RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - Improvements in Forsyth County's food stamp application processing are helping the state work toward a federal mandate to improve timely processing of requests to an average rate of 95 percent.

The Winston-Salem Journal reports Forsyth County Department of Social Services boosted its processing rate to 94 percent for the last week of 2015.

The paper reports statewide data shows the rate for the last week of the year was 89 percent.

Federal rules say applicants must be given access to food stamps within 30 days. The U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees the food stamp program. The agency told the state last year that it must improve its performance.

Read the full story at journalnow.com.