The state of Michigan just got its proverbial knuckles slapped by the feds for slow and inaccurate administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

More commonly known as SNAP, the federally-funded initiative provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well-being.

“I urge you to prioritize these concerns and take appropriate steps to make sure that your state has (acceptable rates),” U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack said in a letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “Americans in need should have access to essential benefits without unnecessary delays” and mistakes.

Vilasack continued, “People should not lose access to food because states are unable to review their applications in a timely fashion.”

We couldn’t agree more.

The problems are not unique to Michigan, said Alicia Huguelet, a senior policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington.

Indeed, the governors of Ohio and Indiana received similar admonishments.

In addition to higher demand brought about by pandemic-related economics, she said the rapid transition of state employees into remote work spurred redundancies and unnecessary complications that slow the handling of applications.

“Sometimes, places ended up with a ‘spaghetti-works’ of processes that aren’t as efficient or streamlined as you’d want them to be,” Huguelet said.

In fairness, it should be noted that the state has made a number of improvements. For example, we applaud Lansing taking action to make 700,000 additional families eligible for benefits. And the state has also invested in an online portal for applying for benefits.

But more remains to be done. And it should be done post-haste.

For starters, Michigan should invest further in an expanded call center and in-person services at local health department offices.

And the state should also make it easier for users to find information about other benefit programs with referrals.

Food insecurity, aka hunger, is a pervasive circumstance we must move beyond. Doing whatever is necessary to speed SNAP benefits to deserving Michigan families, would be a great step forward in the war against hunger.

— The Mining Journal, Marquette