Glitch leaves 7,000 without food stamps

CARSON CITY -- State welfare officials were scrambling Wednesday to contact about 7,000 food assistance recipients who didn't receive a 45-day notice before their benefits expired July 31.

A June 16 computer glitch is blamed, and officials were trying to contact participants to re-evaluate their continued eligibility under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

"We determined there was a problem when recipients contacted us stating they had not received their August benefits," said Romaine Gilliland, administrator for the Nevada Division of Welfare & Supportive Services.

At a time when Nevada's unemployment rate is at a record 12 percent, officials say the demand for assistance is greater than ever.

Figures show the welfare agency is handling more than 97,000 food assistance cases, covering about 210,000 people.

The agency estimates there's probably another 200,000 people in Nevada who are eligible who haven't applied.