'We have asked for help and they ignored us': Sources inside and outside the state Division of Public Assistance blame the food stamp backlog on chronic understaffing and say deep workforce cuts in 2021 sent the division into chaos.
State workers say they have been harassed and even threatened with violence, making them feel unsafe at work.
According to union numbers, the division’s workforce has shrunk by more than 60 employees since the beginning of 2021. “They’re desperate,” the eligibility worker said. “They’re crying on the phone because their children are starving. This is the worst I’ve ever seen it.”It’s not just food stamps that are affected by short-staffing. Medicaid recipients are having a hard time getting approved as well.
“We don’t get a response for 60, 90 days,” Young said. “These are people that can’t come home from the hospital.” Alaska State Employees Association Local 52 is the union that represents 348 Division of Public Assistance workers.
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