Food Stamp Fraud

While the media has mentioned stories about Food Stamp issues, most recently with lottery winners, there is also the issue with allowing people on Food Stamps to buy fast food and also to buy luxury items which not all tax payers can afford. This abuse is the lack of the system being changed amount to Fraud on the part of the government since tax payers are being told that Food Stamps is to help people and then when a person abuses the system, it is only the person which is blamed, not the system.

There have been recent reports in the Media about people who win millions, but still get food stamps:

Michigan wants lotto winner off food stamps

LANSING, Mich. - The luck of Leroy Fick, Michigan's 59-year-old "Food Stamp Millionaire" - a lottery winner on government food assistance - appeared to be running out Wednesday as state officials worked to get him off the dole.

Millionaire got food stamps; Obama Administration helps wealthy get welfare

A Michigan millionaire collected food stamps after winning the lottery. "Amanda Clayton, a 24-year-old from Lincoln Park, Michigan . . . is getting away with it," reported the Daily Caller in a recent story. "Clayton won $1 million from the Michigan State Lottery this fall, but she is still collecting and using $200 a month in food assistance from the taxpayers with her Michigan Bridge Card.

Millionaire on Food Stamps and Other Public Aid Raided-Update

A millionaire on food stamps living in a $1.2 million lakefront home was also receiving various other types of public aid. Although she claimed to report everything to her case worker, a different story unfolded when federal agents raided the home.

Do a search for "food stamp millionaire" and you will find other stories. But that is not the REAL FRAUD.

The real fraud is that the government is taking money from tax payers and allowing this broken system to continue. It is not just about those who won the lottery and still get food stamps, it is about the lack of oversight in the whole program. The fact that there are those who have money, but still get food stamps is just one issue. The other issue is failure of the food stamp program to limit participants to non-luxury food only.

People on food stamps should not be able to buy luxury food items, such as lobster tails and steaks:

Lobster, Steak, Food Stamps; Grocery Store Receipt

The system should be changed so that those on public aid are limited to non-luxury items. This is the Fraud that the government is playing on the tax payers and this something that they don't want you to know or think about. When such things are brought up, the blame is placed on the person, not the system which is the real problem.

While it is a good concept to help people who need help, it is bad to create a system while allows for abuse. This abuse includes allowing use for fast food, which is a luxury. If there are some people who are homeless or can't cook food, then allow only those to get pre-cooked food or provide a place where they can get food.

Do a search for "food stamp fast food" and see some of the stories:

Fast Food Chains Getting Into the Food Stamp Act

In an ever-growing number of states, if you crave a taco or fried chicken from a fast-food restaurant, you can pay for it with food stamps.

Food Stamps at Fast Food Restaurants?

"Welcome to Taco Bell, will this be cash, charge or food stamps?"

Just when I thought I'd heard it all, now fast food restaurants want Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients to be eligible to use their food stamp benefit at selected restaurants. Restaurants such as Taco Bell, KFC and Subway believe that there are certain types of SNAP recipients who are homeless or living in conditions that do not allow them hot meals and these people would benefit from being able to use their food benefit at fast food restaurants.

Michigan Fast Food Restaurants Accept Food Stamps

Michigan DHS has a program which allows EBT (Bridge Card) users to buy food from restaurants with their food stamps. 105 restaurants, mostly fast food, accept food stamps (now called SNAP, or Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, benefits).