HONOLULU (KHON2) -- Tens of thousands of needy Hawaii residents have experienced long wait times in person and over the phone at state benefits offices. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news At the SNAP benefit office in Waipahu, the line on Tuesday, Dec. 3 is less than 10 deep. "This is not long right now," said Dyana Mondo, Honolulu resident. "This is lucky if you come here and the line is like this. You're good." Why your SNAP benefits may be delayed Viewers have been contacting KHON2, saying wait times in line and on the phone have been four hours plus. State officials said the federal government allowed the state to conduct desk reviews for recertification, anyone reapplying for aid, because of COVID. New applicants and those reapplying must now be interviewed due to desk reviews ending in October. "So that change has really resulted in a dramatic increase in calls coming into our call center," said Scott Morishige, DHS Benefits, Employment & Support Services Division administrator. The state Department of Human Services said calls to its offices jumped from 17,000 in September to more than 40,000 in November. In October, DHS said it's processed 9,100 new applicants as well as 10,000 recertifications, so workers are now doing twice the amount of work as before. "So whenever I come, the lines are super, super, super long and I wait hours," Leah Kapihe, Honolulu resident. "And sometimes I don't even get to the front and they're already saying 'ok we're not having any more interviews today' I'm like, ok, so I waited three hours for nothing." DHs offers some tips to help. First, clients need to make sure they have their case number and four-digit pin before your interview. Also, only call or go to the office on your appointment date. Priority is given to those people. If nobody answers, leave a voicemail. That way, they'll have a record of the date and time you called and make sure your application is complete. "If we can get the application complete and all the documents turned in, it helps us process your application faster, because if we receive it incomplete, then we would have to pen the application, and that's additional time," said Morishige. Morishige also admits the benefits offices are short-staffed, just like similar offices across the country. But they are constantly recruiting because they understand the need. Get Hawaii's latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You "We're struggling in Hawaii," said Mondo. "Especially with kids and the prices going up, we need it. We need help." For a list of groups that help with the application process, click here.