Oh SNAP: Food Stamps in the News

[XLFD]

A topic I haven't heard a lot about since Newt Gingrich dropped out of the 2012 Republican primaries is food stamps, Bridge Cards and the SNAP program.  A few stories from the bunkers and potholes of society that I brush shoulders with have come up recently and I relate those here in three vignettes. 

 

Food Stamps Will be Cut or Discontinued (or Have Been Cut) in November for Many

 

There is a bit of truth to this rumor, but there technically is no 'cut' in food stamp benefits.  The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/food stamp program) will scale back benefits for individual families by about 13 percent beginning in November.  This reflects the termination of a limited time supplement to the SNAP program that will run out.  The stimulus, or American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, added $45.2 billion to the SNAP budget.

If you currently receive food stamps/bridge card credit, chances are your monthly benefit will go down.  You may not actually qualify if you receive a small amount right now.  The average family that receives food stamps may see their $275 go down to $239.  Currently, nearly 50 million Americans benefit from the food stamp program, the numbers dramatically increasing since the recessionary times since 2008, and the program itself more than doubling in cost to the taxpayer over this time. 

 

The SNAP and WIC is Getting Scaled Back Even More

 

Others have already felt the lessening of food benefits before this November date.  Some believe this was part of the propaganda used in the government shut down debate, but there was substance to this.

The US House voted in September to cut SNAP funding by $39 billion over the next decade. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that such a level of cuts would cause up to 3.8 million people to lose food stamp benefits in 2014.

The Senate had previously voted to cut $4 billion to the program in that time period.

Another major federal nutrition program, WIC (Women, Infants and Children), would have shut down around November 1 if the shutdown had continued, based on USDA projections, and will not receive further funding. However, the USDA told Education Week that some states are capable of prolonging current funding.  Governor Snyder said during the shutdown that Michigan could provide 'replacement' WIC for 4-5 weeks during the shutdown, it is not clear whether they will fund a program to replace it in November.

 

Using Technology to Turn Food Credit to Cash

 

FoxNews.com found several offerings at Craigslist sites around the country, where the sellers offered SNAP/food stamp benefits for cash at large discounts from face value.

Ads like this are found on the site advertising their food benefits for sale:  “I have $500 worth and it costs $350 cash. No I will not do half.  I don't need to sell. If you would like to get an extra $150 to $175 in grocery and pay no taxes and can see the benefit that you will still be saving then email me or call me and we can arrange the whole deal as soon as you like.”

And ads like this, offering cash for SNAP benefits, are also posted:  "“DO YOU NEED SOME QUICK CASH?? -- $100 (Atlanta):  If you get Food Stamps and need some extra cash then hit me asap,”

The benefits are not supposed to be transferred, and Craigslist's policy lists them among the items that are not allowed to be sold or bartered on the site. But unless someone flags such a post, there's little the sites, which operate in small, medium and large markets around the country, can do. Critics suspect sellers want to exchange them for cash so that they can buy drugs or other items that are not permitted under the rules of the program.

[Willy]

I think food stamps should be given only as a temporary help to those who really need it such as someone who has been injured and cannot work or someone who has lost their job and cannot find immediate work. I have family members who are healthy, single and young who get food stamps. The entire program is corrupt and should be overhauled.

[XLFD]

And yet, it gets expanded during Obama's terms to build up the base of individuals dependent on government largesse.  I fully agree there needs to be serious reform of the program, but it will be politically difficult.