Mass. EBT cardholders spent $50M out of state

Boston Herald ^ | June 14, 2014 | Erin Smith

[ConservativeStatement]

Bay State EBT card carriers spent nearly $50 million in welfare cash out of the state last year — including destinations as far away as the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, officials said yesterday.

A total of nearly 27,000 welfare recipients used their state benefits elsewhere between July 2013, and this past April, the Department of Transitional Assistance reported.

The DTA reported 2,741 food stamp accounts were shut off in the past year after the recipients spent more than 90 days out of state. Another 246 cash assistance accounts were also closed during the same time period after recipients lived outside Massachusetts for more than 60 days, according to DTA Commissioner Stacey Monahan in a letter to state Rep. Shaunna O’Connell (R-Taunton).

[Dilbert San Diego]

I think the EBT cards function just as credit cards or debit cards, and that they don’t have restrictions on where they can be used. Someone correct me if I’m wrong.

There was a report in California a couple of years ago, showing EBT use at Disney Land, strip joints, and Las Vegas casinos. My guess is that the powers that be decided not to put restrictions on how these cards are used.

[boycott]

It is only a matter of time but that day is coming .........

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

Believe it or not, about 40% of Mass residents are conservative. We also have a balanced budget amendment. Of course, the government spends as fast as it comes in. And the Republican LEADERSHIP in the legislature won’t force a quorum, so we can at least get the Democrap votes on record. Sound familiar?

[Chode]

they should be restricted to only food stores with a 20 miles radius from their address of record, it's not that hard to do

[The Antiyuppie]

Well, they don’t have a LOT of money and shop in lower-cost, lower tax states. I salute them for their frugality!

</s>

[sand88]

At some point we need to stop giving the hand outs and we also need to quit paying 300% salaries in government for jobs you can train monkeys to do.

The only way that will happen if there is a sudden and complete economic collapse.

Can you imagine the screams if we tried to cut back the benefits by only 10%.

see my tag line.

[A CA Guy]

That is the point, why do we allow government dependense to grow our tax liability and worsen our lives through welfare, government employment or outrageous pay, benefits or retirement?

I’m for a 90% government employee tax on all pay, benefits and retirement funds if need be.

[Moonman62]

Believe it or not, about 40% of Mass residents are conservative. We also have a balanced budget amendment. Of course, the government spends as fast as it comes in. And the Republican LEADERSHIP in the legislature won’t force a quorum, so we can at least get the Democrap votes on record. Sound familiar?

Yes. The only way the Republican rulers can get the big government they desire is to spread the myth that their policies must be in lockstep with liberal Democrats in order to be elected. The fact is conservatives outnumber liberals by a wide margin in the country as a whole and in almost every state. They even outnumber liberals in California by about three percent.

The only place where liberals outnumber conservatives by a large margin is in DC.

[jsanders2001]

My little county of 30K has 20% people on Food Stamps, SIX THOUSAND OF THEM! If you go into WalMart after 11AM (it upsets them to get up before then), you see them everywhere - in PJs, flip-flops, shorts, sweatshirts and some in designer clothes. They always choose check out register #11 because that’s the one with a dedicated cashier, and where the cigarettes are. They present their WICs certificates, buy their hamburger and steaks I can’t afford now, and Ding-dongs and chips, snacks - whatever strikes their fancy. Two piles....one for EBT, and the other for cash (if they just have to pay cash), and then its the cigarettes, beer and wine they always have cash for. Outside, their cars and truck are better than mine. Effing leeches.
Your experience mirrors mine. I see a certain breed of them pull up in Escalades with their hair and nails freshly done in designer clothes going into outlet malls with out of state plates ALL the time whenever I can afford to go over there. You don't have to be a genius to know they don't work and have EBT cards in their wallets; you can tell it from their very demeanor. My wife used to say I was just being judgmental until I told her to follow me in line a few times to make a point in Walmart (one of the things I do is read people as part of my job description). I think after observing a few million people over my lifetime and having to use discernment on how to approach and interview the different personality types my observation skills are honed pretty well...lol

[ConservativeStatement]

Different topic but do you (or others) notice an editorial flaw in the second paragraph?

http://bostonherald.com/entertainment/arts_culture/2014/06/boston_looks_to_next_generation_leaders_to_improve_city

Hub teens have some million-dollar ideas to improve the city — and Mayor Martin J. Walsh is all ears.

Boston is poised to set aside $1 million of the city’s capital budget, ask kids ages 12-25 for ideas on how to use it, and then empower them to vote for which projects to fund, starting today and ending Friday.