LUMBERTON — A new system designed to expedite the receipt of assistance from the Department of Social Services could cause an initial delay in food and nutrition benefits, county officials said this week.
“We don’t want to cause a panic,” said Anthony Dial, program director for economic services. “But we want to tell people to stockpile food or otherwise prepare in case they are delayed.”
Case workers at the Robeson County Department of Social Services will begin working on Nov. 13 to convert the 23,000 case files of county food stamp recipients to the new program, NC FAST, according to Becky Morrow, the director of the DSS. It was a date chosen by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, which is requiring that all counties in the state adopt the new filing system, she said.
Robeson is among 20 counties that will be implementing the program this month, according to Morrow. She said that counties where the program was first installed reported delays as long as two months, but she called that a “worse-case scenario.”
“We know that they’re going to be delayed,” Morrow said. “We don’t know how long they are going to be delayed, but we’re going to try everything we can to try to prevent any further delay than there has to be.”
NC FAST will assign one caseworker per family, making it easier to group benefits that a family receives into a more accessible file, according Morrow. Conversion of Food and Nutrition case files is only the first phase; other forms of assistance should all be on board by 2013. While the program will eventually make the department an electronic “one-stop shop,” the transfer and consolidation of cases will take some time, she said.
Morrow said people applying for benefits can avoid extended delays by having needed paperwork ready.
“It’s very important that they turn it in in a timely manner and turn all the information that they need to turn in when they turn in the review form, and that will speed up the process,” she said. “The faster they can turn in the information that they need, the faster their case can be put through the system.”
According to Morrow, the department has been approved to hire 15 temporary workers to assist with the transfer of cases and to help the department handle an average of 45 new food and nutrition cases that come in per day, which will also have to be input into the NC FAST system.
“We are preparing for it as best as we can,” she said.
Morrow voiced a concern for those who already rely on food stamps, saying they would be the ones “most affected.” The county issues about $6.5 million worth of food stamps each month, and is projected to issue almost $80 million this year. That represents about an 85 percent increase in the last four years, part of which is blamed on the economy and part of which is because of loosened eligibility requirements.
She said the department will be placing calls to local charities to ask for their help.
“It’s really going to take the community to pull together to help people in need,” Morrow said.
Since you feel somebody is stealing then move to another country where you don't have to pay taxes. We don't need poor mouth people whining about their civic duty. Anybody that has a $2000 - $5000 mortgage needs to pay taxes cause nobody needs a house that big. Sounds like to me you are living above your means and you want somebody to blame. Anybody who pays almost $2000 in taxes a week needs to be grateful and realize they are blessed. Raise your hand and tell God thank ya for blessing me to be able to have what I got. @RossisRight @BBBD @RangerSGT - Wah Wah Wah - cry me a river - death and taxes - I learned at very early age - get with the program. If you aren't part of the solution you are part of the problem. DDDUUUUCCCKKKKK its going right over your head!!!!!!! (and ross I don't see $1400 out of my check - so what?) All this whining - yall sound like a bunch of sissies. Oh poor is me - I have to pay them big ole meanies taxes - palease. Man up and grow up! You are prime poor example of leadership and the reason why our country is in such awful shape. I remember when real men were the ONLY providers in the home and look now we got to get out support your sorry rumps cause you just can't get it done alone. You are the reason our children are not being raised by Mothers but by daycare's and care providers. If Mothers were still in the home it would be a much different country and society. Man made these laws and policies. Why didn't or don't you get it changed instead of just crying so much. Put your energy into solving the problem - even poor people don't like paying taxes and you would be getting them a break too. HaHaHa - ain't that rich. Chew on that for while. Holla! :)
PROTIP: When you have to resort to telling someone to move to another country, you've lost credibility.
My favorite part, though, had to be when you condemned others for supposedly whining and then proceeded spend the rest of your post whining. Classic.
PS. And mind your aggravating kids at the grocery store, and make them stand there and be quiet. We don't like you or your kids.
