REPORT: MANY GO WITHOUT FOOD STAMPS

A report on hunger in Missouri claims a significant number of those eligible to receive food stamps aren't receiving them, although the state agency that distributes food stamps questions figures the report used.

The report from the Hunger Task Force of the Missouri Association for Social Welfare says Missouri serves 57 percent of those eligible for food stamps, somewhat below the national average of 61 percent. The report, "Food Stamps: Declining Access of Food-Insecure & Eligible People," says 80 Missouri counties serve less than the state average, including Cape Girardeau County, which served 54.07 percent of the eligible population based on income.

The report used census data on income, which is dated, said Denise Cross, director of the Missouri Department of Family Services, which administers the federal food stamps program in the state.

"Also, their projections on the number of people eligible for food stamps were based only on income," Cross said. "There are other factors that would affect eligibility."

Kevin Sexton, director of the East Missouri Action Agency, said he was surprised by the report.

His office assists low-income families in becoming more self-sufficient and administers several assistance programs for the poor. Clients fill out a lengthy intake form that asks for information on their income and the assistance they are getting.

"If we find people who are eligible but not receiving food stamps, we make a referral," Sexton said. "But it's not something we see much of."

Cross said DFS is striving to make sure all who are eligible for food stamps know about the program and that the program is accessible to those who need it.

Peter De Simone, director of the Missouri Association of Social Welfare and an author of the report, said it showed various reasons that the Food Stamp Program isn't reaching everyone who would be eligible for it. These include:

* Clients who have lost welfare cash benefits mistakenly assume they are no longer eligible for food stamps or Medicaid.

* Caseworkers burdened by high turnover and caseloads and constantly changing regulations are not always fully informing clients of services available.

* Outreach planning efforts in each county office are in different stages of maturity.

* Quarterly rectification, a USDA requirement that clients must be approved every three months, is onerous for clients and caseworkers and results in a net decrease in clients.

* The new Electronic Benefit Transfer program can be confusing, unreliable and not available in favorite local grocery stores. The report found eligible seniors are especially vulnerable to giving up food stamps because of unfamiliarity with EBT technology.

* U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the food stamps program nationally, emphasizes prevention of errors rather than getting food stamps to hungry people.

In responding to those reasons, Cross said DFS does what it can to inform people about the food stamps program, including leaving information and applications at food pantries and senior centers. She said DFS disseminates information and holds training sessions to keep caseworkers apprised of changes in regulations.

Cross said the quarterly recertification process is to ensure that clients are getting accurate benefits.

Cross said she was most surprised by the problems the report found in the Electronic Benefits Transfer.

"We thought the implementation of Electronic Benefits Transfers went very smoothly," she said.

De Simone said there are economic benefits to increasing participation in the food stamps program in Missouri.

"The food stamp program was set up to fight hunger but also, as evidenced by its falling under the Department of Agriculture, as a boon to farmers and grocers and the local economy," De Simone said.

He said the program pumps federal money into the local economy. While it is tax money, it's money that otherwise is going to go to other states if Missouri doesn't claim its share.

Cross said she is also interested in getting food stamps to those eligible for them, but she said the state is interested in the better nutrition food stamps can provide the poor.

Cross said she appreciates the idea behind the report to make sure those eligible get food stamps and feels DFS is working toward that end.

She said the report offers some ideas her department may be able to implement.

"We are always looking for ways to make the program more effective and efficient," she said.

De Simone said that was the reason for issuing the report.

"The fact that there is an anti-hunger program -- food stamps -- beyond the reach of hungry people because of bureaucratic obstacles should motivate citizens and enlighten state and federal officials to act," he said.