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Ohioans’ food stamp aid to be reduced
Benefit to fall $50 a month starting in January
Ohio families receiving food stamps could get an unwelcome surprise come January: $50 less every month in assistance.
For the 869,000 households enrolled in the program for the poorest Ohioans, that could amount to about $520 million annually out of the grocery budgets.
Because of the way the federal government calculates utility expenses for people receiving the benefit, a mild winter nationwide last year, and a lower price for natural gas, many families could experience a significant cut in aid, those familiar with the program say.
Recipients should get a letter from the state Department of Job and Family Services this month explaining the change, said Ben Johnson, a spokesman for the agency.
Meanwhile, food banks and others that distribute food assistance are bracing for increased demand.
“They are going to increase hunger among our most vulnerable — working families, seniors, children, and persons with disabilities,” said Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks.
Ms. Hamler-Fugitt said her organization is particularly concerned that some seniors or persons with disabilities who have a low benefit amount could lose all their monthly assistance.
“We’re really worried about [the change],” she said.
What’s called the “standard utility allowance” — the amount deducted from a person’s income when the state determines his or her eligibility for the food stamp program — will decrease by $166 for 2013, translating to about $50 less per household in food assistance. State Job and Family Services officials tried to appeal the change to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the food stamp program, officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, but the USDA denied the request.
USDA officials did not respond to requests from The Blade for comment.
State and county Job and Family Services officials say there is little they can do other than letting their clients and community partners who provide food assistance know about the changes.
“This is a federal issue,” said Joel Potts, executive director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Directors’ Association. “It is what it is. They have a formula. … We just think it is going to be really hard on families and individuals. They will see significantly less money starting in January.”
MM
November 13th, 2012
Never forget that a government that’s big enough to give you everything has got you by the short and curlies.
The Dolfer
November 13th, 2012
Two possible outcomes:
1. The backlash will cause the feds to ‘reconsider’ the way the allowances are calculated. This will result in an INCREASE in the amount of assistance given.
2. The rioting begins!!!!!
Sorry to be a negative Nancy
Machloja
November 13th, 2012
Karma is a bitch Ohio, so take it.
Never leek a hand that feed you to much, you may end up up in your ass with it.
Durka durka from work
November 13th, 2012
Fuck them. They got their Obamaphones. If I go to the store on the first of the month I can see some layabout in front of my buying food that I can’t afford and they whip out a LINK Card (the EBT card for Illinois).
A guy I work with has 5 kids. He doesn’t buy his own groceries, he gets an Obamaphone, he gets “assistance” on all of his utilities and rent, and gets a discount on his cable/internet services. Yet, I struggle to make it on my own.
Fucking rent-seeking assholes. No sympathy for them.
Boobie the Rocket Dog
November 13th, 2012
What? Now there’s whining because they’re doing what they should have done all along?
Let ‘em riot! Like Watts, if it’s confined to the ghetto, it’ll be a win-win situation.
Redgrandma
November 13th, 2012
And no, you can’t get your vote back.
IMPEACH Obama
November 13th, 2012
Does the new reduced-amount check come with a “Thank You for re-electing your Communist Black Preznit” card in the envelope ?
Next, may their Obamaphones answer “No service available” except when they try to make another $3 contribution to the anti-Christ.
eternal cracker p
November 13th, 2012
How ever long it takes to receive something from the government is never as fast as the government takes it away.
demonrat dave
November 13th, 2012
People expecting a reimbursement for their vote won’t be happy about this and will blame the republicans
Johnny Freedom
November 13th, 2012
Welcome to Amerika, Ohio. You bastards deserve, and in the next four years, will receive a lot worse than this.
Dr. Tar
November 13th, 2012
How deliciously ironic.
Red States are busy fracking away, on private land creating jobs and millionaires and driving down the cost of energy. In addition, winters are getting milder due to climate change (according to lefty marxist chicken littlist thinking). Those in the Blue states who depend on Big Gov (and most likely voted in the anti-business Dummycrats) will have to take less in handouts.
