Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the SNAP Backlog topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cass County advisory board hears that SNAP backlog and new federal checks are slowing benefit processing
Summary
Board members and supervisors told Cass County’s Human Service Zone Advisory Board that a statewide backlog—driven by new federal narrative templates, multi-touch case handling and staffing shortfalls—has delayed some SNAP benefit reviews and prompted a new case-improvement team and task force to address accuracy and timeliness.
Cass County’s Human Service Zone Advisory Board on April 6 focused most of its meeting on a statewide backlog in economic assistance case processing, particularly SNAP reviews, and on steps being taken to reduce delays and potential federal payment-error penalties.
The board approved its Feb. 9, 2026 minutes at the start of the meeting and then turned to an extended operations briefing on economic assistance. Chair members and eligibility supervisors described a backlog that is “slowly decreasing,” but still substantial. "Our biggest issue right now is our backlog," Supervisor Shaina Pilgrim said, summarizing the central concern facing eligibility staff.
Why it matters: speakers said the backlog has multiple causes: new federal and state checks and balances, a dense federal narrative template for case determinations that requires more documentation per file, system programming gaps, frequent transfers of cases between workers (so-called multi-touch), and a surge in walk-in and call-center volume. Staff warned that those factors lengthen per-case processing time and have led to some clients missing their regular April benefit issuance date while reviews remained open.
What staff have done: the zone has encouraged overtime and organized a volunteer "dig-out" day that drew about 10 staff. A handful of workers have been pulled together into a group dedicated to expedited SNAP cases (cases that must be decided in seven days). The state has also approved 10 FTE for a case-improvement team — a supervisor and several specialists posted to handle error-proofing and quality checks. Board members cautioned that moving experienced workers into quality roles could reduce frontline capacity unless overall staffing is increased.
Quality and oversight: presenters said the state paused random-sample error proofing during the height of the backlog and later re-engaged the PERS visits and related reviews. Rebecca Asins, the quality assurance director (referenced at the meeting), has resumed visits; staff expect a task-force report in May that they said should provide clearer operational guidance. The chair told the board the office is "roughly a month behind" in work and that the May 12 directors' meeting should provide more concrete next steps.
Staffing and recruitment: Cass County reported three to four current eligibility-worker vacancies and one support-specialist vacancy; recent hiring rosters produced relatively few interviewees. Speakers described the position as specialized and noted underfilling at a lower pay grade has been used to attract candidates without prior eligibility experience.
Client impact and jurisdiction: staff clarified the delays and new requirements are statewide; cases are sometimes processed by staff in other zones. Board members asked whether people who were qualified before review had lost benefits; staff said some clients have experienced delayed benefits because a required review had not been completed. Speakers emphasized that the timing of reviews is governed by federal rules and that benefits generally cannot continue past a required review without completion.
Other business: staff gave shorter updates that the annex renovation (first and fourth floors) is in the staging and bidding phase; Great Plains Food Bank outreach staff had met with zone supervisors to discuss assistance for homebound SNAP applicants; the zone plans to sunset a locally funded homemaker-services line and coordinate offboarding with neighboring zones. The board was invited to participate in a June 16–18 statewide eligibility summit in Fargo.
Votes at a glance: the board approved the Feb. 9, 2026 minutes by voice vote; a motion to adjourn was approved at the end of the meeting.
What’s next: staff expect a May report from the task force and PERS visit that may recommend operational changes and staffing adjustments. Board members said they will continue to press for clearer cross-program guidance and resources to reduce delays.
