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SHOCKING - How much EBT abuse actually costs you

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Costs may be hundreds of dollars per year per taxpayer.

A record 1 in 7 Americans are receiving food stamps, which is the equivalent population of 24 states combined, totaling 47.1 million individuals. Yes, the total population of 24 states COMBINED. An investigative report has also found that the program is beset by fraud and possibly corruption.

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Highlights

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
11/26/2012 (1 decade ago)

Published in Politics & Policy

Keywords: EBT, fraud, taxpayer, share, taxes, cost, per year

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - A Breitbart News investigative report has uncovered shocking statistics related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). According to the report, the number of Americans on food stamps under the Obama administration "has skyrocketed from 31.9 million to the current record high of 47.1 million."

The report adds, "According to US. Census Bureau data, that figure exceeds the combined populations of: Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming."

The amount of money poured into the program has nearly doubled in the past four years.

The report has also uncovered evidence of abuse. Some food stamp recipients are receiving the benefits without being truly qualified for them. The method is simple, one only needs to lie on their application. With so many claiming need and resources stretched thin, it is difficult for program administrators to catch abusers.

When abusers are caught, they are only required to repay a measure of their benefits, which they may do in installments. There are no criminal sanctions unless they refuse to pay. Even then, those sanctions are financial and do not involve jail.

Further abuse occurs as people exchange their food stamps for cash and make unauthorized purchases with them. That cash is then used to purchase items not permitted under the program. Illegal transactions on Craigslist, and other online websites allow people to exchange Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) credit for items and services.

The purpose of the program is to feed people who might otherwise go without, especially children.

Adding to the complication is JP Morgan, who is left in charge of administering the program and seeking out fraud. JPMorgan has a financial interest in the number of accounts it holds, more accounts mean more money.

Left to oversee those accounts is a fraud division staffed with one JP Morgan employee and five to ten state employees according to another Beritbart News investigation. This example was drawn from the state of Florida. Other states suffer similar understaffing.

JP Morgan is also a major Obama donor. With an overall price tag of $72 billion per year, each American must pay two hundred forty dollars for the program. Considering that only half of all Americans pay taxes, the actual cost to taxpayers is closer to $500 per year. How much of that sum is abused remains unknown.