2019 mRelief Product Highlights

At mRelief in 2019, we expanded both our product offerings and geographical reach. Here are 5 big highlights from the progress we made in 2019 that we look forward to scaling in 2020.

1. Partnering on the SNAP Outreach Plan in Illinois

   Since 2014, mRelief has provided an eligibility pre-screener for SNAP in Illinois that has helped families discover if they qualify for the program. This fall, mRelief launched a SNAP application in partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository to help clients enroll in the program. In addition to applying online, clients can submit all required verifications over text messaging. After a client answers the application questions, mRelief programmatically submits the information to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The Food Depository then mails the client the application for signature and faxes the signed application to the Illinois Department of Human Services as part of their State Outreach Plan. This partnership helps more people access SNAP through the enrollment process that the Food Depository developed as part of the State Outreach Plan.

3. Solidifying our SNAP enrollment process in Yolo County

   In Yolo County in California, mRelief technology allows people to apply for SNAP online or through text messages. In 2019, we finalized a data sharing agreement with the county that allows us to programmatically inform our clients about their interview, outstanding verifications and case status. After clients provide consent to data sharing through mRelief, Yolo County shares this information with mRelief in an encrypted spreadsheet. This allows mRelief to keep the client informed over text messaging and ensures that they complete all of the required steps.

5. Scaling our Eligibility Pre-Screener

   In partnership with federal and state governments, we updated our eligibility pre-screener at the beginning of 2019. The USDA provided eligibility requirements for TANF Broad Based Categorical Eligibility rules that apply to SNAP. We then followed up with several state agencies to ensure that the questions and outcome actions were completely aligned with the business process of the state.

   In response to the ABAWD policy changes, mRelief added a few questions in partnership with counties in California to help clients understand if they fall into one of the exemptions as shown below.

   

7. Expanding in Spanish

   To increase the accessibility of our technology, we invested in the infrastructure to integrate additional languages. Our core products are currently available in both English and Spanish.

   

9. Community Partner Interviewer Demonstration Project

   We continued to improve our automated text messaging service that asks all of the questions required for the SNAP interview. When conducted either in person or over the phone, SNAP interviews typically take between 30 to 45 minutes minutes. This technology is designed to collaborate with states that must meet compliance objectives while serving hundreds of thousands of clients amid staff vacancies. We hope a tool like this will receive future consideration for the community partner interviewer demonstration project in the coming year.

All of this work culminated in us filling fridges across the country and reaching a milestone of over 500,000 families served since mRelief launched in 2014.