JudynTX
03-18-2009, 09:43 AM
:wakeup
LEBANON - Warren County commissioners are upset after learning about a loophole in Ohio's public assistance plan that allows wealthy people to collect food stamps.
The commissioners met Tuesday after learning that a person with a paid-for $311,000 home, a new Mercedes and $80,000 in the bank is being given $500 a month in food stamps and $300 in cash assistance.
"This is absolutely ridiculous and the buck stops here," Commissioner Michael Kilburn said.
The problem is that the county, like all Ohio counties, has no choice.
News 5's Karin Johnson said that since October, new rules mean that counties have not been taking into consideration how much someone is actually worth when determining whether a person gets food stamps.
Therefore, in theory, a person with $1 million in the bank, but no income, can get food stamps.
"I'm beside myself, I'm so upset over it. It's ridiculous. It's not what America stands for," Commissioner Dave Young said.
County human services employees said they know of at least one other person with $71,000 in savings that is getting food stamps, and suspect there are many others across the state.
"It's appalling ... a very big, bad loophole," Commissioner Pat South said.
The value of a person's home has never been part of the accounting that goes into determining food stamp eligibility, which lasts for six months at a time.
Johnson will have more on this story on Tuesday evening.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29738239/
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2009/03/18/rich.getting.food.stamps.wlwt
LEBANON - Warren County commissioners are upset after learning about a loophole in Ohio's public assistance plan that allows wealthy people to collect food stamps.
The commissioners met Tuesday after learning that a person with a paid-for $311,000 home, a new Mercedes and $80,000 in the bank is being given $500 a month in food stamps and $300 in cash assistance.
"This is absolutely ridiculous and the buck stops here," Commissioner Michael Kilburn said.
The problem is that the county, like all Ohio counties, has no choice.
News 5's Karin Johnson said that since October, new rules mean that counties have not been taking into consideration how much someone is actually worth when determining whether a person gets food stamps.
Therefore, in theory, a person with $1 million in the bank, but no income, can get food stamps.
"I'm beside myself, I'm so upset over it. It's ridiculous. It's not what America stands for," Commissioner Dave Young said.
County human services employees said they know of at least one other person with $71,000 in savings that is getting food stamps, and suspect there are many others across the state.
"It's appalling ... a very big, bad loophole," Commissioner Pat South said.
The value of a person's home has never been part of the accounting that goes into determining food stamp eligibility, which lasts for six months at a time.
Johnson will have more on this story on Tuesday evening.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29738239/
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2009/03/18/rich.getting.food.stamps.wlwt