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Cuomo Putting End To Fingerprinting For Food Stamps

Story Published: May 17, 2012 at 1:16 PM EDT

Story Updated: May 17, 2012 at 1:16 PM EDT

Governor Andrew Cuomo is putting a stop to New York's practice of fingerprinting food stamp applicants and recipients.

He announced Thursday that New York will end the finger imaging requirement to simplify the application process.

Cuomo said it will remove a barrier to reducing hunger among the state's children and adults.

Statewide, one in six children live in homes without enough food on the table, Cuomo said.

However, he said 30 percent of New Yorkers eligible for food stamps, more than 1.4 million people, do not receive them, leaving over $1 billion in federal funds unclaimed every year.

In his 2012 State of the State message, Cuomo pledged to increase participation in the food stamp program.

Cuomo also said a new anti-fraud system is less costly and more effective in preventing abuse than finger imaging

In April, the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance put in place a new statewide system for food stamp eligibility that uses applicant information to allow case workers to resolve discrepancies and prevent duplicate participation.

See Cuomo's news release
 
Thursday, May 23, 2013
, Watertown, NY

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