Maryland parents claim state agency bungled pandemic relief program

As state senators questioned her agency’s performance, Secretary Lourdes Padilla emphasized how the Department of Human Services worked diligently to issue benefits during the early days of the pandemic. “And we were very successful in that,” Padilla said, highlighting pandemic relief programs as one of DHS’ key achievements. But a Facebook group filled with Maryland parents trying to get benefits for their children might disagree. These parents are fighting for owed benefits after the state delayed issuing pandemic relief funds for the 2021-22 school year amid record-high inflation. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the delays in an email.