Madison County food stamp payouts skyrocket

Madison County food stamp payouts skyrocket

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Friday, March 5. 2010

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The money spent on Madison County residents needing assistance to eat continues to grow.

Madison County DFCS distributed $4.67 million worth of food stamps during the fiscal year of 2009, up almost $1.6 million — or over 50 percent — from 2008.

“We’ve had some significant increases,” said county DFCS director Lisa Plank. “... It’s just been incredible.”

Those statistics were released as part of the Madison County DFCS office’s annual report.

The county served an average of 3,555 recipients monthly with food stamps, an increase of 791 recipients over 2008.

Food stamps come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the local DFCS offices issue them.

The dollar amount distributed in Madison County has more than doubled over the last six years.

In 2003, the county distributed about $1.75 million. That number grew to just over $3 million in 2008 before the 2009 spike.

The increase in food stamps was just one of the areas of the annual report that Plank discussed with the Madison County DFCS board this past Friday.

Plank is required by law to send the report to certain public officials but also distributes a condensed version to several community leaders and institutions (who are free to request the full report).

“I send it to anybody I can find in the phone book,” Plank said. “I send it to the library, I send it to the schools, I send it to the police department.”

OTHER AREAS

According to the report, an average of five adults and 64 children were served monthly in Madison County under the temporary assistance to needy families (TANF) program in 2009, totaling $169,081.

The program provides temporary, limited cash assistance to families, and a family in Georgia can only receive TANF funds for 48 months.

Unlike food stamps, this program has seen a 48 percent drop in Madison County since 2000.

According to the report, the drop is a result of the job readiness and work requirements that are part of TANF.

As for health care, $25.1 million was distributed in Medicaid in Madison County in fiscal year 2009, a $1.3 million increase over 2008.

As for foster care, Madison County DFCS began 2009 with 22 kids and ended with the same number.

Plank, however, noted a lot of movement in between, with 14 children returning to homes or being adopted.

Plank pointed out that many of those children had been in foster care long-term.

“We’ve been really working on those kind of more of our long term kids, getting them into adoptive homes, getting them into permanency,” Plank said.

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#1 Anonymous on 03/05/10 at 01:10 PM [Reply]

Still upset at immigrants, latino and blacks? Over 9 out of 10 recipients of welfare in Madison County are WHITE CITIZENS.

#1.1 Madison County Resident on 03/06/10 at 11:45 AM [Reply]

I am a mother of two who works two job and goes to school part time. AND I TAKE CARE OF MY KIDS!! A lot of people in Madison County that do get food stamps and other assistance dont take care of their kids and are only worried about where there next shoot up or drink is going to come from. Thet don't have the money to but their kids a pair of shoes but make sure that they have a pack of cigarettes in their pocket!!! Please #1 it dont matter who you are or what color you are, everyone needs a little help sometimes!!!! As for the latinos, I get mad that they get a freakin free ride and can have multiple children and get all the help they can. Blacks, if they get denied or turned down for some reason, they claim "racist". But as for the immigrants go back to where you belong!

#2 F.Y.I. on 03/05/10 at 04:48 PM [Reply]

Well you know what I am a parent who recieves foodstamps for my children and it's not because i am a bum or freeloader I work and do the best i can. It doesn't matter what color you are when you are hungry.

#2.1 Anonymous on 03/06/10 at 11:36 AM [Reply]

Why should I have to feed your children? Be responsible...don't have children you cannot afford.

#2.1.1 MC taxpayor on 03/08/10 at 09:02 AM [Reply]

was it not your son with employment issues ? my view is we support colleges to much and teachers pay are too much with to many perks that citizen Joe or Mary can not get. some people on food stamps deserve this help while others just like some college people are well lazy and live off the system. problem is resources such as taxes are limited and can not tax more without putting more on medicaid and then that requires more taxes. Never ending circle. OH : to many of us see people on unemployment or socially employed who work less hard than we do and yet live better. That is coming to a end. Hope you son found job.

#3 whatever on 03/07/10 at 05:34 AM [Reply]

Well I get food stamps the reason is cause their father is lazy and don't pay child support. Thanks DEFACS. I'm not against black people or anybody. But mexicans they needs to go back to where they needs to go.

#3.1 Anonymous on 03/07/10 at 01:00 PM [Reply]

We need to change the rules. Those who WORK and are responsible enough to SUPPORT THEMSELVES without mooching off the productive members of society should STAY. I don't care where they were born.

