Strategic Initiative
Alaska’s Division of Public Assistance (DPA) was struggling to process applications for the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in a timely fashion. The paper form was long, complicated, and could take an hour or more to fill out – causing 40% of benefits seekers to submit incomplete applications. Processing stalled while staff waited on supporting documents, causing a case backlog and a food crisis for Alaskans in need.