Food Stamp Sting

[ljbab728]

That would be nice in theory - but now you have convenience and grocery clerks doubling as enforcement police. It's not alcohol and/or cigs that are illegal by age. What - are you going to fine a grocery clerk or selling unauthorized goods to a food stamp recipient?

Actually the computers controlling the check out process with scanners already know what can and can't be paid for with the cards. The checker doesn't have to sort out anything. I'm not sure that is the case at the convenience stores which aren't quite as automated with scanners.

[BBatesokc]

Another thing to note is that cash benefits - TANF, Aid to the Disabled, State Supplemental Payments and such - are also accessed by card, so not everyone you see is using it solely for food stamps.

While there is a state card for other assistance (even forced child support payments, etc. that are not state 'handouts'), the SNAP card is pretty recognizable and is only a 'food stamp' card from my experience. I've been approached and seen many people sell or offer to sell their card benefits around SE 44 and Shields area.

[BBatesokc]

That would be nice in theory - but now you have convenience and grocery clerks doubling as enforcement police. It's not alcohol and/or cigs that are illegal by age. What - are you going to fine a grocery clerk or selling unauthorized goods to a food stamp recipient?

I would think it would be possible to tie the approved items to the UPC code - it works for validating coupons and matching them to purchased items, why not match it to approved food stuffs?

[ljbab728]

I would think it would be possible to tie the approved items to the UPC code - it works for validating coupons and matching them to purchased items, why not match it to approved food stuffs?

Brian, that's exactly what I said in my last post. That's already how it works.

[BBatesokc]

Brian, that's exactly what I said in my last post. That's already how it works.

Ah, must have been typing my rant as you posted your reply.

[kevinpate]

...I've been approached and seen many people sell or offer to sell their card benefits around SE 44 and Shields area.

There was often an interesting crowd near the 44th intersection. Nice employees at the 7/11, CVS and MickyD stores, but yeah, some of the hanger rounds in the lots were
energetic in their desire to peddle their various wares.

[possumfritter]

PQ...Several years back I turned a couple in for Welfare Fraud. Here is the Reader's Digest version. Both were working. They have 3 elementary school aged children. She finds out she's pregnant. Considers abortion then decides to actively pursue putting the unborn child up for adoption. The father of the baby says no! She is placed on bedrest the last 2 months of pregnancy while still collecting a full paycheck from work. Goes on WIC. Prior to the baby being born she splits with the "significant other." Six weeks after the baby is born she learns that her employer no longer needs her services. She files complaint after complaint but loses. She is placed on TANF and Food Stamps. She gets on Section 8. She is now collecting 2 Child Support checks each month ($750.00) from the first hubby and the father of the newest baby. First hubby moves into a house owned by his ex-mother-in-law. He is working at a Fortune 500 Business in OKC as an IT. All the school-aged children are placed in the Free Meal program at school. All the children are on Medicaid, despite the fact that her hubby "could" provide insurance through work, and the father of the newborn has medical insurance covering his Son. After several months go by the mother gets assistance from the state to go to school. She applies for and gets the Pell Grants. She goes to school...drops out, goes to school again and drops out. She does this several times for 2 - 3 years. She takes the youngest child to Daycare, which the State pays for. Then hubby files bankruptcy and he (still living in his ex mom-in-law's house), purchases a $130,000 home for his now ex-wife to move into. They apply to the OKC Housing Authority to put that house on Section 8...the one that she and her 4 children are living in that her ex-husband bought. I would love to see their Tax Returns for the last 10 years!!!! Oh, she just started working again...after staying at home for nearly 10 years.

[PennyQuilts]

Jeeze...

[Bunty]

Commodities is the was to go. No food stamps or welfare credit
card. They can go to the place once a week and get their food.

lol, Who wants to mess with corn meal and powdered milk?

[kevinpate]

lol, Who wants to mess with corn meal and powdered milk?

Don't be lazy Bunty. One can do a lot with some meal, some beans a bit of powder and some butter, and without much effort.

[Bunty]

YUM, cornbread and beans.

[ljbab728]

YUM, cornbread and beans.

And don't forget the butter to go on both of them, Bunty. LOL

[jmarkross]

I suspect...if one had nothing else to eat...corn bread and beans might taste pretty damn good...

[BBatesokc]

Yeah, but with the liberals its not about "nothing else to eat", its about "eating as 'well' as those who actually have jobs." Doesn't make sense to me. Give the essentials and explain its a help up during a bad time, not a way to be a burden on those who can and do work.

[PennyQuilts]

Don't be lazy Bunty. One can do a lot with some meal, some beans a bit of powder and some butter, and without much effort.

How many of us lived on beans and rice to get us through the college years. Don't they call those the "salad years?" Thing is, this is is not that uncommon for plenty of us. Recall when getting a coke was a luxury? Food stamps ought to keep people fed - not keep them up with the Jones.

[Prunepicker]

The total reality about commodities is this. They aren't fed
cornmeal. Only those who are clueless or refuse reality think
this is what commodities are. The truth is that they get really
good food for the week. Beef, cheese, canned vegetables,
awesome peanut butter and staples. Yeah, they get powdered
milk, but this is about nutrition NOT twinkies and soda pop.

All they have to do is pick it up, and they can use the ingenuity
they used to get on the democrat voter program to get someone
to get the food.

No junk food was handed out. They were even given recipes
to prepare proper meals. Why the left is opposed to dong what's
right is beyond comprehension.

[Easy180]

Yeah, but with the liberals its not about "nothing else to eat", its about "eating as 'well' as those who actually have jobs." Doesn't make sense to me. Give the essentials and explain its a help up during a bad time, not a way to be a burden on those who can and do work.

Can you let us know what you are doing w/o cause of this burden?

[BBatesokc]

Can you let us know what you are doing w/o cause of this burden?

You lost me Easy180.

[Easy180]

You lost me Easy180.

You said they were a burden on you so just wondering what you were doing without cause of it

[BBatesokc]

I find that an odd question. What would your expectation of me be?

[Easy180]

No biggie bates...guessing they aren't much of a burden on you then

[BBatesokc]

Collectively they are a great burden on all of us. A burden a community should be willing to bear under certain circumstances for a certain amount of time. However, in my experience it is an unnecessary burden most of the time.

[Matt]

YUM, cornbread and beans.

My favorite food is beans and cornbread. I love beans and cornbread 'cause I'm just that country boy, you know, havin' that beans and cornbread, 'cause there ain't nothin' wrong with beans and cornbread. It fills you up, you know, so I just love them beans and cornbread!

[PennyQuilts]

Collectively they are a great burden on all of us. A burden a community should be willing to bear under certain circumstances for a certain amount of time. However, in my experience it is an unnecessary burden most of the time.

I mainly wish the feds would get out of the business and leave it to the states. Local folks have a much better handle on the situation and are generally required to stay in their budget.

[FFLady]

Interesting topic! When the story hit the DOK, I noticed the store owners/workers names' were mentioned, but none of the card-carrying customer. Has anyone heard if these perps will have to answer to the fraud they knowingly took part in?

Someone mentioned how a good portion of these recipients fill there baskets with Ho-Ho's & Ding Dongs....makes me wonder if it was their hard-earned money they were spending, would that shopping cart contain different items? If they really had to foot the dental bill, would they eat all that junk???? Something tells me if that were the case, they would take a more practical approach.

And for the record, when I smell a rat, I do call the exterminator...... ;-)