- Pennsylvania food stamp program will trap people in poverty, critics say, By Jan Murphy, April 29, 2012, Patriot-News: “Gov. Tom Corbett’s administration says it wants to restrict food stamps to those who truly need help. Critics say the administration’s changes to the food stamp program will trap people in poverty. Undeniably, there are significant changes coming to Pennsylvania’s food stamp program. Beginning Tuesday, new rules will place limits on the amount of assets families can maintain if they want to qualify for food stamps. Households with people under age 60 are limited to $5,500 in cash or certain other assets. Those who are disabled, or 60 and older, are capped at $9,000. A home, first car or money saved for a child’s education or burial are not counted as part of a household’s assets. But a second vehicle worth more than $4,650 and other personal property could be included. Representatives of Corbett’s administration said the changes are designed to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse…”
- Food stamp asset test will begin on Tuesday, By Mark Scolforo (AP), April 28, 2012, Philadelphia Inquirer: “The Pennsylvania Public Welfare Department will start asking food-stamp recipients next week to prove they do not have significant personal assets in order to qualify for benefits. Advocates for the poor say the new policy will be expensive to administer and hurt families for whom the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program can be a lifeline. It goes into effect Tuesday, but it will be about six months before the department knows how many have lost benefits…”
Day: May 1, 2012
Electronic Benefit Transactions – Oregon
Some Oregonians receiving government assistance are cashing out at casinos, bars and strip clubs, By Michelle Cole, April 29, 2012, The Oregonian: “Oregonians who received assistance from the state to help pay rent, put gas in the car and feed their children withdrew some of that cash last year in casinos, liquor stores and strip clubs. State government disperses about $16 million a month to low-income families through its ‘Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program.’ Only the poorest qualify for the money, which is dispersed through electronic ‘Oregon Trail’ cards that work like debit cards. More than 600,000 transaction records covering July 2011 through December and released by the state Department of Human Services show that most people used those cards at supermarkets, discount stores and gas stations. But an analysis by The Oregonian also finds that the cards were used to withdraw cash or make purchases at casinos, bars, liquor stores and other venues that don’t appear to meet the government’s goal of helping struggling families…”