You couldn’t make up a better way for the Red States to take it out on the Blue States – vote for revenge everyone!
Reiuxcat
November 13th, 2012
Now now, there is no need to panic.
Adjust your budget. Just buy one less 1.75 L of Whiskey, or switch from Jack Daniels to Old Heaven Hill and cut back on two packs of cigs every month and you can still buy your lobster and filet mignon.
What do you mean by saying, “What’s a budget?”
I Luv Bacon
November 13th, 2012
No lobster for you, Ohio!
Edith McCrotch
November 13th, 2012
But on the bright side…have y’all seen the newest cat fud in the cans?
Salmon and Mixed Grill Pâtés, Lamb and Free Range Chicken with Flaxseed, Grilled Tuna with Organic Vegetables……
mmmmm mmmmm, it’s Grandma good!!!!
Maudie N Mandeville
November 13th, 2012
Google ‘hunger in america’ and you’ll read countless ‘facts’ about “children going to bed hungry”, “35M hungry Americans”, “50M hungry Americans” ad nauseum.
Don’t people ever die from hunger?
Where are the ox carts with all the dead bodies filling the gutters of blue America?
Better question: Where were all the ox carts prior to welfare?
Ricky
November 13th, 2012
After reading all the replies on here, and Yes, I understand the system is being abused..
But, I can’t help but wonder.
Would you feel the same way if you were laid off for over a year, unable to find work and your unemployment benefits ran out?
I’d like to see you live on $50 a month for food.. while Obama destroys this country of ours.
Perhaps another visit to the website that is listing all those people who are getting their pink slips might change your mind.
It’s nice to know there’s a safety net, just in case the worse happens.
The typical working American has about 2 weeks that they can go live on after losing a job.
On the other hand I agree with the posts on here. It’s easy to tell someone to “Go Out and Get a Job. the only problem is..there are not enough jobs to go around, and fewer by the day. it’s definatly a catch 22..and it doesn’t matter which side your on, since both sides are losing.
Something has got to give, and when that happens, it’ll be something that no one will forget..
Chinquapin
November 13th, 2012
I’m standing in line the other day behind the stereotype–fat, minority, female, cartload of bacon and high-sugar crap, four kids under the age of eight. She slides the EBT card and yells across to her co-stereotype at the next register, “I should have brought this over there and let you pay for it!” I stifled the urge to tell her she was ALREADY in line with the fellow who had paid for it.
After last Tuesday, I am less inclined to be restrained. If you read about a riot in Wal-Mart after the food stamp cards reload in December, it might be me.
Billy Fuster
November 13th, 2012
This is Michelle’s new plan to fight obesity.
even steven
November 13th, 2012
This is terrible news. How will they be able to buy cigarettes, booze, and fast food?
Dr. Tar
November 13th, 2012
@Ricky Unemployment should not be made easy and comfortable for citizens of a productive nation.
Studies show that the longer a government extends unemployment benefits the longer people will stay on unemployment. They only start getting active looking for work as the benefits start to run out.
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=425572
Now this doesn’t apply to everyone, but there are plenty of people in these studies that put off serious job searching till the benefits almost lapse. The danger in this is the longer one takes to find work the less employable that person becomes.
http://www.bls.gov/opub/ils/summary_11_01/unemployed_jobs_quit.htm
So, yes being unemployed is bad and a tragedy. However, a number of people are able to put off making hard decisions about what sort of job they are willing to take or moving to were work is availalbe thanks to generous unemployment benefits. The longer they put off the tough decisions the fewer employers will actually want to hire the individual.
