by Anita Baffoni, WPRO News
The troubled roll out with the Unified Health Infrastructure Project (UHIP), the state’s new computer system, has caused the Rhode Island American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to file a class action lawsuit over food stamp benefit delays.
“When you think of the time of year it is, we are coming into the winter time, it’s cold today. People need to eat today. They cant wait on the state to get their act together and fix things,” says ACLU volunteer attorney on the case, Lynette Labinger.
During a press conference announcing the lawsuit Friday, the Director of the ACLU Steven Brown says the “systematically inadequate and faulty statewide implementation of a new integrated computer system” designed to determine food stamp eligibility “continues to cause thousands of households to suffer the imminent risk of ongoing hunger as a result of being denied desperately needed assistance to help them feed their families.”
The $364 million system manages all of Rhode Island’s social services, including SNAP benefits, also known as food stamps.
One of the plaintiffs described in the suit is a Woonsocket mother with three children who’s been going to food pantries to supplement food after months of unsuccessful efforts to get benefits from the Department of Human Services (DHS).
“There is a reason why strict federal deadlines have been imposed for the processing of food stamp applications: food assistance for our most vulnerable citizens only has meaning if they have timely access to it,” Labinger said. “It is no answer to those eligible for food assistance today that the state needs more time and fully intends to work things out over time.”
Just over an hour after the ACLU announced the lawsuit, the weekly briefing on UHIP by the Governor’s administration took place where little comment was given.
“I have personally not seen the details [of the lawsuit]. We will as a team be discussing and coming up with a response and future proceedings but right now I have not read it,” says Director of DHS, Melba Depena Affigne who is listed as the main defendant in the suit.
The administration believes they are doing all they can to resolve the issues, contrary to the ACLU who believes the state isn’t utilizing all resources available to fix the problems.
