EBT Fraud and Abuse

watchdog dot org ^ | 1-2013 | Shepherd

[doug from upland]

I don’t mind helping children in need. No one should starve in this country. But those needing this assistance should be taking public transportation, buying food at supermarkets instead of restaurants, and should not have the luxury of iphones and 52” big screens. I do not want to pay for that.

[ClearCase_guy]

This is why MASSIVE cuts in the federal budget are justified.

Waste, fraud, and abuse. It’s everywhere. If the money were cut — really, seriously cut — there would still be enough money to take care of the people who need to be taken care of. And if those truly needy people didn’t get the help they need and deserve, then it would be the fault of the thieving federal bureaucrats — not because the productive folks who contribute the fruits of their labor aren’t “paying their fair share”.

[Chode]

and just exactly HOW will he accomplish that???

go back to paper food stamps...

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Here in Ohio, when I use my debit card at Giant Eagle supermarket, the machine always asks if I want cash back. I think the limit is 40 or 60 dollars. If one uses an EBT card, do they get that same “cash back?” offer? Buy a pack of hot dogs, and walk out with 40 bucks?

[enraged]

Why can’t we have ‘food stamp only’ stores? EBT only accepted there and they only carry food, no candy or crap.
I am so sick of seeing people by their food with EBT then buy a bunch of crap with cash. If you have enough $$ to send on junk food you sure as hell don’t need my $$ too.

[Tennessee Nana]

When I got gas at Walmart a couple of days ago I noticed on the pump a sign that said something like

EBT CASH CARD ACCEPTED FOR PAYMENT

[Gay State Conservative]

Massachusetts: Stores accused of buying EBT cards at discounted prices, and hooking up EBT card users with crack cocaine dealers.

Howie Carr,a long time Boston columnist and talk host, had a show just the other day about welfare fraud in Massachusetts.He told a story about the state having mailed,first class,a letter to every welfare recipient in the state encouraging them to register to vote.He said that the Boston Herald,his paper,filed a Freedom Of Information Act request for details on how many of those letters were returned undelivered (the state didn't want to give up that info).The Herald got the info and something like 19,000 of the letters were returned "address/addressee unknown".I think he said that that represented something like 20% of the letters sent out.It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what those 19,000 recipients are all about.

[Tennessee Nana]

If one uses an EBT card, do they get that same “cash back?” offer?
______________________________________

Yes then they buy cigarettes, booze gas drugs etc..

[max americana]

Right before Christmas, I literally witnessed a stinking, homeless bum use his EBT to buy an 18-pack of Bud at Rite Aid. There’s a reason why I don’t give $$ except FR.

Obviously, the law has a loophole about buying from liquour stores when you can buy booze at any store in America. Anywhere and everywhere in L.A., they boast EBT CARDS ACCEPTED from Pollo Loco to Fallas Paredes to ROSS stores.

[Secret Agent Man]

i believe of people want to help other people, the do it through their own private, voluntary donations, and that they get a tax deduction for the entire amount donated. i do not believe in government confiscating money from anyone to give as charity. government charity is not charity. it is forced confiscation and they give it to who they want.

i am for people deciding who to give their own money to, in what amounts, when they want to, and getting the full deduction for it. never government.

[Cyber Liberty]

As was pointed out in another thread, if a Congressman tries to do the slightest bit to fix any spending problem, 5,000 lobbyists will descend on his office. With Welfare, they’ll also picket his district office and eventually they’ll bus in a hundred shabby-looking Welfare recipients to picket his home and trample his wife’s (and next-door neighbor’s) daisies.

[Gabz]

Yes then they buy cigarettes, booze gas drugs etc..

In some cases this is true - but those people have 2 different accounts on the EBT card. One is for food and only food (food stamps) and the other is what we used to call welfare and is now call TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families.)

EBT stands for Electronic Benefits Transfer - and all forms of "welfare" are included on the card. One can not (legally) get cash if one is only receiving food stamps, but can if they are receiving TANF.

[Chode]

wouldn't surprise me one bit...

[Chode]

100%

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Thanks Gabz!

[crosshairs]

If these vermin just put half the effort into legitimate endevors as they do in scamming systems, they’d probably be quite legally successful.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks doug from upland.

[GraceG]

The only food we should be giving these people is not an "EBT Card" but a scientifically formulated gruel that makes it's own gravy when mixed with water and has a shelf life of 20 years....

We can also stockpile this stuff to use for foreign aide operations and for disaster relief.

[csmusaret]

Payroll taxes should be deducted from all taxpayer funded benefits like welfare, food stamps, and unemployment. They will eventually benefit from SS and Medicare/Medicaid programs. Let them pay in. Just consider it a 6.2 percent across the board pay cut for free loaders.