WASHINGTON- December 19 -

WHAT: Media Conference Call: Texas Plan for Food Stamps Applications by Telephone Would Result in Lost Benefits

WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 22, Noon (ET), 11 a.m. (CT)

Register on-line: http://www.cbpp.org/confcall.htm

WHO: Center staff:

-- Stacy Dean, director, Food Stamp Policy, Center on Budget & Policy Priorities

-- Celia Hagert, senior policy analyst, Center for Public Policy Priorities

-- Jan Pruitt, executive director, North Texas Food Bank

-- Eric Cooper, executive director, San Antonio Food Bank

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Texas-based Center for Public Policy Priorities will hold a conference call briefing on Thursday, Dec. 22 at Noon ET (11 a.m. CT) to discuss a decision by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission that will cause poor Texas families to lose federally funded food stamp benefits.

The decision relates to an aspect of Texas' plan to stop taking food stamp applications in person, and to take them by phone and mail instead. The plan takes effect next month in Austin and San Marcos and eventually will go statewide.

Under federal law, eligible households receive food stamp benefits starting from the date an application is submitted that includes at least a name, date and signature. Once an application is approved, a household receives benefits retroactive to the date of application.

In reviewing the Texas plan, the U.S. Department of Agriculture found a significant problem. Because applications need a signature, benefits would not start when a person applied by phone; benefits would start only after a person called, the state mailed an application, the person mailed back the application, and the application was received. The result would be a loss of benefits for the period between the phone request and the return of a signed application, potentially a matter of several weeks.

USDA has told the state it would grant a waiver allowing benefits to start from the initial phone call; all Texas has to do is to submit a routine request, which USDA showed the state how to do simply and quickly. But despite the fact that food stamp benefits are fully federally funded, the state has declined to request the waiver, which will cause Texas families to lose food stamp benefits.

After opening remarks, the panelists will take questions.

To participate, register by e-mailing spillane@cbpp.org, or calling the media team at 202-408-1080.

Register on-line at http://www.cbpp.org/confcall.htm.

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