Bob Shiles
Staff writer
LUMBERTON — Food stamps in Robeson County is a growing business.
Becky Morrow, director of the county’s Department of Social Services, says that currently more than 22,000 Robeson County households receive food stamps, totalling about $6 million a month. And, according to Morrow, with the state of the economy, there is no indication that the number of cases will decline anytime soon.
“Cases and the amount of money for food stamps just keeps increasing year after year,” she said.
Anthony Dial, DSS program director for economic services, says the rise in food stamps is unpredictable, but the trend is clear.
“It varies,” he said. “Some months we get a hundred new cases. Some months there are 200 new cases.”
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides assistance for purchasing food for low and no-income individuals living in the United States. It is a program administered by the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but the individual states are responsible for distributing the benefits.
During the 2011 fiscal year, $76.7 billion in food stamps was distributed nationwide. As of March 2012, 46.4 million Americans were receiving on average $133.14 per month in benefits.
According to Morrow, the total amount of food stamps received by Robeson County residents in 2009 was $47.37 million; $58.10 million in $2010; and $65.18 million in 2011. It is estimated that during the year that $77,062,924 worth of food stamps will be paid out in Robeson County, the state’s 23rd most populous county, which would mark an increase of 85 percent since 2009.
People who qualify for food stamps use an EBT card, which looks like a credit card, to make purchases. They can buy a variety of foods, prepackaged, breads, dairy products, certain bottled beverages, ice, meats, vegetables, fish, poultry and more. Excluded items include hot foods, food intended to be eaten in the store, pet food, and alcohol and tobacco products.
DSS officials say one doesn’t have to look far to see why so many Roberson County residents are finding it necessary to seek assistance to purchase food. And the trend in growth is not just in Robeson County, but nationwide, they say.
“Look at the economy,” Dial said. “There’s high unemployment.”
According to June unemployment figures reported by the N.C. Department of Commerce’s Labor and Economic Analysis Division, Robeson County’s 13.9 percent unemployment rate was sixth highest in the state. Neighboring Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate in the state at 17.6 percent.
State Rep. Garland Pierce also points to the state of the economy, and contributes people out of work for the rise in food stamp recipients.
“Until people get back to work the number of people needing food stamps is going to increase,” Pierce said. “Today there are people needing food stamps that thought they would never need them. These people would rather work than receive the benefits.”
But other factors also come into play when considering the increase in food stamp recipients. Eligibility requirements for the benefits have been loosened. In the past couple of years the minimum financial eligibility requirements have been raised, and work restrictions have been reduced
The Obama stimulus act is credited by many as a key factor — along with the downturn in the nation’s economy — in the rising tide of individuals and families now eligible to receive food stamps. During Obama’s years as president, it has been made easier for childless jobless adults to qualify for the program.
Darlene Jacobs, executive director of the Robeson County Church and Community Center, says that a majority of those who come to her center’s food pantry for assistance are receiving food stamps.
“I feel comfortable saying that 60 to 65 percent receive some kind of food stamps,” she said. “This includes a lot of seniors who receive just $15 to $16 a month in stamps, to families of five who receive $1,000 a month.”
While food stamps increase the purchasing power of individuals and families in need, they also significantly boost the economy of local communities. The USDA has determined that for every food stamp dollar spent, $1.84 is created in local economic activity.
In Robeson County, food stamps can be considered a big business, Pierce said.
“It helps provide jobs and funds payrolls, he said. “If it wasn’t for food stamps, there would be $60 million less coming into the local economy.”
County Commissioner Raymond Cummings, who serves as chairman of the county’s Social Services board, did not return several calls from a reporter requesting his thoughts on the the increase in food stamps.
Reach staff writer Bob Shiles at 910-272-6117 or bshiles@heartlandpublications.com.
