Are You Going to Lose YOUR Food Stamps on May 1st?

[moneysaver6]

You might...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/08/food-stamp-eligibility-limits_n_1263592.html

Some excerpts from the article:

Quote:

"About 4,023 Pennsylvania households are expected to lose their benefits when the limits take effect May 1. About 880,000 households now get food assistance."

"Food stamp rolls grew exponentially after the 2008 recession and financial meltdown left many jobless or struggling to pay their mortgages and make ends meet. Federal statistics show the annual average number of food stamp recipients grew 58 percent from 2008 to 2011. Households receive an average monthly benefit of $282, and recipients in some states can lose benefits after three months if they're not working or applying for jobs."

"Three former Michigan budget directors who have worked under both Republican and Democratic governors warn that requiring the more than 900,000 Michigan households receiving food stamps to file documents on their assets will overwhelm state caseworkers and possibly cost the state money if its error rates go up and it gets hit with federal fines.

So far, those extra costs have been "negligible," said Department of Human Services spokesman Dave Akerly."

"California lawmakers last year approved a bill doing away with restrictions that kept families on welfare from having a vehicle worth more than $4,650, but Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed it, saying the state couldn't afford the change."

"Jennifer Brooks, director of state and local policy at the Corporation for Enterprise Development, which supports programs that get people out of poverty, said states are finding that recipients are able to move off assistance faster if they can build up savings. Yet 'the presence of an asset test, no matter how high it is, sends the signal that people shouldn't save,' she said.

That's not the way Michigan Department of Human Services Director Maura Corrigan sees it. Corrigan said applicants who still own expensive cars or a second home they haven't put up for sale shouldn't qualify for help. She was stunned during a visit earlier this year to a DHS office to see a food stamp applicant's Hummer parked outside.

'Our concern is protecting the program for the truly needy,' Corrigan said."

[jehosoba84]

 What are the new income limits?

[jehosoba84]

 "That's not the way Michigan Department of Human Services Director Maura Corrigan sees it. Corrigan said applicants who still own expensive cars or a second home they haven't put up for sale shouldn't qualify for help. She was stunned during a visit earlier this year to a DHS office to see a food stamp applicant's Hummer parked outside."

Also, How do we know that this hummer actually belonged to the applicant? I drive a fairly nice car to the FS office all the time. It's my mom's or my sister's car tho. I have to borrow it.

[im23vaughn]

Quoting jehosoba84:

 "That's not the way Michigan Department of Human Services Director Maura Corrigan sees it. Corrigan said applicants who still own expensive cars or a second home they haven't put up for sale shouldn't qualify for help. She was stunned during a visit earlier this year to a DHS office to see a food stamp applicant's Hummer parked outside."

Also, How do we know that this hummer actually belonged to the applicant? I drive a fairly nice car to the FS office all the time. It's my mom's or my sister's car tho. I have to borrow it.

While you may do that, some people don't. They rationalize that if they let go of their car it will mess up their credit.  There are also those who don't want to sell their car for a cheaper car. A lot of middle class families are on PA right now. So it's not abnormal to have a welfare applicant living in a 1200 a month house with a nice car right now. I think Carrigan is saying that FS should be the last option not the 1st option.

[moneysaver6]

There aren't new income guidelines in this case.  Those haven't changed.  What's changing is that they are adding (or altering) an asset test.  As such, people who have a second car worth over a certain amount &/or a higher amount in their savings account will no longer qualify for aid.

They estimate that under 4,100 people will be affected by this in Pennsylvania.

Quoting jehosoba84:

 What are the new income limits?

[othermom]

interesting

[jehosoba84]

 

Quoting im23vaughn:

 

Quoting jehosoba84:

 "That's not the way Michigan Department of Human Services Director Maura Corrigan sees it. Corrigan said applicants who still own expensive cars or a second home they haven't put up for sale shouldn't qualify for help. She was stunned during a visit earlier this year to a DHS office to see a food stamp applicant's Hummer parked outside."

Also, How do we know that this hummer actually belonged to the applicant? I drive a fairly nice car to the FS office all the time. It's my mom's or my sister's car tho. I have to borrow it.

While you may do that, some people don't. They rationalize that if they let go of their car it will mess up their credit.  There are also those who don't want to sell their car for a cheaper car. A lot of middle class families are on PA right now. So it's not abnormal to have a welfare applicant living in a 1200 a month house with a nice car right now. I think Carrigan is saying that FS should be the last option not the 1st option.

 Yea I get that. I went to the full artcle and read it. It's very reasonable. They dont count your first car and the second can't be worth more than 15,000. Thats very reasonable to me.

They don't even ask about posessions in our state. only liquid assets. not that it would be a problem for us if they did.

[moneysaver6]

I agree with that statement.  It should be a last resort and not the first option.

Quoting im23vaughn:

While you may do that, some people don't. They rationalize that if they let go of their car it will mess up their credit.  There are also those who don't want to sell their car for a cheaper car. A lot of middle class families are on PA right now. So it's not abnormal to have a welfare applicant living in a 1200 a month house with a nice car right now. I think Carrigan is saying that FS should be the last option not the 1st option.

Quoting jehosoba84:

 "That's not the way Michigan Department of Human Services Director Maura Corrigan sees it. Corrigan said applicants who still own expensive cars or a second home they haven't put up for sale shouldn't qualify for help. She was stunned during a visit earlier this year to a DHS office to see a food stamp applicant's Hummer parked outside."

Also, How do we know that this hummer actually belonged to the applicant? I drive a fairly nice car to the FS office all the time. It's my mom's or my sister's car tho. I have to borrow it.

[Barb10]

I think they should try and move some people off assistance. If they can afford expensive cars and have a good amount of $$ saved and a 2nd home,why do they need help?

[TruthSeeker.]

 

Quoting Barb10:

I think they should try and move some people off assistance. If they can afford expensive cars and have a good amount of $$ saved and a 2nd home,why do they need help?

 If you have money saved and a second home you wouldn't be eligible for food stamps. They do take your savings into account.

[.Bubbles.]

They do this in assessing SSI it makes sense that they would do it for assessing FS or TANF