Thursday, March 28, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Tuesday, March 1, 2022
HGEA Members Finally Returning to Work at DHS Processing Centers
By News Release @ 4:09 AM :: 1636 Views :: Hawaii State Government, COVID-19

SNAP/FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROCESSING CENTERS AND FIRST-TO-WORK OFFICES AT A NUMBER OF STATEWIDE LOCATIONS RESTART IN-PERSON SERVICES

News Release from DHS, Feb 28, 2022 (With clairifying information in parenthesis.)

HONOLULU – Over the past two years, the Department of Human Services (DHS) took proactive and aggressive actions to provide vital services to support the needs of the community amid the pandemic.

(We paid HGEA members to pretend to work at home for two years.)

These unprecedented times have resulted in record numbers of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Financial Assistance applications (many from Nigerian Princes) and renewals. The average monthly number of SNAP recipients pre-COVID-19 was 155,000. At the height of the application surge there were 50,000 more SNAP beneficiaries. This spike took place in July 2021 when the number rose to more than 206,000 recipients.

(It's easy when you don't check for fraud.)

This week, the Benefit Employment and Support Services Division (BESSD) of DHS restarted in-person services at a number of locations to meet the needs of the community. This in-person option will greatly benefit those who may have difficulty navigating online options and call centers.

(After two years HGEA members are finally agreeing to show up for work.)

The in-person services are available Monday through Friday (except holidays), 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

(Part time work--full time pay.)

For a list of the participating Processing Centers (SNAP/Financial Assistance) and First-To-Work Units (Work Participation for TANF recipients) that will be providing in-person services click here.

Note that 37 of the 43 statewide locations have resumed providing in-person services.

To meet the needs of the community, BESSD increased assistance by creating an online application platform, and also expanded telephonic capabilities with the Statewide Branch Support Desk call center. BESSD continues to encourage the use of online applications for individuals and families who have internet access.

The health, safety and well-being of DHS employees and those we serve are of the utmost importance. Part of the in-person procedures include necessary COVID-19 health screenings to comply with the CDC and DOH safety protocols and guidelines.

About the Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services took proactive and aggressive actions to provide vital services to support the needs of the community amid the pandemic. These services and benefits include food/financial assistance, child care support, health insurance access through Medicaid, social services for children and adults, vocational rehabilitation, public housing, services for those experiencing houselessness, youth services, as well as administrative services and commissions.

New SNAP Applications/Renewals

In January 2022, DHS received more than 8,400 SNAP applications and mailed more than 10,000 renewals and periodic forms. Prior to COVID-19, on average, DHS would receive approximately 5,000 new SNAP applications per month.

SNAP Emergency Allotments in Hawaii

Starting in March 2020, the federal government approved Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Emergency Allotments to provide recipients additional food support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the month of January 2022, SNAP Emergency Allotments have helped 92,035 households (171,632 individuals). The total benefits issued in January 2022 were $18,124,154.

From March 2020 through January 2022, more than $374,000,000 SNAP Emergency Allotment benefits were issued to individuals and families.

---30---

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

808 Silent Majority

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federalist Society

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Homeschool Association

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Smokers Alliance

Hawaii State Data Lab

Hawaii Together

HIEC.Coop

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Moms for Liberty

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

Investigative Project on Terrorism

July 4 in Hawaii

Kakaako Cares

Keep Hawaii's Heroes

Land and Power in Hawaii

Legislative Committee Analysis Tool

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

Malama Pregnancy Center of Maui

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Military Home Educators' Network Oahu

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Christian Foundation Hawaii

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

No GMO Means No Aloha

Not Dead Yet, Hawaii

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Oahu Alternative Transport

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

OurFutureHawaii.com

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

PEACE Hawaii

People vs Machine

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

P.U.E.O.

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

ReRoute the Rail

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

Robotics Organizing Committee

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Sink the Jones Act

Statehood for Guam

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

UCC Truths

US Tax Foundation Hawaii Info

VAREP Honolulu

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii

Yes2TMT