Posted on 10/13/2013 10:21:22 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Iowa officials have implemented an emergency plan of issuing vouchers to low-income residents after computer problems caused electronic payments for food stamps to fail across the country.
The Iowa Department of Human Services says it already had a contingency plan in place for such emergencies.
Iowans who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and find that their electronic benefit card isn't working can fill out a voucher and receive $50 daily in food assistance. DHS says the contingency plan has no financial impact to grocers.
Wendy Rickman, who administers DHS' food stamp program, says the plan makes certain that people have access to food each day.
DHS says problems were resolved Saturday night and people can again electronically access benefits. More than 400,000 Iowans receive food assistance each month.
you forgot free day care and tuition. maybe a gas card and obama phone thrown in for good measure.
$50 a DAY!!!!!!! Holy crap
I spend 50 dollars a week. Granted I am a single guy with no kids.
Have them eat balony sandwiches and maybe a coke.
sheesh....
They need to go back to the paper food stamps, shaped like dollar bills and sign each one and show ID when you use them. This whole EBT card got started to make recipients feel less embarassed and more empowered, like they had a credit card. BS, and when the system doesn’t work - they didn’t think about that, riots and looting is what they will get. Plus fraud is easier with a credit card system. And here’s an idea, on each food stamp have it written, “Charity due to American taxpayers.”
>BS, and when the system doesn’t work - they didn’t think about that, riots and looting is what they will get.<
I really wish I could agree with you, but, being cynical, I have to ask, do you truly think someone, somewhere, didn’t think about what will happen should the system crash for more than a day or so?
That’s true, guess I try sometimes to give the beneft of the doubt,however undeserved. :)
I do believe ground chuck and canned food is for people who don't receive government subsidies and therefore tend to buy cheap in order to stretch their dollars. Silly fools, they could be eating steak and lobster instead if they would just sign up for benefits.
I recall a recent study in California which pointed out a single mom with 4 children living in a city could receive the equivalent of $85,000 a year in benefits, as long as she didn't have a job.
>That’s true, guess I try sometimes to give the beneft of the doubt,however undeserved. :)<
You’re a good egg (^;
There is an obvious answer to this and we need to say it. We need to have the govt take over HyVee.................
There was a boo-hoo article in our paper about what will happen if WIC and SNAP were reduced. They highlighted two women — one 28 years old with 5 kids and one 31 years old with 4 kids. Made me sick!! Haven’t these women heard of birth control?? (OR keeping their legs shut??)
exactly
think about food stamps, section 8, obamaphones and obamacare
the “poor” are better off than many in the middle class
So, I keep asking the same question: Given that the all-caring Nanny State provides EBT cards to everyone who might be hungry, why do "food banks" and "food pantries" and "food drives" exist these days?
Is there any need for such institutions, other than helping donors and organizers feel good about themselves?
You’re overlooking the fact that EBT typically sells for 60 cents on the dollar black market. You sell your EBT for cash, buy booze, cigs, and dope, and get your grub at the food bank.
$50/day = $1500/month
Say what?
There are lots of reasons but (believe it or not) many people are short of food but 1) Are voluntarily not on SNAP or just haven’t applied, or 2) Don’t qualify for SNAP due to income or immigration status or criminal status of someone in the household or 3) Get some SNAP benefit but not adequate.
On the last point, I have documented more than once a family of four who receive $1.25/person/day. That’s better than nothing but definitely isn’t a windfall. These people do occasionally hit the food bank toward the end of the month. Food banks are extremely busy and over-subscribed here although it is a fairly affluent area.
On the first point (not receiving SNAP) you would think these people are few and far between. Yet, on a thread yesterday, people were reporting that only 10-16% of people in their respective counties were receiving SNAP although people assumed it was going to be a much higher number. If even 10% of the population beyond that are experiencing food shortages and half of those show up at a food bank, there is going to be a heck of a line. That is what we see here.
Note I am not addressing the typical question: “What are they spending money on? Are they wasting it on cabletvcellphonesbeercigarettes?” That’s not the question you asked so I didn’t address it here.
In my state fraudulent exchange of EBT is estimated at less than 3% of outstanding cards. So I don’t consider that to be a huge factor. Incidentally, I have been involved on the periphery of more than one state investigation (not as the subject! lol).
Wow that’s an amazing stat. I believe you, I guess, but it strains my credulity.
I would put it at 40% in most Obamahoods.
Yes, I’m sure it is far,far higher than 3% in those locations.
Is there any need for such institutions, other than helping donors and organizers feel good about themselves?
Dude, food stamps are for trade with people who don't get food stamps for "favors and stuff".
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