And those who are getting food stamps and welfare should be DEPORTED. Again, shouldn't matter care where they were born.

Keep the responsible WORKERS, regardless of nationality. DEPORT the MOOCHERS, even if they were born under a giant flag in Washington.

#3.1.1 Anonymous on 03/07/10 at 11:31 PM [Reply]

Heck yes! Thanks for saying what we all are thinking. Send the lazies somewhere else! I'm not opposed to food stamps or welfare, but people should have to work to get welfare. I don't mean working your job. I mean doing some community service style work in addition to your work. That means on your day off you can pick up trash or mow the grass at the library...something to pay the taxpayers back for supporting your sorry behind.

#3.1.1.1 Wanda on 03/08/10 at 11:21 AM [Reply]

Agree. People should have to work to get welfare. Lots of manual labor work out there the government is paying people to do that should be done by those getting welfare. Put 'em to work!

#3.1.1.1.1 Sardonic Veracity on 03/10/10 at 04:10 PM [Reply]

Sounds like a great plan, Comrades! (That was sarcasm... it really sounds like a Communist plot.)

#3.1.1.1.1.1 Aint Rand on 03/11/10 at 12:49 AM [Reply]

Communists bad. Welfare moochers EVEN WORSE.

#3.2 April on 03/12/10 at 03:19 PM [Reply]

u get food stamps and have a computer and inter-net access u'hm, lets see... I bet you have one of those fancy phones and
new cars and dress like a million.

#4 F.Y.I. on 03/07/10 at 06:04 PM [Reply]

for your information anonymous you do not support my children. do you go to work with me everyday? i don't think so.. do you walk to my landlords house and pay my rent? my lightbill? my gas bill, or buy clothes for my kids? I do not think so. do you work for the dept. of agriculture where foodstamps are produced? No again. I work and take care of my kids not you..

#5 F.Y.I. on 03/07/10 at 06:04 PM [Reply]

#6 F.Y.I. on 03/07/10 at 06:04 PM [Reply]

#7 F.Y.I. on 03/07/10 at 06:04 PM [Reply]

#7.1 April on 03/12/10 at 03:42 PM [Reply]

You did not have to send this 3 times, everyone can read
your non-sense the first time.

#8 Blessed Citizen on 03/07/10 at 10:01 PM [Reply]

I think it is a shame people get upset over food stamps or financial aid. What do you want to happen...these people starve? We have one of the highest unemployment periods and people are struggling to make it by. They have to use the little money they make to keep their homes, vehicles and gas to make it to their job, insurance, electricity, etc. Sometimes, you have to take help where you can get it. And if food takes off some of that financial burnden...so be it. I can't wait till the day comes when those who critize are in the position where they can't afford it anymore and have to ask for assistance. Then you will know how it truly feels. Just consider yourself blessed to have a job, a home and food. It would do this country good if people would help support each other and not just worry about themselves.

#9 only in The USA on 03/11/10 at 07:32 AM [Reply]

LET ME SEE IF I GOT THIS RIGHT.
IF YOU CROSS THE NORTH KOREAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET 12 YEARS HARD LABOR.
IF YOU CROSS THE IRANIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU ARE DETAINED INDEFINITELY.
IF YOU CROSS THE AFGHAN BORDER ILLEGALLY, YOU GET SHOT.
IF YOU CROSS THE SAUDI ARABIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE JAILED.
IF YOU CROSS THE CHINESE BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU MAY NEVER BE HEARD FROM AGAIN.
IF YOU CROSS THE VENEZUELAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE BRANDED A SPY AND YOUR FATE WILL BE SEALED.
IF YOU CROSS THE CUBAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE THROWN INTO POLITICAL PRISON TO ROT.

IF YOU CROSS THE U.S. BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET
a.. A JOB,
b.. A DRIVERS LICENSE,
c.. SOCIAL SECURITY CARD,
d.. WELFARE,
e.. FOOD STAMPS,
f.. CREDIT CARDS,
g.. SUBSIDIZED RENT OR A LOAN TO BUY A HOUSE,
h.. FREE EDUCATION,
i.. FREE HEALTH CARE,
j.. A LOBBYIST IN WASHINGTON
k.. BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS PRINTED IN YOUR LANGUAGE
l.. THE RIGHT TO CARRY YOUR COUNTRY'S FLAG WHILE YOU PROTEST THAT YOU DON'T GET ENOUGH RESPECT
m.. AND, IN MANY INSTANCES, YOU CAN VOTE.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HAD A FIRM GRASP ON THE SITUATION.

