HB 198

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has had months long delay in processing and dispersing food stamps to thousands of Alaskans triggering warnings from the federal government. To date Alaska is the only state to have been issued such a warning. Over 92,000 Alaskans rely on SNAP to keep food on the table. Both new and repeat applicants have been seeing significant delays and in some cases no response to their applications. To address the backlog, this HB 198 aims to reduce the number of applications that will need to be processed to decrease the administrative burden and expedite certifications by extending the length an individual is eligible to receive benefits to the longest period allowed by the Federal government. 

Alaska has a 6-month certification period for SNAP, one the shortest certification periods in the nation. This greatly increases the amount of administrative burden because there are many repeat applicants. Hb 198 would extend how long an eligible household would be eligible for receiving benefits before needing to re-apply. An immediate effect would be to decrease the number of repeat applications that need processed, allowing the department to focus on new applications.