My Opinion on the State of Ohio Food Stamp Program
Am I the Only Person to Question How the Food Stamp Program Works?
I'm sure that many people who need food stamps use them wisely and make sure that their children get nourishing meals. My editorial is about what I consider fraud against the food stamp program.
My husband is on permanent, total disability which cut his working income almost in half last year. I retired in 2000 and I receive a pension equal to one third my working income. I'm not old enough for social security so to supplement it, I work part-time. We were not expecting my husband to become totally disabled and when his income was reduced it put a financial strain on us. We cut back on cable channels, take no vacations, canceled our cell phones (I now have only a pay-as-you-go) and eat dinner out less than once a month. We also needed to cut our grocery bill and to do that we purchase whatever meat, poultry, fish and fruit is on sale for the week. We grow a garden in the summer for fresh vegetables, which I also can for the winter months. We cut back on non-essentials and somehow manage to live within our budget. We have never asked for and don't expect any government assistance.
Yesterday we went grocery shopping and the woman in front of us unloaded her cart. She had 4 boxes of cereal, 2 loaves of white bread, bologna, ground meat, 6 cans of Spaghetti-O's, 4 cans of corn, milk, 2 half gallons of ice cream, a large bakery cake, 2 packages of cookies, a 12 pack of beer, 2 cartons of cigarettes and a bag of fresh cherries. Nothing was on sale except the cherries. When everything was totaled, she whipped out her Ohio food stamp debit card and paid for the food. She didn't have enough on there so she told the cashier to take out the cherries and corn. She then pulled $100.00 out of her wallet to pay for the cigarettes and beer. She is low income and qualifies for food stamps. How did she then have $100.00 for cigarettes and beer? I realize that she could have been purchasing the cigarettes and beer for someone else, but I think that was unlikely because she had an open pack of cigarettes in her purse of the same brand.
Yesterday's event prompted me to write this article, but this was not the first time I've seen someone at the supermarket using food stamps for food and still having cash for alcohol, cigarettes and non-essential items. I would never want to see her kids or any children going hungry because there was no food stamp program, but I think she could have spent some of that $100.00 paying for the items she had the cashier remove. Less then a week ago I witnessed a situation very similar at a different store, the food was a little healthier but the food stamp recipient had enough money for 2 boxes of Franzia wine, the new Harry Potter book and a brand new video game. I find it hard to understand how some of these people qualify for food stamps when they have disposable income for cigarettes, alcohol and all manner of unnecessary things.
I don't know what the answer is. I do know the Ohio food stamp program doesn't work the way it's supposed to. People truly in need are going hungry and some people receiving benefits are abusing the system. Instead of food stamps maybe people should get a weekly food basket. Maybe the screening process should include proving monthly with receipts, that they've spent their money on shelter, utilities and food before food stamps are given. In less then a week I witnessed two instances, that to me amounted to fraud. If you don't have enough money for food, you shouldn't have enough money for vices or $50.00 books or toys. If you know or suspect someone of committing food stamp fraud you can report them to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Fraud includes: a recipient having income that they're not reporting or letting someone else use their debit card in return for the cash.
The bottom line is that there are people living in Ohio going hungry because they don't qualify for assistance. A lot of these families are too proud to apply for food stamps, don't know they're eligible or make over the guideline limits but have issues like medical bills (not vices) that take away from their income.
Ohio government needs to scrutinize the food stamp program. Changes need to be made.
Published by Pikie Melago
Retired from AT&T since December, 2000. I'm just a product of the 60's (can I say greaser/hippie????) with 12 years of Catholic school (talk about confused) and a zest for life. View profile
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71 Comments
Post a CommentOK to start i just want to say the person that said "African Americans seem to be the most suffering race in this entire nation." I thank you need to take a big look and stop living in the past. This is now not then. I thank that the woman that wrote this letter has a good point. I my self get food stamps but i am a collage student and have a learning disability. I feel that people should be monitored on what they buy and when they get there stamps. half at the beginning and half and the end of the month.