FreedomCat
November 13th, 2012
I’m in Ohio and have been unemployed for a year now. Ever since Obama has been in office I have been laid off twice! I have worked all of my life, even in my young teens in fields and at McD’s. I went about 6 mths with just unemployment but with food prices I had to get the EBT card and insurance because I have a 7 yr and 4 yr old. I use coupons with my card b/c it does go fast. I had a call from the insurance provider and while I am waiting for the person on the other line, they had a commercial to sign up now for the free phone! I could not believe my ears. The call came in to me! I did not call them. I asked the guy about it and he said the program started with the previous admin. I told him it was for the purpose to help out the elderly not a freebie for the takers. Just heard on Beck that this Admin knew about the Ohio Food Stamps being lowered BEFORE the election!!!
I have an interview tomorrow. I want to WORK!
Boobie the Rocket Dog
November 13th, 2012
Not so fast. Condemn TOLEDO. Condemn Cleveland. Even Cincinnati (but not its burbs.) Ohio as a whole is ours as soon as we round up the 40,000 Somalians and ship the f_ckers back to Somalia.
louisiana_mom
November 13th, 2012
Karma, baby, karma – gotta love it. This is the thanks you get for stealing the election for Obama. How you like your messiah now?
F.D.R. in Hell
November 13th, 2012
Forty-nine more states to go. Suckers!
flip
November 13th, 2012
>>Welcome to Amerika, Ohio. You bastards deserve, and in the next four years, will receive a lot worse than this.
<<
Fa Q. I'm a life long Ohioan, a long time Republican, making 6 figures, and never on the dole.
Your generalizations suck.
F.D.R. in Hell
November 13th, 2012
Or is it 47?
flip
November 13th, 2012
>>Not so fast. Condemn TOLEDO. Condemn Cleveland. Even Cincinnati (but not its burbs.) Ohio as a whole is ours as soon as we round up the 40,000 Somalians and ship the f_ckers back to Somalia.<<
Thank you.
Include Columbus, Akron, Dayton, and Youngstown in that list. Any URBAN area. The fields and farms are VERY RED white and blue.
Jarhead Cracka
November 13th, 2012
@Freedom Cat, best of luck with your interview. I applaud your use of coupons with the EBT. You’re obviously a wise person and I hope you’re back working soon.
norman einstein
November 13th, 2012
Now that they have fulfilled their purpose, they are nothing more than “useful idiots” and are expendable.
What the government giveth, the government can taketh away.
@Ricky, it’s $50 LESS.
grayjohn
November 13th, 2012
You idiots voted for the ass reaming your going to get so the other 56 states don’t want to hear your crybaby bullshit. Suck it Ohio.
grayjohn
November 13th, 2012
you’re
Jarhead Cracka
November 13th, 2012
Fulltime employees reduced to under 30 hrs a week due to the impact of the “Affordable Care Act”. Reduced foodstamp amounts in Ohio. For those of us lucky enough to be working, watch your net $$ go down as tax cuts expire in January. Welcome to the consequences of the election.
Czar of Defenestration
November 13th, 2012
This is exactly the stuff Republicans need to use to “freeze, isolate” Obama in the eyes of Obama-Voting Americans.
Build up the resentment.
Feed the contempt.
Over and over. THEN, repeat uni sono, ad infinitum.
Oh, wait. Republicans are “better than that.” They prefer to *LOSE*.
FreedomCat
November 13th, 2012
Thanks Jarhead. It’s a phone interview. This job is a long process. Questionnair, Assessment, Phone Interview, then face to face interview. I am praying.
Death_By_Farts
November 13th, 2012
FLip is right….It’s now the big cities in Ohio who decide the outcome of the elections from on.
We, your sister state of Indiana don’t let Gary, Kokomo, Bloomington, and even Indianapolis decide the election, BECAUSE WE GET OUT AND VOTE.
Jarhead Cracka
November 13th, 2012
FreedomCat, sometimes we rail against the “stereotypical” welfare/EBT recipient and forget about the many industrious Americans who would much rather be working than receiving these bennies. I think a lot of IOTW regulars will be rooting for your success tomorrow.
spymyeyes
November 13th, 2012
you people are all f*cked in the head!!!!
