WIC / Foodstamp fraud

[JHZR2]

Hi,

I hope to keep this politics free, I just have a question about fraud of a government program.

TOnight, about 10pm EST, I was in the Food Lion. It was empty, only one register was open, and the manager was bagging. A very well dressed woman, and a man who looked not as nice, were in the store. They bought a bunch of things, and then the counter clerk brought a full handbasket filled with cans of formula. It had to be 20 cans.

They left the store with a pretty full cart with all the formula, etc... without paying anything. Just a whole lot of WIC or simimar checks.

I know its really tough, and quite wrong to judge... and I dont know their situation... Butshe was dressed in top notch clothes/accessories. It seemed odd. Even though the guy was dressed normal, she had fancy rings, a fancy handbag, stuff that I couldnt afford to buy for my GF. So, I have to ask, how much fraud is there in the WIC and foodstamp programs?

I hope to keep this non-political... Its unfortunate if a lot of fraud occurs... though I dont doubt it. This is more of an if, why and how question, not a discussion of the correctness of the programs, etc.

Thanks!

JMH

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

If car insurance was not mandatory, many people would never get it.

This is why I'm against any type of insurance that is given free, without a payment of premiums. The opportunity for abuse is too great and the non discretionary income is used for luxuries as opposed for necessities.

I've been appraoched on more than one occasion and asked if I was interested in buying food stamps at a discount. I said no, not everyone will.

 

[Rhymingmechanic]

I'm more inclined to suspect priorities than fraud--luxuries vs. necessities, as Groucho Marx mentioned. Like you said, the man wasn't dressed extravagantly. And just because her clothes looked expensive doesn't mean they were.

It seems like a lot of America's "poor" have a different standard of living than years ago, or maybe we have a different idea of what poor means. When I was a kid, it was a big deal and a major investment when my parents traded up to a color TV and a VCR (and I didn't think of us as poor). Now a lot of the gadgets are so cheap almost everyone can afford them.

I don't guess the situation in question is much different from a middle-class couple with a McMansion, Hummer for him, Cayenne for her, boat, etc--all on credit. They'd be applying for food stamps, too, if the bills all came due at once.

 

[amazine]

On the wic program you can only buy certain foods. No makeup or music etc...it has to be like milk bread cheese etc....Her clothes could be from a good will or consignment shop. My mother still will shop in those stores and I couldn't tell you why. Government program and fraud in the same sentence? No, go on....
Are you mad at the fraud in the system or that she seems to be beating the system?

 

[Al]

The requirements for WIC are very very liberal. My daughter and her husband were both working and probably making 70K. She had 3 children. She and her 2 younger children qualified for WIC. Her husband was extremely unhappy that she went down to the WIC distribution every week to get the handout. But my daughter is one cheap girl.

BTW she divorced the scum has a high paying job and is not on welfare. I just wanted you guys to know that she is not taking any of your Tax money.

 

[eljefino]

What is a shame is how incredibly expensive baby formula is. I wonder what percentage is sold to taxpayers and transferred to WIC recepients. There was a thing in the news a few years back about how only two or three manufacturers make formula and they almost got busted for price fixing. It seems like something like doctor bills that grows in price because noone is paying out of their own pocket anymore.

Was in a store where a WIC lady did her WIC shopping in line ahead of me and the cashier told her she was also able to get a jar of peanut butter with her benefits. WIC customer went on a rant about how she didn't need any ******* peanut butter since she had a dozen jars on the shelf at home.

 

[JHZR2]

I dont quite understand why people use formula at all... apparently feeding the "old fashioned way" is much better for the baby's growth and immune protection.

JMH

 

[Audi Junkie]

One of my tennants got WIC, she weighed about 90 pounds. She was a waitress where she could get all the food she wanted and her boyfriend, who lived with her, made like $15/hr as a COOK! They got a lil fresh with me when they moved-out, so I placed a call to my wife's friend, an investigator for State Welfare. Nice guy, a real ball-buster though. She never saw another WIC cent and never will.

