Here’s some good news for the Colorado Department of Human Services, an agency that draws a lot of flak while tackling many of the state’s most difficult problems. DHS has exceeded the requirements from a 2008 settlement in a lawsuit that alleged the state took too much time to process applications for food and cash assistance.

Denver District Court terminated requirements put on DHS by the lawsuit, DHS said Thursday.

It processes new food assistance applications in a timely manner 98.76 percent of the time, a major improvement from the 70.36 percent in October 2007, among other improvements in processing times, DHS said.

DHS allows people to apply for food and cash assistance online, over the phone, by mail or in person.

 “People who are overcoming poverty and come to us for food or cash assistance need their benefits right away,” DHS executive director Reggie Bicha said in a statement. “They need government services to be efficient, timely and accurate. “The old system was broken, and people waited too long to get the assistance they needed. We’ve worked tirelessly with the help of our county partners to create a system that works effectively for Coloradans. Today, the majority of applications can be submitted online, and applicants receive a response within 48 hours.”