SNAP Enrollment and Eligibility

Posted on March 2, 2012 by townsend

• Long-term poor no longer make up bulk of those collecting food stamps on Treasure Coast, By Eric Pfahler, February 18, 2012, Vero Beach Press-Journal: “Skyrocketing need has put a strain on programs designed to feed the hungry, but technology and charitable giving have prevented the state’s safety net from bursting on the Treasure Coast. As of November, a record 3 million Floridians, including more than 85,000 Treasure Coast residents, receive food stamps through the state-run, federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The numbers are about triple the number on food stamps five years ago, according to state data. About 15 percent of both Treasure Coast and Florida residents are on food stamps. The increase has forced Florida Department of Children and Families employees to handle more calls, process more paperwork ensuring eligibility and create more partnerships to make sure people are getting aid. Local food pantries, meanwhile, are working to get more food to help people when food stamps do not provide enough food…”
• In Missouri, murderers can get food stamps, but those with drug convictions can’t, By Jason Hancock, March 1, 2012, Kansas City Star: “Get out of prison for murder, child molestation or just about any other felony in Missouri and you can still get food stamps. But if you have a felony drug conviction, forget it. You’re banned for life. To Johnny Waller, who had a drug conviction in his past, that just doesn’t seem fair. And that’s why the 34-year-old Kansas City resident traveled this week, as he has for years, to the state Capitol to speak out for legislation lifting the lifetime ban. ‘I just believe everyone should get a second chance,’ he said. Missouri is one of only nine states where a felony drug conviction means a lifetime ban from ever qualifying for food stamps. Congress allows states to opt out of the ban, which was imposed in 1996 as part of welfare reform legislation. To date, 41 states and the District of Columbia have lifted or modified the ban, including Kansas in 2006…”
• Michigan Senate approves bill preventing lottery winners from getting public food assistance, By Dave Murray, March 1, 2012, Saginaw News: “People winning a lot of money in the lottery would be prevented from receiving public food assistance under a bill that cleared the state Senate on Thursday. The legislation, sponsored by state Sen. John Moolenaar, R-Midland, was prompted by a Bay County man, Leroy Fick, who last year was reportedly still using food stamps about a year after collecting a $2 million prize. The lottery winner said in news reports that he was using the food stamps after state employees told him to continue using the public assistance…”