"This includes a lot of seniors who receive just $15 to $16 a month in stamps, to families of five who receive $1,000 a month.” Something is wrong with this picture. Senior adults who cannot get out and work to make ends meet and can hardly pay for their medicines while, these young adults get this big amounts of food stamps. I wouldn't be scared to say 8 out of the 10 that get food stamps end up selling them and getting cash to support their other habits. A middle class person in the time of need cannot get help. We have children too. Because I am a single parenting working full time to try & care for my children, and going to school full time, I cannot get help. There definitely needs to be some changes made. There should be a time limit. There should be a limit of one year for food stamps or welfare. If after a year,if a person has been on food stamps or welfare and still don't have a job, there is something wrong. That is why the foreigners are getting all of the jobs because Americans won't work, they would rather stand in line and wait for mine and your taxes to pay for their welfare checks and food stamps. I have worked since I was 15, most of the time 2 jobs to support my family. I can honestly say I have not received any handouts. Time for a change in the system I would say!!!
explodes in Robeson
And one more thing, you should have to have a "character interview" and pass it in order to get anykind of help. The last time I was at the DSS waiting to apply for the food stamps, I was the only white person in the waiting area,
(which isn't an issue, I have many friends of every race) and I had to sit there and listen to how Obama should make it legal to shoot and kill one white person a day. While she sat there with her hair done, her nails done, a brand new clubbin outfit on, all five of her kids looking like they just climbed out of a dumpster. Not one of them had shoes on, and ofcourse, her new $900 iphone 4s, she said that every person with a confederate flag on should be shot in the head execution style. Although you can't educate ignorance, you can teach them how to act in public. That was in no way the time or place to discuss YOUR thoughts and beliefs. Also I had to overhear TOO much information about her personal, VERY personal love life. That would have been a DENIED!! PRIORITZE!!! Food for you and your kids should come before your hair and nails getting done.
I know people will get mad about my comments, but it is the truth. If she would have been denied or suspended for a month or two, she would have learned how to behave in public and maybe be a little more thankful in recieving the food stamps because she would then know that she can be denied.
I predict there will soon be another cival war, this time it'll be the workers against the non-workers... choose your side soon.
'Yall need to wake up, and NO THIS AIN'T ABOUT RACE, but we're not blind.
This should tell all of you now to change your registration to Republican and start eliminating these welfare programs. The democrats are still slave owners just like before. Joe Biden was right, "he gonna keep 'yall in chains".
This is why our taxes are so high having to foot these social programs for these loosers. These people raise kids that our kids have to put up with in schools, we don't want to be around yall and don't want our kids around your kids either. This is great, knowing so many will read this and know how we feel about them now. We may not say anything in public, but we are thinking it. So go ahead and swipe youe EBT card, then turn and look who's staring at you. We're not feeling warm and fuzzy, and mind your children while in public.
But since you brought it up, instead of the sheer numbers, look at the PERCENTAGE OF EACH RACE.... You mentioned it, not me.
@Robesonliving, you need to reread his post too,
RACE is all over it, oh I forgot you did and just because the word black wasn't in it I suppose to not know what it mean. I know, RossiisRight know and you know and everybody else who read it.
In Robeson County, food stamps can be considered a big business, Pierce said.
“It helps provide jobs and funds payrolls, he said. “If it wasn’t for food stamps, there would be $60 million less coming into the local economy.”"
This is the biggest pile of Keynesian horse hockey I've ever read. The USDA is claiming that if we take a dollar from one person and give it to another person to buy food, then that will create $1.84's worth of economic activity? Give me a break. There's no truth to the multiplier hogwash that Keynesians peddle. If it was true, then why don't we tax everyone at 100% and give everyone someone else's money so that when it's spent it is somehow worth more?
That $60,000,000 had to come from someone else's pocket, and letting the original owners of that money save or spend it as they see fit is much more desirable than having Uncle Sam take it and give it to another while claiming it's good for the economy.
How many of these social program have you or your family utilized? Imagine them not being there.
Citizens we need to awake to this sort of corruption that kills the spirit of the working man. I have given him more assistance than the US government by hiring him to work on my farm. Although he always offers to give me a receipt I tell him not to report it. Becauase he will only be taxed to pay into a system that is not designed to help a man like him.
Do not expect Raymond Cummings to address the issue. As usual, he has no comment and will not show any kind of leadership.
Concerned Citizen