0 Food Stamp Application Process

By Kurt Staley

Applying for food stamp can be a very overwhelming and embarrassing task. Knowing what to expect throughout the entire application process can help alleviate some of the stress and embarrassment involved with applying for food stamps.

The first thing required by the food stamp office is an application. Most counties have an online application process. The electronic application allows the process to get started the moment the application is submitted. Paper applications will be accepted, but the process will take longer than an electronic application. Most food stamp offices have computers available for applicants filling out electronic applications. Workers will be available on hand to answer any questions about the application you may have.

After the application is submitted a verification letter will be sent with any documents that are needed to process the application. Documents will be needed to verify identity, citizenship, and household income. You may be required to show: driver's license, social security card, birth certificate, or visa. Having these documents available to submit with the application or shortly after will allow the approval process to start immediately.

A face to face interview or telephone interview will take place after the application is submitted. The face to face or telephone interview is to obtain any additional information needed based on the documents received. It is therefore important to submit all required documentation quickly so any discrepancies can be discussed at this time. The interview is also used to verify information and ensure no major changes have taken place. The interviewer may ask about finances and equity at the time, such as how much cash is maintained in checking or saving accounts, how much equity is in a house or car, and how much is paid monthly for utilities. If the interviewer determines more documentation is needed they will tell you right away or mail a letter stating the documentation needed for further processing.

Once all documents are received and the interview is completed, the application will start the final processing. A letter will be mailed upon approval or denial of the application. If an electronic application was completed you may check the status of the application online. Be sure to keep all information on hand to reapply after the initial approval period ends. The approval period can last between six months to a year. The approval process to reapply is not as lengthy or as detailed.

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0 Food Stamps and Obesity Considered

By Lance Winslow

Food Stamps may just be the cause of obesity in the poorer areas of our nation. The other day, I was talking with a couple at Starbucks, they were left leaning individuals, but we were having a political discussion on how our government runs their affairs. The lady asked me if I believed that people should go through a test to see if they were eligible for food stamps. My answer was no, as I would prefer that the food stamp program be completely eliminated. People don't really starve in this country, that's nonsense.

Further, there are all sorts of community groups that can help people, not to mention all the churches that help pick up the slack. I don't believe it's the responsibility of the federal government to feed people in such a great country with so much abundance thanks to free markets.

Further, I mentioned that the program was wasteful, full of fraud, and it was making people fat. That didn't sit well with her husband who I would have to classify as a bleeding heart neo-liberal progressive, even though I don't believe socialism as progressive, I see it is regressive - but only because it's never worked in human history, and we should learn from the mistakes of the past and not go down that path again.

Now then back to the question that the lady asked; do you think people should have to qualify and pass a test before they get their food stamps? Yes, unfortunately if we're going to continue this program, we have to get rid of the fraud. But I would submit to you that since 45% of the money that the IRS collects is pre-spent in advance in the administration of the collection of that money, that it is already an inefficient way to feed people from the get-go.

And that's before we spend 35% in administration of the food stamp program, or the 35% of the food program which is deemed to be fraudulent. Also, I consider the food stamp program to be in many regards corporate welfare, and perhaps the politicians are double dipping with the lobbyists, because not only is it considered social welfare, therefore the Democrats pull for it, but the Republicans like to vote for it because many of the food processing companies get to sell more, therefore it becomes corporate welfare as well.

With a situation like that, you can't stop the fraud, abuse, bureaucracy, or waste, its built-in. Indeed, we are giving food to people who don't need it, and they are getting fat because they are over eating. Then they're going to get diabetes, and then ObamaCare is going to take more taxpayer money from us so that they can help everyone by giving them free drugs which is corporate welfare to the pharmaceutical companies.

You see, I don't know where to stop, as the whole thing is so silly and so ridiculous, and it just goes on and on and on, at some point the system will collapse if we don't reign in the wasteful spending.

Does that make me any less empathetic because I see the reality? Does that make me a bad person for pointing out all this hypocrisy? Certainly not in my opinion, nor am I going to take a chastising lecture from a neoliberal socialist progressive on this topic. If we are going to feed people who cannot feed themselves, that should be done at the community level, not by way of the federal government, which in my humble opinion can't do anything right. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on.

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