Governor Eliot Spitzer today announced the launch of the Working Families Food Stamp Initiative, an effort to dramatically expand and simplify Food Stamp eligibility statewide to help more families achieve economic security. By improving the efficiency of the program and streamlining enrollment, the State will provide needed assistance to families across New York who are struggling to get by.

As of January 1, New York State has waived limits on the amount of savings an income-eligible person can have and still receive stamp benefits. This will allow individuals to save money for important family needs without jeopardizing their food stamp benefits. Additionally, eligible applicants outside of New York City, who are working a required number of hours, will no longer be subject to finger imaging requirements. The program will be implemented by the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA).

?There are still a significant number of eligible working families, who are in need of support, yet not accessing the program,? said Governor Spitzer. ?If we can help hard-working, low-income households achieve a greater degree of economic stability by providing nutritional support and encouraging savings, we will help develop a workforce that is more dependable, stable and ready to meet the demands of the new Innovation Economy.?

OTDA Commissioner David A. Hansell said: ?The success of welfare reform has been well documented but if we want that change to be sustainable and serve as a stepping stone to permanent economic independence, we must recognize that families making the transition from welfare-to-work need other options. This initiative will help countless New York families achieve economic security while providing the added benefit of bringing additional federal Food Stamp dollars to communities that will greatly benefit from the economic boost.?

A streamlined application process for low-income working families is being piloted in ten counties and New York City. Eligible working applicants will no longer have to visit a social services office to apply for food stamps. This waiver of the face-to-face application for eligible working families will be extended to the entire state later this year.

Under the pilot initiative, which is being implemented in Erie, Jefferson, Onondaga, Madison, Cayuga, St. Lawrence, Washington, Greene, Suffolk and Nassau Counties, and being phased in over the coming months in New York City, families with an adult working 30 hours per week, or households with two adults who each work at least 20 hours per week, will be offered a simplified and streamlined application process. Eligible applicants will no longer be forced to take time off from work to report for a face-to-face interview at social services offices. In addition, those eligible under the program in counties outside of New York City will not be subject to finger imaging.

The moves are the first phases of the Working Families Food Stamp Initiative (WFFSI), announced by Governor Spitzer last year in an effort to boost enrollment among families who are working and eligible for the benefit, but unaware of their eligibility or choose not to apply. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees the federal Food Stamp Program, approved New York?s specific simplification waivers in order to operate the WFFSI beginning this year.

Beginning in May, a facilitated online food stamp application pilot project will also be launched, to provide working families with the option of applying for food stamps on the Web with the help of community-based organizations, further easing access. Over time, this facilitated electronic application will become a broad web-based application, allowing working families to apply from multiple sites.

Lucy Cabrera, President of the Food Bank for New York City said: ?Research shows that working families who are eligible for food stamps have one of the lowest participation rates in the program. This finding is not surprising as low-income working individuals typically cannot be absent from their jobs for the length of time required to complete the food stamp application process. All too often these families who are struggling to afford basic food turn instead to soup kitchens and food pantries for help, but these emergency food programs are only designed to provide temporary relief. The Governor’s new Working Families Food Stamp Initiative is an ideal response to this problem as it will help to put much needed food on the table for working parents and their children.?

By the end of the year, the State aims to enroll 100,000 additional households, or more than 200,000 people. Nationally, 30 percent of all households participating in the Food Stamp Program have earnings. In New York State, however, the proportion of such families is 21.6 percent. Studies have attributed this lag to the need for working families to navigate a complex application process in New York and to appear in person to apply. The Governor set out to address these issues, making it clear food stamps should be a vital work support for low-wage families, and that application procedures should not conflict with employment.

Participation in the Food Stamp Program in New York has been increasing since 2002 but has leveled off at just over 1.8 million individuals since 2005.