The last four years have been tough for many Maryland individuals and families. A record number of households in need have turned to DHR for help with medical assistance, putting food on the table or paying the heating bill. Yet despite the increased workload this caused, our dedicated Family Investment Administration team continued to provide excellent customer service and care to those who sought our help.
Last year, more than 12,000 TANF recipients started a new job, a 16.6% increase from the previous state fiscal year. Of these, 25% were placed in jobs that pay $10/hour or more, also a state record. Some clients are taking jobs in key industries including health care, automotive repair and information technology. To build on this success, this year we are implementing PASS – Partnerships for Achieving Self Sufficiency. PASS is a new framework for helping low-income TCA applicants and recipients overcome barriers, gain employment and achieve economic independence. By developing employment strategies that explicitly take into account the diversity of the individuals on the TANF caseload, we will be able to provide better services and achieve better employment outcomes for all of our recipients.
As the agency that determines eligibility for Medical Assistance, Food Stamps and Cash Assistance, we have seen some dramatic growth in the amount of people we serve. Both food stamps and cash assistance are up. Since the start of the recession in 2008, our Food Stamp program has reached 61% more households with children. The number of people receiving temporary cash assistance is up since the start of the recession, but it peaked in December 2011.
To meet this demand, we had to find ways to work smarter and more efficiently. As one example, we have done our part to help meet the Governor’s goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015. Through expedited review of food stamp applications and increased outreach to our community partners, I’m happy to be able to say that there are 100,000 fewer hungry children in Maryland than there was four years ago.
Our application compliance rate has been above 96% every month for two years. The time it takes to process long-term care applications is down to 33 days – well under the 45 day federal requirement. And last year we cut our food stamp payment error rate in half – down to 3.2%, the lowest it’s ever been, making Maryland the most improved state in the nation.
In the New Year we will be reinvigorating employee training to ensure all staff has the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in their jobs. Working with our partners at DHMH, we are beginning to implement key pieces of health care reform. And through other initiatives, we’ll continue to improve customer service and work to improve the timeliness and accuracy of our efforts.
Our employees are looking forward to a terrific 2013 and doing our part to help all Maryland families get the assistance and support they need to have a healthy and prosperous new year.
