U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has lashed out at Gov. Paul LePage for reducing the number of people on food stamps the wrong way. Vilsack told The Huffington Post on Wednesday that the LePage administration has simply kicked people out of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program without doing enough to help them achieve financial independence. “I […]
SNAP
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
More Americans using food stamps, at a higher cost
Wendee Crofoot lost her job as a fundraiser for a nonprofit in 2011. After exhausting her savings and giving up her Mountain View, California, apartment she ended up working part-time as a restaurant cashier. The low pay qualified her for food stamps,so she signed up. “It wasn’t something I imagined would ever happen,” said Crofoot, […]
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Posted inMaine
Poliquin says bill would close federal loophole keep terrorists from food stamps
LEWISTON — Maine’s 2nd District U.S. congressman said Thursday he wants to make sure those convicted of federal terrorism crimes are not allowed to receive welfare benefits after they have served their prison sentences. U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, a Republican, said current law allows some categories of terrorist criminals to apply for and receive benefits […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
USDA says Maine is too slow to process SNAP applications
AUGUSTA — The United States Department of Agriculture says Maine is the slowest state in the country at processing applications for food stamps. Officials with the USDA sent a letter to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services on Dec. 7 that says data for the first six months of this year show the […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine has fewest residents on SNAP since 2009
AUGUSTA — Maine health and human services officials say the number of state residents enrolled in the food stamps program has dropped below 200,000 for the first time in more than six years. The state Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Family Independence says 199,157 people were enrolled in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, […]
Posted inOxford Hills
Norway woman pleads not guilty to water-dumping scam
PARIS — A Norway woman accused of scamming state benefits by returning dumped water bottles has entered a not guilty plea in court. Linda Goodman, 57, faces a single count of unlawful trafficking in SNAP benefits, also known as food stamps, a Class D misdemeanor. She is accused of purchasing water with state benefits, emptying the bottles and […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston woman admits to welfare fraud
AUBURN — A Lewiston woman who claimed her daughter was living with her so she could collect welfare was sentenced Friday to spend three months in jail. Prosecutors said Jessica Jordan, 36, of 75 Summer St. lied on state documents to indicate her now-16-year-old daughter had lived with her from August 2013 to February 2014, […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
DHHS says EBT card photo fight could lead to loss of SNAP benefits
AUGUSTA — The roughly 249,000 Mainers who receive federal funds to help them buy food could see that aid vanish if an ongoing dispute between state and federal agencies over a new program that urges recipients to put their photos on the cards they use to buy groceries. Food and Nutrition Service — the U.S. […]
Posted inLetters
J. Baird: Work requirement just common sense
It is about time that Gov. LePage and officials at the Department of Health and Human Services followed the federal guidelines requiring work, training or volunteering in order to receive what was formerly known as food stamps. Years ago, when people came to Ellis Island, N.Y., they didn’t depend on food stamps — they worked. […]
Posted inMaine
LePage visits Lewiston homeless shelter, touts food stamp reform
LEWISTON — Gov. Paul LePage stopped by Hope Haven Gospel Mission on Monday to speak with reporters about his administration’s decision to require some of the state’s food stamp recipients to work or volunteer at least 20 hours a week. On Monday, LePage said the proposal to require “able-bodied” adults receiving federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance […]