SNAP Abuse, Card holders with $7,000.00 balance on cards | Drudge Retort

Monday, February 25, 2013

SNAP Abuse, Card holders with $7,000.00 balance on cards

"Should there be a limit on how much tax payers dollars can be given to someone on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program?" Texas' KGBT 4TV asks in an investigative report on possible food stamp abuse in the Rio Grande Valley.

The report was helped along by a gas station clerk who had grown tired of seeing customers make enormous purchases with their Lone Star cards. In some cases, he says, people would show up and have a balance of at least $7,000 on their cards.

"[O]n an average day he sees about 10 different people all with over $2,000 in food stamps, who report to the government they cannot make ends meet," the report notes.

"But they're driving Mercedes," he adds.

"According to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, there are more than 238,000 people on SNAP in Hidalgo County, costing tax payers more than $28,000,000 dollars this month alone," the report notes.

Posted by paneocon at 10:44 AM | 35 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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Exclusive: $7,000+ Food Stamp Balance

#1 | Posted by paneocon at 2013-02-25 10:49 AM | Reply | Flag:

You're like the George Zimmerman of food stamps PA. Thanks for keeping a watch and ringing the alarm. Just try not to shoot anyone at a grocery store.

#2 | Posted by BruceBanner at 2013-02-25 10:50 AM | Reply | Flag:

#2 | POSTED BY BRUCEBANNER

Couple months ago when I watched a woman buy fresh scallops and filet mignon and then whip out a hand full of EBT cards and put some of the bill on each of the cards until she found enough balance on each card to handle the bill. It took 10 minutes. If my stuff was not already on the belt I would have moved to another casher but shooting her would work too?

#3 | Posted by paneocon at 2013-02-25 11:11 AM | Reply | Flag:

"There are times I see customers come in and they've got thousands," "Bob," who spoke on condition of anonymity, told KGBT 4TV

Well, if Bob the Anonymous Gas Station Attendant says it, it must be true, lmao.

#4 | Posted by Corky at 2013-02-25 11:48 AM | Reply | Flag:

#4 | POSTED BY CORKY

Strange how you missed this part:

"I had never heard of this issue until you brought it to light," State Representative Terry Canales told KGBT 4TV.

He added that a $7,000 surplus is "extremely concerning. Reaching these balances is obviously not in the best interest of the state and the people that have these balances its questionable as to whether they need the assistance."

#5 | Posted by paneocon at 2013-02-25 11:56 AM | Reply | Flag:

Strange how you miss that there is absolutely no substation of "Bob's" claim. The state Rep never heard that before, and was commenting as if it were fact.

#6 | Posted by Corky at 2013-02-25 12:00 PM | Reply | Flag:

#6 | POSTED BY CORKY

That's some industrial denial you got going for you there CORKY.

#7 | Posted by paneocon at 2013-02-25 12:05 PM | Reply | Flag:

well, it's okay to question the source at this point.

I'd love to see the results of an "audit".

doubt we'll see one that either confirms or rejects the assertions made by "Bob".

#8 | Posted by eberly at 2013-02-25 12:07 PM | Reply | Flag:

What in the report substantiates "Bob's" claim that some card holders have a $7k balance?

Nada.

You know, if you quit reading the absolute crap in the Blaze and Hot Air and Breitbart and the rest of the mindless rwing Echo Chamber, that brain infection might actually clear up.

Heck, even the Blaze used a question mark in their headline because they know it is BS.

#9 | Posted by Corky at 2013-02-25 12:09 PM | Reply | Flag:

#9 | POSTED BY CORKY

Is seeing it in print enough for you. I know a major news service and local news station and a local representative is not enough for you but do you believe you own eyes?

Exclusive: $7,000+ Food Stamp Balance

www.valleycentral.com

#10 | Posted by paneocon at 2013-02-25 12:21 PM | Reply | Flag:

rofl!

You want a shovel?

That story just quotes the original report that quotes Bob the Anonymous Gas Station Attendant!

There is no substantiation of his claim by any one or any agency.

#11 | Posted by Corky at 2013-02-25 12:28 PM | Reply | Flag:

#11 | POSTED BY CORKY

The picture of the receipt? Let me make this easy for you.

www.valleycentral.com

#12 | Posted by paneocon at 2013-02-25 12:36 PM | Reply | Flag:

lol, we don't know if that is a one time snafu or a serious problem... or whether it represents more than one person on an account.

#13 | Posted by Corky at 2013-02-25 12:41 PM | Reply | Flag:

lol, we don't know if that is a one time snafu or a serious problem... or whether it represents more than one person on an account.
#13 | Posted by Corky

Okay.
But why would that prevent someone from jumping to conclusions.
I mean, that's a no-brainer.
Isn't it?

#14 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2013-02-25 12:44 PM | Reply | Flag:

"lol, we don't know if that is a one time snafu or a serious problem... or whether it represents more than one person on an account."

hold on, first it was nothing but Bob's word. then it turns out there is a photo of the receipt, you've backed up to suggest it's a potential snafu.

it could be....but you could at least concede it's more than bob's word.

#15 | Posted by eberly at 2013-02-25 12:51 PM | Reply | Flag:

I'm willing to go with the assumption that if there is 1 of these.....there is more than one.

#16 | Posted by eberly at 2013-02-25 12:51 PM | Reply | Flag:

#13 | POSTED BY CORKY

Industrial denial.

#17 | Posted by paneocon at 2013-02-25 12:53 PM | Reply | Flag:

-but you could at least concede it's more than bob's word.

OK. I can do that. I just have to not only read the article's now, where that doesn't appear in the original or the next link supplied, but watch the videos, too, I quess.

There is still no substantiation that it is an actual problem, but it appears they will look into it.

