HOUSTON -- A recent lawsuit filed to get food stamps to more Texans during the recession comes as additional workers are hired to process applications.

The class-action lawsuit seeks to force Texas to comply with federal regulations requiring that most eligible applicants be certified within 30 days.

Many Houstonians said their food stamp application is taking two months or longer to process.

"I'm very frustrated, very frustrated right now," Angela Smith said.

Smith took a day off from her job as a driver for a METRO bus to check on her application.

She said does not have enough money for food for her 12 children after paying bills.

Smith applied for food stamps on June 3, but she is still waiting.

"They need to step up to the plate because if you've got mothers out there that are single mothers that are working and they're trying to do the right thing and feed their kids -- when they need assistance, they should get it," she said.

The Legislature authorized the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to hire about 650 more workers, starting Sept. 1.

Spokeswoman Stephanie Goodman says the agency "has an obligation to do better for Texas." She says workers is a long-term solution because of the length of time it takes to train them.

"The recession has led to an 11 percent spike in the number of people applying for food stamps in Texas. This is not the kind of customer service we want to give," she said in a statement to Local 2.