 

[vairox]

"I dont quite understand why people use formula at all... apparently feeding the "old fashioned way" is much better for the baby's growth and immune protection."

people are lazy... the old "i don't produce enough milk" or "it hurts" etc... it's just easier to scoop poweder into a bottle, nevermind the health benefits to the child...

 

[oilyriser]

"she had fancy rings, a fancy handbag, stuff that I couldnt afford to buy for my GF"

There's no way to prove ownership of jewlery, so it can't be seized if she can't pay the rent and gets sued.

 

[mechtech]

Many people on government aid programs are smarter than New York lawyers in their situation.
They KNOW how to use the system to maximum advanage.

 

[mormit]

""I dont quite understand why people use formula at all... apparently feeding the "old fashioned way" is much better for the baby's growth and immune protection."

people are lazy... the old "i don't produce enough milk" or "it hurts" etc... it's just easier to scoop poweder into a bottle, nevermind the health benefits to the child... "

When you have a newborn, the fake milk manufacturers flood you with free formula hoping you and your kid will get hooked in time for mom's milk to dry up. Wife and I donated it all from both our kids to charity since not everyone can breastfeed.

 

[vairox]

"since not everyone can breastfeed."

if that was the case the end of the human race would have come thousands of years ago... it hurts, they don't know how, or they are too lazy... JMO

 

[ALS]

Seen it before. I was behind two women in line at a local Foodland about 10 years ago. The first was an elderly woman. Every item she had was store brand or the cheapest on the shelf. She paid with ones and change for her order.
The next one was dressed to the nines and had the best cuts of meat and name brand everything.
You got it!! She paid with food stamps. Since I only had a few items I was right behind her going out the door. She got into a 1 or 2 yr old Buick Park Ave. I called with her plate number to the local welfare office to tell them what I had seen. They basically blew me off and said it wasn't their problem.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

ALS, this woman with the new car would be in the emergency room for medical attention and have Medicaid pay for it.

As I've said before, I'm all for universal health, but not for free. There has to be a premium charged for anyone with a job.

In NY, this woman would typically be driving a Benz or a Beemer.

 

[joatmon]

quote:

---

I dont quite understand why people use formula at all... apparently feeding the "old fashioned way" is much better for the baby's growth and immune protection."

---

Well, I have 2 adopted sons and we used the "new fangled" way. They seem very healthy, but what do I know? I'm not a health care professional.

 

[mikemc]

Guys, I live in East Kentucky and I work in a grocery store...I'll bite my tounge or this topic will be closed. The only thing that keeps me sane is the knowledge that I would not have a job without those programs feeding others.

 

[Schmoe]

There are many cases that I have come across whereas people on foodstamps will "cash" them out at half value. Happens everywhere but no one does anything about it. There are always loop holes and people out there that will find them. It just pays to be lazy and worthless. Some people are just peachy-keen with that. No ambition, no drive, no self respect. I just hope I raise my son and daughter good enough to realize that that is NOT the way to go through life.

 

[Matt_S]

Regarding the baby formula issue, just because mother's milk is better doesn't mean formula is bad. I was raised on forumula and am perfectly healthy. I rarely get more than 1 cold per year. That being said, my son is getting breast milk and my wife and I would have it no different. I think the biggest reason people use formula is convenience. With formula, mom doesn't have to pump if she doesn't want to be the only one feeding the baby. It makes it much easier for dad to wake up at whatever ungodly hour the baby starts crying and feed him. It's also much easier for working moms. Without formula, you have to pump every 2 - 3 hours and store the milk. That's pretty inconvenient if you ask me and might not be possible in certain jobs.

So, basically, I can see the arguments both ways. It's a matter of choice. Formula's not bad, but you don't pass along mom's immunity to certain viruses that way. That doesn't mean the baby won't get those some other way, though, but he might get sick more.

 

[eljefino]

Dan4510, you are so right.

That's why I'm actually a fan of section 8 where the government puts up poor people in ordinary (if slightly dingy) apartments, houses, and trailers, with working neighbors. Sets a good example and cuts down on the "word of mouth" on how to better cheat the system one would get if everyone were warehoused in a project.

Katrina demonstrated how hard it is for working people temporarily down on their luck to get basics from the government if they're not used to the system. (Admittedly most agencies were overwhelmed.)