Well.... Where do I begin.. I lost my job In Aug 2010. Never been on unemployment, or foodstamps before. I did get them in Sept..But only for 1 month because I get child support. In the meantime..I went to school for nursing, have to pay daycare, only have rent, electric, water, car pymt and insurance...no credit cards, or unnecesary bills. I only need/needed help with food till I found a job. Yet...My neighbor gets over 700 in foodstamps, is on section 8, she has her rent paid for, receives a check to pay her electric, and water..She only has her children (3) a couple days a week...if she even gets them at all. Mostly because she is dating a guy that isnt allowed around her children.. So she takes care of him (who doesnt work) and his daughter... Neither of them work, and I know for a fact she sells most of her foodstamps, and they have a drug habit. SO...how the hell does that make sense? Fair...hardly... You're right..it isn't any of my business..BUT it sure pisses me off. That I lo
Food stamp fraud has been going on for years! I was a cashier in th 70's and I would watch them sit in their car while their kids bought a candy bar, got change back and ran out, gave it to their mom and she came in and bought cigarettes! There will always be the people who scam and there will always be the responsible ones who pay!
ThatsthepointJoyce.Peoplethattrulyneeditarebeingdeniedandpeoplewhoknowthesystemfigureouthowtogetit.At69,withaverylimitedincome,youshouldqualifyforsomesmallamount.Idontcarewhatthesepeoplesay--usingfoodstampsforbakerycakes,whentheycanbuythemixandmakeitthemselvesisjustwrong!
I am a 69 year old retiree who exists on social security (not a lot) a very small pension. I have my son living with me because he lost his job, had no place to go but his car. He has 2 children he pays child support for. His x wife gets 50% of his unemployment check but, we get the children 4 days out of seven while she has a good time, vacations, new furniture, new car, a live in boyfriend who pays he bills, and rents the house she lives in from her mom and dad and pays little or no rent. Since I am now supporting 4 people on my check, (my son tries to help) I need some help. I can pay the rent, utilities and buy some food but things are getting tougher. With our combined income I cannot get any food assistance. The children aren't permanently living with us so we cannot count them. My son has spoken with the child support people and they don't care. His support is still being based on his prior income and not how much he brings in now. We are now down to $40.00 to last 2 we
Why are African Americans so secluded from wealth and success is what you were going to say, right? The reason is the people in far southern Ohio, and people like them. Since I moved here I have heard more racial slurs than 29 years living in Chicago, and I've only been here for less than a year. These people are uneducated, and brought up to know only prejudice and hate. The solution is to either remove them from the gene pool, or educate them. Preferably the second option, because the first is much too inhumane for my liking.
Here's my thoughts and opinons about this article. This is when you know people have issues with coping with problems of their own. It's called "worry about yourself" and stop pionting the fingers. We live in this life to help one another but in this life ive only experienced nothing but Hate and Greed. Everyone worries about the way antoher person (s) is living. Don't worry about how other people live, worry about YOURSELF and do the best to survive in these hard times. America is one of the greatest countriesin the world w/ abundant benefits and resources but yet we still cant really get ahead because we are so busy hurting one another, bringing eachother down. Especialy our leaders running this country but we ourselves need to be more aware where the problem with the systems are being affected by us americans. African americans seem to be the most suffering race in this entire nation. Can anyone answer that question? Why's the African american race so secluded from wealth and
We elected the idiots who wrote the laws that provide food stamps to people with $500,000 houses and $1,000,000 401k's. If I fit their absurd guidelines without cheating I would take the benefit and laugh all the way to the bank. Hell, everyone takes SS and Medicare whether they need it or not...
I'm just wondering why all you people are nosing into other people's property like their purse's and wallets,that is not right. I'm also a Foodstamp carrier due to my husband having a Kidney transplant when he was just 21 years old,my husband and I both work,so it's either loose everything we have to buy food or recieve help.It just aggervates me that you all think we can't afford anything for ourselves because we are on foodstamps,If our bills and things are paid for,and we have extra what's it going to hurt to purchase something for ourselves? I could think of many other reason's to complain, like some of these people that get foodstamps and don't work and won't get a job, at least me and my husband work even with his kidney transplant he works, I think we deserve to have a little help and for our 2 kids,they may not be high paying jobs but the city we live in, you have to understand there is 0 jobs here.
i understand everyones anger but heres my opinion. i know alot of people who cheat the system and i think its not right. just a few months ago i was complaining how its unfair we work our asses off (my hubby and i), barely see our kids because we are trying to pay bills, and we still cant afford to even go to a movie, but welfare people are living good, no work and drive cadilacs. but last week my husband lost his job, and since im still on maternity leave, we have no income coming in right now. we applied for food stamps but are most likely ineligible since they go by your last 3 months of paystubs...even though we have no income coming in, thats not fair. but anyways, my point being is i think the ciggarette buying is insane, but the book and the game is understandable. maybe it was a childs birthday. being on food stamps doesnt mean you can never buy another thing again. you dont have to be sheltered. theres a difference between purging and being smart with your money. dont judge ev