#9.1 Anonymous on 03/12/10 at 03:08 PM [Reply]

What is even worse, if you are born here, which means you can work legally in the land of opportunity, you can still get welfare.

And if you have kids you cannot afford, instead of requiring you to be sterilized or abort the fetuses you are too lazy / sorry to take care of or to get off your lazy citizen butt and GO TO WORK, you get even MORE WELFARE!

There aren't any illegal aliens getting welfare, because they are not eligible. Those kids they had on U.S. soil are citizens, so unfortunately they are eligible until you change the Constitution. BUT, what's really sinking our ship aren't the illegals or even the children of illegals....OVER 93% of all welfare moochers are CITIZENS whose parents are also citizens.

We need to force people who have children they cannot afford to at least undergo sterilization or abortions. And obviously we need to force the moochers to GO TO WORK. Otherwise, all you people opposed to abortion need to STEP UP and YOU need to pay YOUR MONEY to all the welfare moochers! Stop saying you want all those babies, but then you don't want to PAY YOUR OWN MONEY to take care of the babies. Hypocrites!

Neal Boortz said it best: If you have children that you cannot afford, YOU ARE A MOOCHER.

#9.1.1 cindy on 07/26/10 at 11:17 AM [Reply]

there are many people working that need some welfare. lets not get overboard on some of this. As you should know that the econcomy of the world went kaput and even high paying executives have lost their jobs. The unemployment in the midwest is close to 10%. Their are people who deserve foodstamps and help in other ways that aren't getting the help. Get educated before you say the wrong thing. And yes there are people who don't deserve welfare and foodstamps.

#10 Ben Had on 03/13/10 at 11:18 AM [Reply]

Well. I can't decide if you are all narrow-hearted, or just narrow-minded. You all seem to think the only people suffering in this down economy is illegal immigrants,and poor white or black trash.

I got news for you...

What about all those hardworking Carpenters,Plumbers,Roofers,Sheetrock Installers,Painters,Flooring Installers,Block masons,etc,that are out of work because the market is flooded with foreclosures? How much control do you think they have over what has happened to their incomes?

NOT TO MENTION all the STORE owners that sell the above mentioned supplies that have laid off or let go their hardworking employees at not fault of their own.

Starting to get the picture?

What about the big machinery operaters,dump truck drivers,and electricians? Know any of those guys that are hurting?

What about all those people that used to make a good living in the Mortgage and finance industry? Not the greedy thieves at the top,but your neighbor that worked there for years?

I guess all these folks that are struggling to support their kids NOW, should have been sterolized back when they had the money to do it right.

You should ashamed of yourselves. I bet everyone of you claim to be a Christian,right? But your thoughts and words place you at the opposite end of the spectrum.

Blame the politicians and bankers,they're the ones that caused this mess. They've robbed us of our wealth to the point of needing food stamps to eat,and it's going to get worse.

This ain't gonna blow over and be okay in a couple of years, it might not be okay for another decade.
So be careful which way you point your finger,your kids might be next.

#11 Ben Had on 03/13/10 at 11:19 AM [Reply]

#11.1 sick and tired? on 03/13/10 at 09:42 PM [Reply]

What happens when all the poor people have taken all the rich peoples money? Will they be happy then? Then who will take care of them and their 6 kids? You people that have money better buy up the guns and ammo while you can before the riots begin!...and I ain't just whistling Dixie!

#11.2 E.J. on 03/14/10 at 07:05 PM [Reply]

So fire government workers so welfare receipients can do their jobs instead. Then the former govenment workers can go collect unemployment. Kind of short-sighted, don't you think?

#11.3 E.J. on 03/14/10 at 07:11 PM [Reply]

You paint an excellent picture, Ben. Please don't double-post; it diminishes the strength of your ideas, especially since it is more than a few sentences.

#12 runningdeer on 11/01/11 at 12:12 PM [Reply]

This is not a popular opinion but it is most true for this county that those who get food stamps should be required to take mandatory random drug test. Those who are not selling their stamps for drugs would not have to worry . Those who do so should be prosecuted. Those of us who are paying taxes to help those who are needy should approve this. But it won't happen!

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Madison County food stamp payouts skyrocket

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Madison County food stamp payouts skyrocket

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