Court Rules California County Must Adhere to Strict Food Stamp Timelines

The injunction stemmed from a class action filed on September 29, 2015 alleging that Alameda County has been chronically out of compliance with those legally mandated deadlines and has persistently ranked last out of 58 California counties in timely processing these applications. Filed in U.S. District Court, the class action also alleged that the County refused to take the steps needed to remedy those chronic delays.

"This is a complete victory for our clients, who Alameda County forced each month to wait to receive the food stamps they so desperately need," said Tom Loran, a Pillsbury partner who represented the plaintiffs along with two prominent legal nonprofits, the Public Interest Law Project and the Western Center on Law & Poverty. “We hope this court order will finally bring a close to a massive backlog that led to thousands of low-income households facing hunger, homelessness, undernutrition and serious health risks.”

Lauren Hansen, of the Public Interest Law Project, said, “During the last 12 months, an average of 725 needy households per month did not receive a timely determination of their applications for food stamps benefits. People struggled while they waited— some ate expired food, others went hungry. This order will go a long way toward preventing such suffering.”

“This case came about because individuals and families were waiting two to three months or more for the county to take action,” Stephanie Haffner of Western Center on Law & Poverty said. “When people reach the point of applying for food assistance, it is all too often a crisis. The injunction means now the county will act to prevent needless hunger.”

Under the order, the Alameda County Social Services Agency must file monthly compliance reports with the judge and plaintiffs’ attorneys showing that it is processing applications on time. Federal law requires that food stamp applications be processed within 30 days. Expedited benefits must be paid in three days to eligible applicants.

The Western Center on Law & Poverty represents low-income Californians through litigation, legislative advocacy and administrative advocacy in core poverty issues of housing, healthcare, basic income support and access to justice. The Public Interest Law Project provides litigation and advocacy support to California’s low-income individuals and communities.

The Pillsbury team included San Francisco Litigation associates Stacie Kinser and Philip Shecter and Los Angeles litigation associate Elaine Lee.

For more information about the class action and to read the original complaint, click here.

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