AUGUSTA — The United States Department of Agriculture says Maine is the slowest state in the country at processing applications for food stamps.

Officials with the USDA sent a letter to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services on Dec. 7 that says data for the first six months of this year show the state’s processing timeliness rating was about 69 percent. It says 95 percent is acceptable.

The letter says Maine’s “poor timeliness” negatively affects residents who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It also says Maine was ranked 36 out of 53 state agencies with a rate of about 84 percent in fiscal 2014.

Political rivals of Republican Gov. Paul LePage didn’t hesitate in criticizing the governor and his administration of DHHS.

“While more and more people in our state don’t have enough to eat, the Department is dragging its feet,” state Senate minority leader Justin Alfond, D-Portland said in a prepared statement. “Maine children and seniors who are playing by the rules and eligible for food assistance are left hungry and waiting because DHHS can’t or won’t do its job.”

Officials at Maine’s DHHS did not immediately return a request for comment.