AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- After years of backlogs that have delayed hundreds of thousands of applications for healthcare and food assistance, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission is requesting urgent resources from the state to increase efficiency and avoid federal penalties. Nearly 233,000 applications for Medicaid are overdue and out of compliance with federal timeliness standards, HHSC told Nexstar on Thursday. The average wait time for Texas Works Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program is 71 days -- nearly a month longer than the federal requirement. "It means kids are waiting three to four months before they can go see a doctor, get on medication that would help them, so they can focus and get back at school," said Diana Forester, Director of Health Policy at the nonpartisan advocacy group Texans Care for Children. "It creates more emergencies, which is more costly." In their biannual legislative appropriations request, HHSC requested more than $391 million for additional staff and technology improvements they say will streamline their processing of applications for programs like Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. HHSC whistleblowers on Medicaid, SNAP delays: ‘We need resources’ | 100K dropped from Medicaid improperly "To address the current and ongoing challenges, a series of process, workforce allocation, and systems/technology improvements are needed to effectively manage workloadneeds and maintain a consistent workforce," the agency wrote in their budget request to the legislature. "Without additional funding to come into compliance with federal timeliness standards, HHSC anticipates wait times for clients will continue to fluctuate, and Texaswill only meet the federal standards between 60 and 90 percent of the time, which could subject Texas to federal financial penalties." Federal law requires the state to determine eligibility for assistance programs within strict timeframes -- 30 days for SNAP, and 45 days for Medicaid and TANF. Between 2019 and 2023, HHSC was rarely able to comply with those timeliness requirements. SNAP applications were processed on time in only 5 of those 60 months, and applications for Medicaid for the Elderly and People with Disabilities in just one month. Some applicants waited at least 160 days, HHSC reported. "Texas is failing the most needy Texas families. We need to improve this," State Rep. John Bucy, D-Austin, said. "This impacts everyone. Ultimately, when we have a needy family struggling, that's going to impact the workforce, that's going to impact you and me... when a huge chunk of us is struggling to get the needs from the government because the government's not fulfilling their obligations, then we have a problem, and it will have ripple effects." Texas Medicaid, SNAP delays could cost state millions in federal funding HHSC has been under a Corrective Action Plan from the federal government since 2020, and they risk financial penalties if they do not come into compliance. The nearly $400 million ask will allow the agency to hire nearly 1,800 additional full-time equivalent positions and overhaul IT systems to speed up eligibility determinations. HHSC: Time to start processing Medicaid applications trimmed amid OT push The agency has already implemented new strategies to reduce the backlogs. Last year, the legislature gave the agency enough funding to hire 642 temporary workers and increase salaries. "The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is taking all possible actions to provide benefits to eligible Texans as quickly as possible. HHSC has made significant investments in our eligibility workforce to meet workload demands, thanks to funds appropriated by the 88th Legislature," HHSC Press Officer Jennifer Ruffcorn told Nexstar. "This funding has been a huge success for recruitment and retention." Ruffcorn said more than 96% of eligibility worker positions are filled, and they have cut vacancies from more than 12% to just 3.5% over the last year. Bucy hopes the legislature gives the agency what they need to succeed, and further implements measures to streamline the benefit application process when lawmakers reconvene in January. "If we can't fulfill this obligation, then we're not fulfilling our role as government. And so I would hope that this should be a priority," he said. "We spend money on so many other things. Taking care of needy families that are Texas citizens should be at the top of that list."