Georgia seeing huge decrease in food stamp use

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | June 23, 2017 | Craig Schneider

[2ndDivisionVet]

Eric Grant is a disabled Air Force vet. The fighting in Iraq - mortar shelling, breathing the smoke from burn pits - left him with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and post traumatic stress disorder.

Food stamps help him and his family get through some rough times. But he’s among many Georgians who’ve been able to drop that government assistance. Georgia is seeing a huge decrease in the number of people receiving food stamps, due in large part to the improving economy.

But there’s also a brewing national debate on whether some people still on food stamps are taking advantage of the system.....

[2ndDivisionVet]

That's funny. I'm also a disabled veteran and I've been told I don't qualify.

[Texas Eagle]

But there’s also a brewing national debate on whether some people still on food stamps are taking advantage of the system.

The hell you say.

[Roman_War_Criminal]

There must be a weight limit on the low side, a minimum bodily tattoo count, and perhaps a prior conviction of meth possession to qualify in GA.

The last time I saw a couple pay with EBT in GA, they must have out-weighed the former WWF Tag Team Champions - the Legion of Doom, and had more tattoos on them than the typical NBA player.

[McGavin999]

I had a neighbor who was middle income, they owned their house, had a trailer for traveling and a summer home in the mountains. She got food stamps and went to the food bank on a regular basis. No one ever questioned her on it

[Teacher317]

a brewing national debate on whether some people still on food stamps are taking advantage of the system.

A debate? A DEBATE??!?!? As if there is any question at all that even SOME people are abusing the system?!?? The fact that they can write that without getting fired shows how far afield things have gone in journalism.

[Texas Eagle]

I know one couple like that. They collect every form of taxpayer handout possible while he runs his own windshield replacement business. With a “disabled” symbol on the license plate of business truck.

[Fiddlstix]

.......many Georgians who’ve been able to drop that government assistance. Georgia is seeing a huge decrease in the number of people receiving food stamps, due in large part to the improving economy.

OMG!!! The DIMS Will Be Havin' None Of That!!

[wally_bert]

Ripoff artists like the pair you described are like so many others that somehow skate on through and nothing happens to them.

[libh8er]

Funny how when the media talks about food stamps they bring up disabled veterans but not the millions of inner city Obama types.

[Vigilanteman]

I was middle income and got food stamps for a brief period because I had an evil ex-boss who got me fired over a petty PC complaint and then tried to block me from collecting unemployment. Since it is an income based program and I had no income, we qualified immediately. Eventually, I won the unemployment case and found a job which paid even better. However, it took persistent filing and calling to stop the food stamp benefits. I even offered to return the two months or so which came when I didn't think I was eligible. Believe it or not, they weren't interested in getting it back. So I will probably have to overpay taxes or something to get even.

I've got to wonder how many people are as persistent as I was in stopping a benefit to which we are no longer eligible.

[manc]

Tattoo’s are hundreds of $’s, and yet most on food stamps have tats, and weigh over 200 pound for a 5 foot 5 inch woman. Many have manicures, drive nice cars, hair professionally done, and yet they need food stamps!!! Give me a break.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

DO you have kids at home?

[2ndDivisionVet]

Not for many moons. But there are many singles and others on SNAP with no children, aren’t there?

[Rapunzel]

I heard Georgia is enforcing the job stipulation to get food stamps. Thought I saw it on YT. Lots of angry mothers.

[PGR88]

I had a neighbor who was middle income, they owned their house, had a trailer for traveling and a summer home in the mountains. She got food stamps and went to the food bank on a regular basis.

I know the owner of an Asian/Chinese grocery in our city. I questioned him when he put in tanks for Alaskan King Crabs, selling at $40/lb. I asked "who buys those?" He said in fact, its mostly EBT users, particularly immigrants. He pointed to a group of Russians out in the parking lot who had just left his store, getting into a Lexus LX SUV and told me: "they just paid with EBT...."

[Kickass Conservative]

Conservatives think that a Government Program is successful when the number of People depending on it decreases.

Liberals think the opposite.

That is why we are barraged (at least in CA) with Commercials promoting Food Stamp use. The more, the merrier.

The Commercials show happy people living in nice homes, cooking their happy children balanced Meals full of fresh vegetables and fruit. Just like in the real world. #:^(

Oh yeah, no morbid obesity or tattoos. Occasionally they do show a Father though.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Depends on the state. Several states are saying that people who have no minor children at home, are under 55 and are not on SSI are allowed to be on food stamps only temporarily.

We used to qualify, never took them, I just checked for my own amusement.

If you are having a rough time financially then food banks are probably your best bet. Less paperwork.

[libertylover]

I've got to wonder how many people are as persistent as I was in stopping a benefit to which we are no longer eligible.

You're about as rare as a Democrat at a pro-life rally.

[Eagles6]

Only $50 a week?

That's inhumane!

Not even counting the garden and hunting I spend less than that and I eat fine.

[ExSES]

I've got to wonder how many people are as persistent as I was in stopping a benefit to which we are no longer eligible.

When an agency and its employees are judged successful for ever-increasing the amount of taxpayer money they give away... it is not hard to see why they could care less about recovering any funds!!!