Press Releases

Atlanta, GA – The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) today confirmed that the technical issues impacting some Cash Assistance Program prepaid card transactions have largely been resolved.

The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) has identified a technical issue affecting some transactions with the Cash Assistance Program Prepaid Cards. This payment processing issue can result in declined payments in some stores and at restaurants.

Within the first three days, 272,873 Georgians on Medicaid, PeachCare for Kids®, SNAP, and/or TANF have claimed $95,505,550 and spent $30,090,461.42 through 582,138 successful transactions.

Today, Governor Brian P. Kemp, First Lady Marty Kemp, Department of Human Services Commissioner Candice Broce, and Promise686 CEO Andy Cook called on Georgia residents to mobilize and engage in an online platform where generous Georgians can financially support or volunteer their time to meet the needs of vulnerable children. These children, and the families caring for them, face tangible needs such as clothing, cribs, diapers, car seats, laundry assistance, and similar requests.

After extensive efforts to find an allowable approach, Georgia this week received federal approval to provide food benefits to our youngest Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients for the 2021-22 school year. For children to qualify for this benefit, they must have been under age 6 at the start of the 2021-22 school year and SNAP-enrolled during the months of August 2021 through May 2022. Families of eligible children will receive about $30 dollars for each month they were eligible. 

Governor Brian Kemp, First Lady Marty Kemp, and Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner Candice Broce today announced a new statewide marketing campaign to help recruit and retain more foster parents for youth in state custody.

On Friday, the Biden Administration announced the official extension of the federal public health emergency (PHE) through October 13, 2022. During the PHE, state Medicaid agencies are required to continue health care coverage for all medical assistance programs, even if someone’s eligibility changes. To ensure all Georgia Medicaid recipients are informed when their coverage needs to be redetermined, the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) and Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) continue to urge Medicaid recipients to update their account information and communication preferences.

Georgia’s State of Hope (SOH) opened its fifth round of applications on Monday, June 20, 2022, and is seeking “big ideas” that will help children and family service providers, community members, families, and businesses create and sustain nurturing environments for healthy families.

Georgia Medicaid recipients will soon receive one or more text messages from the Georgia Department of Human Services asking them to update their account information and communication preferences.

The Georgia Department of Human Services is preparing for redeterminations of Medicaid beneficiary eligibility by asking all clients to update their account information.

The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS) today announced the rapid implementation of an innovative mobile solution to help child welfare caseworkers manage cases more efficiently so they can better serve and engage families.

In case you missed it, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) recently approved a one-month transition time from May 1-31, 2022, for Georgia to phase out the supplemental, maximum allotment P-SNAP benefits some households have received since March 2020.

Starting June 1, 2022, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will return to normal levels in Georgia. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved a one-month transition time this May for Georgia to go from pandemic to non-pandemic SNAP benefit levels.

This federally funded program assists low-income, elderly, and disabled Georgians with cooling bills through direct payments to home energy suppliers.

Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner Candice L. Broce announced a change to the Department’s Division of Aging Services team.

Georgia Department of Human Services Commissioner Candice Broce proudly announced the promotion of Ann Burris to Deputy Commissioner for Human Resources.

The Clark's Christmas Kids program annually provides gifts for children in foster care based on their personalized wish lists.

Breanna Thomas, who has served as the Department’s Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Operations since October, has been named Deputy Commissioner of State Programs & Human Resources.

Innovative technology connects families with children waiting for adoption.

Today, Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner and Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS) Director Candice L. Broce announced a new, joint DHS/DFCS Executive Leadership team.

Gov. Brian Kemp appointed current DHS Commissioner Gerlda B. Hines to serve as the State Accounting Officer and he appointed Candice L. Broce as Commissioner Hines’ replacement.

Department of Human Services Division of Aging Services announces that three of Georgia’s Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) recently received awards from the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), the highest honor presented by n4a to member agencies.

Department of Human Services Commissioner Gerlda B. Hines announced the appointment of Lena Richardson to the Georgia Council on Aging today.

Current Commissioner Robyn A. Crittenden was appointed last week to be Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Revenue. Hines has served as the DHS Chief of Staff since January 2019 and served as Interim Commissioner from November 2018 – January 2019.

The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Aging Services and the Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association are calling on all Georgians to show support for their fellow Georgians living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias as the state observes Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month.