[caryatid]

WIC coupons could only be used for certain items. You could present all the WIC coupons you wanted, but you couldn't buy your smokes or beer with 'em.

I do not know how WIC coupons differ in form and use from food stamps; however, I have many, many times seen folks at the nearby convenience store use food stamps to purchase a very small "allowable" item ... get a large amount of change ... and spend every bit of it on Lottery tickets. How does one guard against something like this and prevent it?

[Xenalyte]

At the grocery store I worked for, WIC users would receive smaller-denomination WIC coupons in change. They'd only get cash back if the change due was under a dollar.

[WasDougsLamb]

I do not know how WIC coupons differ in form and use from food stamps; however, I have many, many times seen folks at the nearby convenience store use food stamps to purchase a very small "allowable" item ... get a large amount of change ... and spend every bit of it on Lottery tickets. How does one guard against something like this and prevent it? ----You are right. You really cannot safeguard against it unless you stand over them and watch them 24/7. If someone wants to cheat the system, they will find a way.