, OR, WV, VT and ME all share?

Are CA and TX on the opposite end of this characteristic?

[rosalina wadlow]

I was on the food stamp program from 11/2009 to 11/2010. The system has improved greatly because of the EBT cards. They are used like bank cards. You can check your balance by phone. And, whenever you purchase food @ the grocery stores. The balance appears @ the end of the receipt. One thing I became aware of was this, it was a good way for Uncle to keep an eye on my purchases. Rightfully so..after all, it's the tax payers money. I was going through a rough time last year, but, thank God, my situation has improved. Without that assistant, I would NOT have been able to feed my children. Therefore, I would agree to have that three month period extended to six months. I had two misplaced forms..despite my proof of receipt. Six months is sufficient. And, I wouldn't do away with the finger prints. It does deter the greedy from the needy! The program was designed to assist people like myself. So, I say, because of my recent experience with the food stamps program: I would extend the paperwork to six months instead of three months. And, I would continue to have EVERY applicants finger printed. It DOES deter the greedy from the needy!

[Bob Vance]

Fingerprinting drives away participants? So there are fewer slobs on the public dole? Good.

[ceoco]

Thats really something to brag about! What else can our
broke state brag about!

[ted w]

Unbelievable, with all the problems the governments have in funding programs - they want to loosen the requirements? Why have the crooks been complaining that it is getting too difficult to cheat the system? Let's make it like the voting system where there are no controls - anyone can register and vote - don't need to be a citizen - just register by mail - no one will ever check! Require reporting income - why thats inconvenient and just because you are giving me money - I shouldn't have to prove I deserve it. Besides, cheating the system is a good secondary source of income for a lot of government workers - you know the 'public servants' who make more then we the 'masters'!

Then when someone prints a story about all the fraud - all the government pandering crooked politicians can call for investigations and say how more control is needed etc but nothing will really change. Yet all these politicians are screaming about how businesses don't care about the people and don't have controls etc......

But it is the people who keep these crooks in office and allow these give aways - so we have to live with it until they smarten up and vote for honest people!

[Theodore Smith III]

Perhaps there should be an office at the border entries to insure full participation. Some people, who may qualify, may feel determined to work their way out of the situation, dig?

[Sarah]

Is this for real? More people should be collecting welfare? Whats wrong with people.

[JC Landis]

Why is it a bad thing that Californians are relying on themselves instead of mooching off the state? I think it's shameful that other states have such a high number of food stamp recipients.

[moethebartender]

I choose not to believe this story, cause I prefer to believe illegals are coming over here just to get food stamps and have babies on welfare. I'm entitled not only to my own opinions, but my own facts. I hereby ask The Times to publish only stories that confirm my own prejudices.

[bob schultz]

I think we should add fingerprinting to receive tax cuts greater than $10,000. Also reporting your income every 3 months.

[California Solar Engineering]

AND now that people can use food stamps at fast food the importance of this statistic will decline. How about a first step being applying food stamps to prepared food at a grocery store or farmers market- not In and Out or Jack in the Box!

[purpllv]

To Rasalina, I'm happy that you wrote about this and your experience. I too recieved food stamps. My wish is for those who have never had to deal or need any kind of assistance, I only hope you try to understand and put yourself in another persons shoes. Try thinking outside your box and seeing this situation from another view. Yes we can all agree that there are people out there defrauding the system, but there are good people who really need help and assistance. If you really feel strongly about government assistance take a good long look at the whole processs. It's not easy or simple to get.
By the way I have been off assistance for over 10 yrs,and I have a fulltime job. I am an exception to a county welfare reciepient. Most want to do better but are limited in what they can do or how they can do it. I believe if we are going to help people get on their feet, then help them all the way. I'd rather see a person get fully trained in a skill and provide for themselves, instead of always needing help.

[Daniel]

Are we supposed to be encouraging more people to go on the dole? That is sort of what I got out of the way this article was presented and it's tone. If people who are struggling are making it by without the assistance of the government, I say hats off to them. goes to show that we are the best ones to solve our own problems, not the government/big brother.

[KansasGirl]

Well, California needs to do better than that! These poor, poor people can't catch a break. /sarc

[Wick]

If you've worked hard your whole life and you've always paid into the tax system honestly, and you happen to find yourself down on your luck. Then I really see no problem at all with using the system for a few months until you can find work and get back on your feet, that is the very reason you pay taxes for the system. I do understand others anger towards those who abuse the system, who rarely work or pay into the system. But bad mouthing everyone that uses food stamps is ridiculous, and frankly uncalled for... I wouldn't put that kind of crap out in the universe, it could come back to bite you in the future and you could find yourself needing a little compassion.

[Steve]

What gets me is FAT people on food stamps. Reduce the amount they get and they wont be fat anymore.

[Herby Verstynks]

Well there goes the righties arguements. The state with the largest concentration of "Illegals" is second to last in food stamp recipients.

[whatisgoingon]

You mean the fact that L.A. county pays out $1.6 billion a year to illegal immigrants doesn't put us in the top 10? and now we are going to make it even easier to apply..brilliant.

[Mitchell Young]

"What demographic characteristic do WA, OR, WV, VT and ME all share?

Are CA and TX on the opposite end of this characteristic?"

Presumably you are implying that white folks use foodstamps and Latinos don't. Well, there are

First, there is the overall poverty issue. These are percentages of those eligible who participate, not the rate of those eligible. So it would seem to me that it means the bureaucracies of these states are more efficient at doing their jobs -- whether they should be doing that job is another story.

Second, because California is so heavily immigrant, and immigrants (even legal) are barred from certain forms of aid, it is likely that the California pool of eligible understates the poverty here. Of course, those poor immigrant families still get all sorts of food assistance from private sources as well as the 'free' school breakfasts and lunches provided by taxpayers.

Finally, here is a county by county map of the last study of this sort -- it shows intensive food stamp usage in the heavily Latino Rio Grande valley of Texas , in fact Hidalgo County TX tied with the Bronx, NY (also heavily Hispanic) as the food stamp 'capitals' of the US.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/11/28/us/20091128-foodstamps.html

[Oh brother]

I needed assistance once for me and my two kids. No credit, no job, recently divorced (had minimal child & spousal support) all i wanted was medical help. They offered me $50 worth of food stamps, no medical and would review my case. Most of the people in waiting for welfare didn't speak english and all the cars in the parking lot were new minivans. I drove a beat up 20yr old truck. Then I went to the market and a lady in front of me at check out couldn't speak any english, bought $100 worth of food with the gov't money, got into a nice looking van conversion. so, i was curious, i followed her home and it was a two-story house in a nice neighborhood. I am American and couldnt get help. Talk about being disgusted with the system! I'm on my feet now, but it still disgusts me to think about it.

[vc]

How is it that people cannot understand that food insecurity is EVERYONES problem. Children who cannot receive enough nutrients cannot fully function and are limited in their overall development. This limits the amount of productive adults for the future of this nation. It is insensative to comment when you do not understand the other persons point of view. Try being empathetic and realize that some are less fortunate than others. Besides, if you look into the Foodstamp program and the history behind it, you will find that it was created as a way for farmers and companies to get rid of their surpluses.