LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska state agency has reached a settlement in a lawsuit alleging that it failed to process Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in a timely manner.

The Department of Health and Human Services says it has improved processing times as part of the settlement announced Friday.

The class-action lawsuit was filed by the groups Nebraska Appleseed and the National Center for Law and Economic Justice. Federal law requires states to process SNAP benefits in a timely manner to ensure that low-income people can buy food.

Department spokesman Russ Reno says his agency has taken several steps to speed up services, such as sending out renewal notices earlier and making sure paperwork is ready to be processed when workers arrive each day.