Each year, USDA awards a total of $12 million in performance bonuses to eight States with the best and most improved program access index. The program access index is the ratio of participants to the number of persons below 125 percent of poverty and reflects State performance in reaching those eligible for these important nutrition benefits. USDA also awards $6 million to six States with the highest rate of timely processed applications, an important indicator of customer service in administering the Program.
States recognized with grants this year are:
Best Program Access Index:
Alaska; $273,584
District of Columbia; $476,947
Missouri; $2,580,379
Oregon; $2,021,483
Tennessee; $3,342,208
Best Application Processing Timeliness:
Montana; $292,908
Massachusetts; $1,548,018
Virgin Islands; $127,370
Louisiana; $1,865,726
District of Columbia; $359,358
Missouri; $1,806,620