Food SNAP Coalition: "Fork Ready Stimulus" Proposal to Governor Patrick FY2010 Budget

Attached is a letter to Governor Patrick, EOHHS Secretary Bigby and the Governor's Director of Infrastructure Investment, Jeffrey Simon. Yesterdays' Boston Globe highlighted the crisis faced by DTA in processing an overwhelming increase in Food Stamp applications.  The CORE recommendations - which we'll coin a "Fork-Ready Economic Stimulus" include:1) Ensure the $3M in federal grants for food stamps are directed to DTA ASAP to hire additional staff and implement the document imaging pilot statewide.2) Allocate at least $10M of state funds (50% will be federally reimbursed) to hire 160 or more front line FS worker.3) Explore federal waivers to extend certification periods, waive interviews for recertifications that do not contain questionable information4) Pursue interagency document/eligibility data sharing with MassHealth, the Division of Unemployment Assistance, Department of Early Education and Care for new FS applicants - e.g. rely on the documents and eligibility factors verified by those agencies.