Action Taken Against Food Stamp Fraud (final changes to regulations)

[The Straight Story]

Action Taken Against Food Stamp Fraud

WASHINGTON (CN) - In an effort to crack down on the illegal uses of food stamps, the U.S. Food and Nutrition Service made final changes to regulations for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

In a rule published last week, the Food and Nutrition Service finalized provisions for when a client or retailer can be disqualified from having SNAP benefits.

Under the new rules, a client can be disqualified from SNAP benefits if he or she uses food stamps to buy products with container deposits (such as bottles or cans), throws the product away, and returns the container for cash.

The rules also stipulate penalties for retailers who abuse the SNAP program, including theft of SNAP benefits and "other forms of trafficking through complicit arrangements between the retailer and the SNAP client."

http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/03/01/55305.htm#sthash.Zqw5SqLO.dpuf

[datasuspect]

1. the food stamp program in illinois is called the link card

rife with fraud.

tons of retailers sprinkled throughout the south and west sides who will let you buy beer, wine, and cigs at inflated prices with a link card

they'll give you cash payouts on food only cards.

link cards are a very important part of the drug trade (at least in chicago).

plus, i always think about the time when i was at la casa del pueblo (grocery store) at 18th and blue island in chicago: construction dude buying a grocery cart full of bottled water and gatorade. paid for with a purple link card.

there's no way anyone can tell me he wasn't buying work related drinks for a CREW. just didn't seem like an intended use of that program. sure, it might be legal, but come on.

just stuff i've noticed. YMMV