Low expectations of Washington’s human services department, which administers SNAP, have also led to disapproval. For example, the USDA puts the error rate in processing SNAP benefits at 6 percent. USDA data shows that in 20 percent of cases, Washington overpaid or underpaid SNAP recipients. Confronted with the findings at a Washington City Council hearing on Tuesday, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Wayne Turnage said, “This means that 80 percent of SNAP recipients are overpaid.” [cases] “It’s not a mistake, so there’s nothing seriously flawed in the system.” In high-performing jurisdictions, this logic sounds like it might warrant dismissal.
During the pandemic, the Department of Human Services undoubtedly saw a surge in demand for food assistance benefits: a 40% increase, Department Director Laura Zeilinger said at the same hearing. She also acknowledged that Washington, DC, has the slowest processing rate for SNAP benefits in the country as of 2022. Think about that for a moment: The pandemic didn’t just hit DC. States were hit hard, too, and most of them responded to demand in a timely or at least acceptable manner. Why is DC among the worst in the country?
“We know we’re not where we’d like to be yet,” Zeilinger said matter-of-factly. “We’ve prioritized speed first and foremost. We understand the importance of people needing benefits as quickly as possible.” Fancy words? Exactly. Results? Not much, really.
Turnage went a step further, saying he thinks the city is doing a “pretty good job” of helping those in need, given the number of people it serves, including SNAP recipients, people in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and about 300,000 people on Medicaid. “That’s half the city,” he emphasized.
The hearing offered little insight into exactly how Turnage and Zeilinger plan to solve the problem, which has seen the city post unacceptable error rates for two years in a row. Turnage testified that administrators are focused on identifying whether common errors are computer system or staff issues. “Obviously, right? If program leaders don’t know right now…
“That would put us well on our way to solving the problem,” Mr. Turnage added, noting that a solution might require either improved technology or better training for caseworkers.
Assemblyman Robert C. White Jr. (D-At-Large), who co-hosted Tuesday’s hearing with Assemblyman Christina Henderson (I-N.), both of whom are seeking reelection, called on Mayor Muriel E. Bowser’s personnel team to produce a document by the end of the month outlining the causes of SNAP’s errors, including the data and metrics officials are using to identify and fix the problems. “I don’t want them to get away with this,” the Assemblyman told The Washington Post.
So what have they been doing for the past two years? A federal fine of $4.4 million. Will the City Council hold city leaders accountable, or will they allow them to bluff, yell and indecisively leave families without food?
