Food Stamp [EBT] recipient benefits will decrease on November 1,2013. Food Assistant benefits will decrease due to the ending of SNAP increases from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (also known as the Stimulus Plan).
Although federal funds have been cut, there will still be programs funded for illegal immigrants or as DCF calls it “Refugee Programs”. Federal funds will be given to illegals who seek cover in the U.S., funding will be provided for education [including college], child care, employment skills, and health care. According to DCF documents, the “Refugee Program” not only applies to Mexican immigrants but also Haitians, Cubans, and special immigrants of Iraqi or Afghan nationality.
Criminal records among immigrants who flee to the U.S. are high, and according to authorities the criminal activity doesn’t usually cease just because they cross into the U.S., and illegals tend to ride the government system. Six out of every ten Mexican immigrants have some sort of criminal record and four out of ten are violent criminal offenders, not to mention being illegal is a crime all on its own. In July of 2013 the U.S. Department of State issued a travel warning for Americans considering vacationing in Mexico. They warned that U.S. citizens have fallen victim to criminal activity, including homicide, gun battles, kidnapping, carjacking and highway robbery. Between 2011 and 2012, 174 U.S. citizens were murdered in Mexico.
According to Haiti authorities, eight out of every ten Haitians have violent criminal records. In August 2013 the U.S. Embassy in Haiti issued a travel warning for U.S. Citizens that were considering visiting Haiti. The Embassy warned that Americans should arrange to be greeted at the airport, be aware of their surroundings, and never wonder off alone due to the growing increase of robbery, rape, murder, and kidnapping for ransom.
It makes perfect sense why Americans are angry at the fact that illegal immigrants take advantage of benefits and take away from U.S. Citizens. Not to mention U.S. tax payers are paying the bill.
An EBT recipient who does not wish to use her name says she moved to Florida from Puerto Rico three years ago and has seen it all. She said, “This is the United States and our federal funds should be used for U.S. citizens, not immigrants so it takes away from hard working American families. Some of us work two jobs and still can’t get ahead. Two jobs and I still qualify for food stamps, what is wrong with this country? I see drug dealers driving new BMWs, a mouth full of gold teeth, three cell phones, and in line in front of me at the store using an EBT card. ” Adding, I see some of these people in my neighborhood and they never seem to leave the house for work, but traffic is in and out of their house all day. No job, but 12 kids and three BMW’s parked in the driveway. It doesn’t seem right“
On top of the decrease in benefits, citizens still face ‘Obamacare’, another poorly thought out government program. The word “poorly” is chosen for reasons that are evident to any American that has attempted to sign up. From network crashes to passwords lost, the failures of the ‘Obamacare’ exchanges have been a complete failure. Even if a person is able to gain access most say it is so confusing you almost need a degree just to navigate through the website. A clinic in Miami said out of 260 people they tried to sign up only one of those sign-ups actually completed successfully.
Jon Stewart with The Daily Show actually joked that he could download every movie on the internet before a single person could sign up for ‘Obamacare’, a joke that does not seem far from the truth.
‘Obamacare’ is a government forced insurance exchange, if you do not get insurance you will be fined. Americans are being forced to take on another monthly bill, adding to the paycheck-to-paycheck status most households already face, something Americans say Obama just does not understand.
Unemployment at an all time high, thousands of veterans homeless, and thousands of children starving; yet Millions in federal funds being distributed for programs that do not benefit U.S. citizens.
According to EBT recipients, they were not notified of benefit decreases in advance.
Ocala Post reached out to DCF via an e-mail supposed to be for media outlets, the e-mails were returned with the following message:
Thank you for contacting the Florida Department of Children and Families
Communications Office. This inbox is not monitored.
Ocala Post did locate a direct e-mail address for the DCF spokeswoman; Ocala Post is waiting for her response.
[UPDATE October 21, 2013 at 9:07 a.m.]
Statement from DCF is as follows.
“On Nov. 1, SNAP recipients will see a decrease in benefits due to the
expiration of SNAP increases provided by the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Current Florida SNAP customers can log
into their My ACCESS account at MyFlorida.com/accessflorida to view their
benefit information for the month of November. The amount of SNAP benefits
each eligible household receives depends on many factors, such as income,
household size and expenses. On Nov. 1, a family of four with no income
and no other changes to their case will see a decrease in their monthly
benefits of $36.
This change has been communicated through the ACCESS Florida homepage, call
center on hold message, posters in service centers and provided to
community partners, social media and a news release will go out this
morning.”
We want to hear from you. What do you think about funds being cut for U.S. citizens, but funds still being offered for “Refugee Programs”?
Leave your comments below.