And I see why Bob was anonymous in the article and the film... he may be transgressing some privacy law in regards to this individual's account.

#20 | Posted by Corky at 2013-02-25 02:42 PM | Reply | Flag:

He sees no such thing. You cannot buy gas with Food stmaps. You can, however, uy gas with EBT Cash; which are most likely, in fact, from state-collected child support payments and other such sources. Just because someone has a Mercedes does not mean they are not entitled to child support or alimony payments; especially if the partner was in arrears for a long time on said payments.

#21 | Posted by soheifox at 2013-02-25 04:24 PM | Reply | Flag:

By the by, I can easily print out a receipt from the store of your choice saying anything you'd like it to. All you need is a thermal printer, receipt tape, a printer, and half a brain. Without any proof, this "story" means nothing.

#22 | Posted by soheifox at 2013-02-25 04:28 PM | Reply | Flag:

By the by, I can easily print out a receipt from the store of your choice saying anything you'd like it to. All you need is a thermal printer, receipt tape, a printer, and half a brain. Without any proof, this "story" means nothing.

#23 | Posted by soheifox at 2013-02-25 04:28 PM | Reply | Flag:

Weird. Double posted.

#24 | Posted by soheifox at 2013-02-25 04:29 PM | Reply | Flag:

Besides, the "a printer" should say "a computer".

Paper receipts mean nothing, and people try to fraudulently return things to retail stores with false receipts all the time. That's why most large retailers actually look the sale up in their computer before allowing refunds.

#25 | Posted by soheifox at 2013-02-25 04:30 PM | Reply | Flag:

"a gas station clerk"

He might be doing the right thing but he's not an authority on their income.

#26 | Posted by Tor at 2013-02-25 04:37 PM | Reply | Flag:

Heck, what's seen in that article even looks like it was made with this webpage:

www.smileygenerator.us

#27 | Posted by soheifox at 2013-02-25 04:37 PM | Reply | Flag:

www.salesreceiptstore.com

Wow. And here's someone who makes money off of making fake receipts.

#28 | Posted by soheifox at 2013-02-25 04:41 PM | Reply | Flag:

"You cannot buy gas with Food stmaps."

were they buying gas? I missed that.

#29 | Posted by eberly at 2013-02-25 04:46 PM | Reply | Flag:

#28 | POSTED BY SOHEIFOX

I can see that this could most definitely be a result of fraud, but I question why someone would create such a receipt? What's the benefit? Obviously PAN has a benefit in mind in posting this article, but did the "receipt creator" seek the same benefit? To put Obama's 'socialist policies' in perspective? I don't like the idea that this story is an indication of a simple "snafu" as suggested by CORKY, but I definitely could see that having more of a chance of happening than someone creating a falsified receipt considering a fraudulent receipt does not have any bearing on the SNAP account in question. It would only present evidence that the SNAP system is not working as intended, which again would only benefit someone like PAN, IMO.

My understanding of this issue is limited, so please enlighten. Much appreciated ☺

#30 | Posted by rstybeach11 at 2013-02-25 04:54 PM | Reply | Flag:

"My understanding of this issue is limited, so please enlighten."

absolutely.

But in the meantime, can I still make fun of people on welfare?

#31 | Posted by eberly at 2013-02-25 05:02 PM | Reply | Flag:

Obviously PAN has a benefit in mind in posting this article
#30 | POSTED BY RSTYBEACH11

And what would that be other that to point out a problem with a 80 billion dollar program that is running out of control. What was that sequester number again?

Top secret: $80B a year for food stamps, but feds won't reveal what's purchased

www.washingtontimes.com

#32 | Posted by paneocon at 2013-02-25 05:06 PM | Reply | Flag:

the NACS will lobby to keep it quiet....C-STores make a ton of mark-up on the crap people buy. They don't make [...] off of gas compared to the "inside sales".

It's been that way for a long time.

#33 | Posted by eberly at 2013-02-25 05:14 PM | Reply | Flag:

#32 | POSTED BY PANEOCON

I was trying to make a point about who would benefit from a story based on fraudulent receipt making. I can see your passion about this and it's understandable ('Top secret: $80B a year for food stamps, but feds won't reveal what's purchased' plus other headlines shown on the DR by you and others). I'm not saying it's not an issue. I'm adding credence to CORKY's assertion that one instance can't be considered a trend. But I also see viability in SHOEINFOX's explanation. My question lies within the benefit of fraudulently creating receipts: is there one for the SNAP system user? I'm not saying there isn't, simply that I don't see it.

Although, I do see benefit in you (and others) posting it here on the DR. But someone isn't going to fraudulently create a sales receipt used by a SNAP account in order to benefit PANEOCON, except for maybe PANEOCON. But I highly doubt PANEOCON is a SNAP user - DR user extraordinaire absolutely! But fraudster? Nah. ☺

#34 | Posted by rstybeach11 at 2013-02-25 05:29 PM | Reply | Flag:

But I highly doubt PANEOCON is a SNAP user
#34 | POSTED BY RSTYBEACH11

I'm proud to say I could never qualify and I hope it will always be that way. Thanks to capital gains

#35 | Posted by paneocon at 2013-02-25 08:05 PM | Reply | Flag:

Doncha know that "All of em drive Mercedes". No Hummers, No BMW. No big Black Cadillac, only Mercedes.

All of em.

Things that make me call Bull Shit.

#36 | Posted by oldwhiskeysour at 2013-02-25 11:02 PM | Reply | Flag:

you can save foodstamps for a year. don't like it? write your congressperson.
$7000. whew.

#37 | Posted by ichiro at 2013-02-26 01:19 AM | Reply | Flag:

Comments are closed for this entry.

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