MUSCATINE, Iowa – The applications keep pouring in, and now so more than ever before.

Business is booming at a time when mandated state budget cuts are forcing the Iowa Department of Human Resources office in Muscatine County to do more with less.

“It seems like when there’s bad budget times, it should go (the) opposite” way, said Melanie Langely, Muscatine County DHS income maintenance supervisor. “We have a very dedicated staff. Everyone is suffering from the recession, though.”

Local lag

In Iowa, DHS has about 5,700 full-time positions. Of the state’s 99 counties, 34 have offices that are only open part-time.

In Muscatine County, which has a full-time DHS office, the request for services such as Medicaid and food stamps has increased dramatically, but staff is juggling to stay afloat, according to DHS spokesman Roger Munns.

Income maintenance workers, or IMs, are juggling roughly 518 cases per worker statewide. IMs are responsible for processing applications for state benefit programs while another set of employees handle child-abuse and neglect cases, Munns said.

Langley said the increased workload has been drastic. Each of her 12 full-time IMs have been averaging 586 cases.

A normal caseload for an IM would be around 250, Langley said. Though two of her staff left the Muscatine office for the Scott County DHS office, she has hired two more who are expected to be fully trained in the next six months.

“You can see the staff is stressed,” Langley said. “But there’s a lot more technology and that helps move it faster. I think there’s more frustration from customers, trying to find out the status of their applications.”

Applications for state benefit programs have doubled, too. In September 2002, there were 301 applications for DHS programs. This year, there have been 629 applications.

Langley, who’s been with the state for 28 years, said the number of families served in Muscatine County has nearly doubled.

In September 2002, 1,436 households – roughly 3,567 individuals – were served by DHS for  a total of $278,082. In September 2009, the number of households and individuals jumped to 2,506 and 5,737, respectively, with allotment costing $736,852.

Though the caseload is increasing, Langley said she’s fortunate not to have seen any staff layoffs.

“The state is doing a reorganization next July,” she said. “I anticipate there will be a reduction in service areas, but I hope line workers (like IMs) won’t be affected.”

Small staff, growing requests

Munns said about 80 positions have been lost since Gov. Chet Culver’s statewide cuts last month.

“Because of the strain of our local offices, one of our main strategies in dealing with th governor’s request of 10 percent cuts has been to stop the bleeding,” Munns said. “We shifted funds around so that we could support the field offices at the new low level where they’re at.”

In the early reports of the 10 percent human services cuts, 150 positions and 400 workers were going to be lost between October and June 2010.

While caseloads continue to grow and staff continues to juggle responsibilities and communications, Munns said the most important thing for customers is to remain patient.

“People who are eligible for government programs will receive those benefits,” Munns said. “There are bound to be delays but if you’re entitled to benefits, you’ll get them.”

Langley said in Muscatine the customer base is far more widespread than in past years. Farmers, small business owners and especially factorworkers are among the top groups asking for DHS help.

Communication has also been bridged with other agencies. Langley said her office works with Community Service and Community Action.

Medicaid has particularly been the most requested service, and many applicants are applying for assistance for the first time.

“We’re getting people in the office who’ve said ‘I’ve never before applied for government assistance but I need help now,” Munns said. “When the economy goes south, the business for us, in this department, increases proportionally. Isn’t it ironic that we have to cut at the same time?”

Ask for help

Langley said one hurdle in response to the recession has been the extra $25 many are receiving on paychecks thanks to federal stimulus money.

“We had a family receiving unemployment and $250 a month in food assistance,” Langley said. “That bonus put them over. The stimulus money is exempt now so that doesn’t happen anymore. If people were pushed out, they should reapply.”

Langley said many people find themselves not wanting help, but embarrassed to request.

“It’s temporary, not forever,” she said. “It gets them through crisis times.”

Because children are now covered through Medicaid, the income limits have increased so many more people are eligible. Food assistance applications are found online, so many requests come to the Muscatine DHS by Internet.

“People are very appreciative when we can help,” Langley said. “The rewarding thing is we are a resource to different areas and organizations that can provide assistance. All they have to do is call, e-mail or stop by for help.”