Do you REALLY think that these low-brow mouth breathers that are on welfare actually got up off their fat lazy asses and took their 4-12 kids to the polls and voted?
THE PEOPLE WHO COUNT THE VOTES ARE THE ONES WHO STOLE THE ELECTION, NOT THE IDIOTS ON WELFARE!!!!
This is just more devisive politics from the diveder-in-chief, and it is working!!!!!
Anyone who thinks that riots does NOT play into the gubbermints hands of enacting a police state and obamma’s 3rd term in office is nuts.
I Luv Bacon
November 13th, 2012
Hang in there, Freedom.
I know the stress of being strangled financially by extended unemployment.
I had to weather 2 stints myself during the first 4 year plan, 1 15 month, another one 4 months.
the extended benefits helped, but the stress of being out of work that long stays with me.
Been back almost a year, need 2 more years to get my self out of the debt I accrued.
Best of luck to you and all my laid off IOTW sisters and brothers.
flip
November 13th, 2012
>>You idiots voted for the ass reaming your going to get so the other 56 states don’t want to hear your crybaby bullshit. Suck it Ohio.<<
Fa Q too, Einstein. You had "your" right the first time. I got something you can suck but it might taste like metal.
If you're going to diss the entire state of Ohio for this travesty of an election, tell me, where did you vote?
flip
November 13th, 2012
>>But on the bright side…have y’all seen the newest cat fud in the cans?<<
You can haz cat fudz on EBT kard?
FreedomCat
November 13th, 2012
@Jarhead – I know your pain. I had to take money from my retirement to get by. Didn’t mean to make this about me. I do not take offense to any comments here b/c I know I am not a freeloader like many others out there. I voted R down the line here in Ohio and Miami Cty, where I live, rocked the vote for Ohio for Romney/Ryan. I believe Ohio was stolen from Romney. It cannot be that Obama got 99% or 100% of the vote in most precints. Rush or Beck said that not even Dictators get that kind of turnout. I agree that Dems get what they vote for or steal. I will find way to get by, the others will riot or whine. Update: got an email from another employer to go towards the next step. Maybe there is a job for me soon. God I hope so. Want my kids to grow up knowing they should help themselves and not depend on Gov’t.
even steven
November 13th, 2012
@Flip… don’t take it personally. I live in the red part of Illinois, and I’m used to taking crap from others because of Chicago. Sure, I don’t deserve to be lumped in with the teeming masses of lead paint chip eating illiterates up in Chicago, but I know it’s not really directed at me, either. You’ll probably have to get used to it over the next four years… sort of like our friends in New York and California (and I’m guilty of lambasting those states as well as my own… apologies to those who don’t deserve it). You’re on the right side. That’s all that matters.
FreedomCat
November 13th, 2012
Thanks I luv bacon. And we do love bacon here in our family.
Reiuxcat
November 13th, 2012
Good luck FreedomCat! I rail against those that abuse the system, not those that need it.
Xavier
November 13th, 2012
I read somewhere today (Jawa Report?) that it’s not blue states vs. red states; it’s the cities vs. everybody else. Look at a county by county voting map and you’ll see.
even steven
November 13th, 2012
@Xavier, that’s correct. It’s been that way for a long time. The lead paint chip eaters in the cities hate the rest of country.
FabianNightmare
November 13th, 2012
@ FreedomCat – Good luck to you !
@ Ricky – I don’t think anyone would begrudge somebody that got to the end of their rope and needed a hand. The trouble is that for some (50%??)it becomes a way of life.
Take for example: Fully 15% of current welfare (100 billion) goes too low skilled legal immigrants with a HS diploma or less. Why on G-D’s green earth are we admitting immigrants that can’t make it without public assistance ???
Also, since LBJ started the “war on poverty” back in the 60′s,and after trillions of $ the poverty rate has basically stayed the same, around 15%. Whats up with that ??