Cracking down on foodstamp abuse

[PepperElf]

http://peopleoffoodstamps.com/


New site - specifically for the purpose of bringing to light individuals who are abusing their public assistance benefits.


And by "abuse" I don't mean whether or not someone on assistance should be buying soda... but serious abuses such as reselling food stamp purchases for profit, and lying about income to stay on stamps etc.

[HYHYBT]

I'm particularly interested in the assumption that a college student receiving food stamps is automatically a scam.

[Andara Bledin]

I'm particularly interested in the assumption that a college student receiving food stamps is automatically a scam.

I suspect, based purely on the link provided, that the college students were given food stamps purely because they asked, with no requirement to show any actual need. How this will affect students going forward, however, was not detailed in either the blog entry or the linked article. It's possible that the system is set up so that students cannot get food stamps at all, which I feel is very much the wrong move. But considering that at least one student mentioned in the article has their eligibility under review, it appears that they are moving forward on a case by case basis.

^-.-^

[jackfaire]

I'm particularly interested in the assumption that a college student receiving food stamps is automatically a scam.

I wouldn't think automatically but with college students it can get tricky. Since often times it's not traceable if the parents are supporting said student. Some students get money from their parents for all of their needs and then still get assistance claiming they get nothing.

[AdminAssistant]

The problem with eliminating all college students is that it not only eliminates abuse from 18-22 year old undergrads still supported by their parents, but also 25-26 year old graduate students struggling on a $5,000 GTA contract. And typically GTA/GRA contracts, as well as some scholarships/internships/fellowships, forbid the recipient from seeking employment elsewhere. How about the 30something single mother who wants to go back to school to improve her job opportunities? Hell, how about adjunct faculty who get $2000/class? They live well below the poverty line, and should qualify for government benefits.

[jackfaire]

The problem with eliminating all college students is that it not only eliminates abuse from 18-22 year old undergrads still supported by their parents, \

And assumes they are supported by their parents.

[mikoyan29]

I live in the state in question and I'm of the opionion before they go eliminating a class of people on food stamps, they should look to elminate fraud from the food stamp system first. Something tells me its a little better since they've moved to what they call the Bridge Card but something also tells me that there is a whole black market set up to sell and resell these things.

But you guys are right, the college student thing is kind of tricky. But then again, it seems like the current political climate only calls for soundbites and not nuance.

[daleduke17]

but also 25-26 year old graduate students struggling on a $5,000 GTA contract. And typically GTA/GRA contracts, as well as some scholarships/internships/fellowships, forbid the recipient from seeking employment elsewhere.

That's the person's choice to do the GTA/GRA stuff. They know going forward they can't have employment and should attempt to save money up, or have some means to have an income (money pool) during that time.

[tropicsgoddess]

Besides buying mass quantities of food (mostly junk) and reselling them like that guy in the article along with lying on your application about your income and such. I'm curious what else could be constituted as fraud and abuse with food stamp recipients. If they want to crack down on food stamp fraud/abuse, there should be more done to look in the patterns of fraud and to check out the information is correct on the applications for the first time and thereafter but also that anybody that suspects or finds somebody is abusing the system to be able to report it anonymously in some way.

[AdminAssistant]

They know going forward they can't have employment and should attempt to save money up, or have some means to have an income (money pool) during that time.

Oh, right, the magic money tree that grows before you start graduate school. How silly of me to forget that.

[Hyena Dandy]

have some means to have an income (money pool) during that time.

Like so?





Okay, but in all seriousness. Not everyone has the resources to save up enough money to get them by. Only people who already have a good income, either from their family or themselves, can do that. Should people who aren't independently wealthy not be allowed to take post-graduate classes?

[Boozy]

That's the person's choice to do the GTA/GRA stuff. They know going forward they can't have employment and should attempt to save money up, or have some means to have an income (money pool) during that time.

That kind of shortsighted thinking can get the US into a lot of trouble. Unless you start offering support to those who want to further their education, you're going to fall very behind in the global economy.

No one needs Americans to build cars or stitch clothes anymore. The US workforce needs to start using their minds to compete.

[daleduke17]

That kind of shortsighted thinking can get the US into a lot of trouble. Unless you start offering support to those who want to further their education, you're going to fall very behind in the global economy.

No one needs Americans to build cars or stitch clothes anymore. The US workforce needs to start using their minds to compete.

How is it shortsighted to expect people who voluntarily go for post-graduate studies to set some money aside for expenses during a time they know they aren't going to have a lot of income?

[Boozy]

Because expecting students to entirely pay their own way, without subsidies or loan support, will drastically decrease the number of people who can get a post-graduate degree at all. That's not a good thing for the US economy. It will be those with post-secondary degrees and higher that drive the economy in the future.

Economies that have successfully navigated this global recession are those that have long supported the education of their workforce - such as Norway and Canada.

[blas87]

It's going to get me accused of bringing out the pitchfork again, but I'd be glad to see cracking down of so many benefits unwed young mothers get. It's ridiculous. Not to mention, the FATHER rarely if ever gets in on the free state healthcare and free college tuition. And that's sad, because not every young unwed father is a deadbeat idiot and not every young unwed mother is a saint and great mother, nor helpless either. It's so bassackwards to expect the guy to get the job with his own insurance (even at piddly jobs with no insurance) and take care of himself and his family, and give the mom and the kid all the freebies. Hell, I have heard girls say that they WON'T get married because they will lose their Badgercare!

I guess that didn't have a lot to do with college and foodstamps, but a conversation at work got me going on that tangent the other day.

There's a big upcoming change in Badgercare in Wisconsin. A lot of people are getting reduced benefits or cut off. It's going to hurt a LOT of seniors. And that is terrible. But, that's what happens when the state thinks every young unwed girl who pops out a kid should get free healthcare.