State workers admit denying food assistance to eligible families

ALBUQUERQUE, NM -- Several state employees admitted to falsifying information on food stamp applications in an attempt to deny assistance to eligible families.

Officials in New Mexico say they were shocked to hear employees of the state's Human Services department would work against those who needed help the most.

VIDEO: Detectives say man stole thousands in food stamps, Medicaid

Investigators say he collected thousands in food stamps and medicaid even though he was employed and owned several properties

"This is something we've never heard before, but according to workers, has been going on for quite some time," says Sovereign Hager with the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty.

In federal court, five workers said they were pressured to falsify applications for assistance by stating families had more than $100 in assets when they had less than that or none at all.

Lawyers say those people were then wrongfully denied food assistance.

See also: Lawmaker wants to ban purchase of steak, lobster with food stamps

Workers say they did this when they couldn't meet the seven-day deadline for processing emergency applications.

"It makes the state's numbers appear artificially high, as if they were processing things according to law," Hager says, "when in fact, they aren't."

Hager says this is not the first time the department has been caught out of compliance with the law.

The Human Services department says it is taking the allegations seriously, and have launched an internal investigation.