This happened to a close friend of mine, and I am very made about it. I am wondering if it is legitimate for them to ask for that money back. I mean if a poor family goes there to feed there children, then their life starts to get better, and then the agency asks for the money back after making more money?
2007-03-23 15:15:57 · 12 answers · asked by tech_lover 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Wait!, I told my friend I put her situation on Yahoo Answers and she said I got the info wrong. They sent her the letter when she moved to a different County and was not yet working. After a month she got a better job.
So they sent her the letter after the low wage job and while she was not working.
She called them when she got the letter and they said it was a mistake, but they still asked for more money in increasing amounts. She tried calling them and sending them letters but they did not reply. Then they put the debt into her credit history, since this was the last straw for her she decided to pay the money to stop them. This is a true story. I am sorry for the mixup.
2007-03-23 15:50:20 · update #1
Like everyone else is saying, yes it's fair if ur friend didn't report a higher income n kept receiving the stamps for a while after making more money. But I think that only the funds given in that time limit should b paid bk. I hope ur not meaning that everything they ever received is suppose to be given bk. That sounds wrong.
2007-03-23 15:38:33 · answer #1 · answered by •♦๑•TxRose•♦๑• 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they do not declare within 7-10 days of making the new higher income then the state can get the money back from them. but if they were honest and truthful, the county would just cut them off. It may not seem fair but too many people cheat they system. If they never reported the new income, then they owe the state. Simply put.
It may not seem fair but they should be happy and proud that they no longer need help from the county to take care of their children for them.
when mine were little i got a few years of help but when i got on my own two feet i stood there, all by myself and even though things weren't always peachy, at least i could say i was doing it on my own. I was proud. So with them not needing the assistance they should. And if they have to pay back because of something they did or did not do- then they just have to accept it.
2007-03-23 22:23:15 · answer #2 · answered by glorymomof3 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is perfectly legal AND it is fair. You are required, by law, to notify the office dispensing the food stamps (which is now in the form of an EBT card) of any and ALL changes in income within 7 days of the change. If you make more and don't notify, you will get over paid. That over payment must be refunded.
2007-03-23 22:22:15 · answer #3 · answered by cyanne2ak 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it is. THe money could be used for the less fortunate. Your friend is no longer considered less fortunate. I'm surprised the government is aware enough to ask for money back. The thing I'm worried is that the government didn't give your friend money. They gave them food stamps. They're not the same. Technically the food stamps has no monetary value. It can be argued that the government can't force a person to pay for something with no monetary value.
2007-03-23 22:24:17 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The only way your friend would have to pay anything back is if she continued getting food stamps AFTER she had a raise in salary. Any benefits she received after the date of her raise must go back. She is supposed to notify authorities when there is any change in her income.
2007-03-23 22:36:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
If they didnt report the change in household income immediatly, then yes, because the people who recieved the increase, agree to report anything such as that during the sign up process. Either give the money back, or face court charges.
2007-03-23 22:20:49 · answer #6 · answered by cliffburtongodofthebass 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
So, what difference does it make whether you started out making more than the amount necessary to draw food stamps or you were on food stamps and your income went up?
Why should the government feed people? No one received food stamps before about 1960, so what did they do before that? Seems to me that trying to help people has just made them dependent.
Work or starve is a big motivator!
2007-03-23 22:24:48 · answer #7 · answered by plezurgui 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If they can prove their income surpassed the guidelines while they were receiving benefits, yes.
The benefits are there for the poor. If they do not qualify for those guidelines at any point, they should have stopped using the funds.
The updates that are only done periodically do not keep up with new jobs :-)
2007-03-23 22:21:58 · answer #8 · answered by rvogelpohl2001 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The agency has guidelines to follow. If the client goes past the guidelines, they are required to advise the agency. When they didn't do as promised, they have to pay back.
2007-03-23 22:21:10 · answer #9 · answered by Nort 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They're required to report their income.
Food stamp eligibility is based on income. Be glad they aren't charging your "close friend" with fraud.
2007-03-23 22:26:48 · answer #10 · answered by chuck_junior 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