These are the same punks that ride around during the day looking for a house to break in to give them pocket money, as their food, Obama phone and house are already paid for by us. You need to get into the earl world and see what's going on. When these able bodied people are made by the system to give something back for the benefits they get, then things will be different. You will see a dramatic reduction in those on the welfare and food stamp roles.
I had a boss that used to say once if everyone who got benefits were just required to show up somewhere and sit for 8 hours, no TV, if some other community service couldn't be found for them to do. Then the roles would be reduced greatly.
We are subsidizing poverty and encouraging it, my friend. It's like putting chicken poop in your garden. Everything will grow like a weed!
11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
Pointing your fingers at the system is not the problem. The problem is the people that have do not, in most instances, help the have nots. Its much easier to yell from your soap box than to give out of your pocket or the time in your day to help somebody. If ALL people helped each other then we would not need a food stamp system.
People are constantly blaming the government but its YOU. Also, people that need don't ask for help. If you seem to be doing well then how is someone to even have a clue as to your situation? Lastly, we all spend money on unnessary things...ie clothes,hair, nails, snacks, drinks, cable, satellite, cell phones, hunting/fishing equipment, video games & etc. I said all that to say this - Don't point the finger at someone else - point it at yourself! Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your community.
The government is the problem. Of course people are tighter with giving knowing that their paycheck has already been plunderd by Uncle Sam to give away to others. That being said, America is the most charitable country in the world. Look it up.
Tell me in the verse you posted where God says we should elect rulers to take money from our neighbors to give to others.
ASK for a handout, DON'T demand it......
13 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
Once AGAIN you have shown that it's so much easier to blame others when it's you that is the problem. It just flew right over your head didn't it? I too work and pay taxes as well as tithes and offerings. I don't know have any money hardly left but I still give in offerings because I love to help people who are less fortunate than I am. I am still blessed. What I have is not mine anyway its God's. My treasure is laid up in heaven not here. I actually stopped and gave an elderly couple $100 to do whatever with when I got paid. What have you done for your community besides whine and complain? Blah Blah Blah - actions speak louder than rhetoric. Try being Christlike.
Congrats on posting verses that tell us to obey the law. Thank God our laws give us freedom of speech to criticize our leaders if we disagree with them and the ability to vote for new leaders.
Thanks for blaming others for being a part of the problem because they are not as pious and giving as you and they blame others (like you have).
Now read some verses about being humble. Meanwhile wrap your mind around the fact that a Christian can be loving and care for the less fortunate while still opposing the government stealing their property and justifying it by giving a cut to poor folks.
ITZME: Now to you, You gave an ederly couple a hundred bucks? Well, that's wonderful. Wanta know how much me and my wife gave last week in taxes? $1912.11... And that every week. Then there's taxes on property,$$$$.00, taxes on investments $$$$.00, taxes on business $$$$.00, on savings $$$.00, etc..... And we don't get to choose who this money goes to. You made a one time donation to someone you chose, we're forced to make these payments weekly, monthly, without chosing who recieves it...
all the folks who actually really need food stamp assistance , could someone explain to me how they are going to do that if they don't have additional food stamps to spear? This is exactly why we need to give Obama his final ride on air force one back to chicago! People do you want four more years of this and spear me the "he's for the poor people" because if that's the case your caught in the twilight zone. I'm a Robeson County native but at times I find that getting away was my best option. I bet you that those people that sell their food stamps for drug money will be very devastated and will end up on third floor at southeastern with no insurance thus leaving the tax payers to pay their bill. Most of the leaders in Robeson County are a joke and the unfortunate folks that don't have the opportunity to leave can only hope that things will get better. Can someone please tell me why this county is the largest and poorest in NC?
..
500 dollars and free health. WOW.
Ps, I may not go to church now, but I know some stuff about the bible..... ask me.
Ross,
That is not in the Bible.
Donnie Douglas
Editor
The Robesonian
Thanks,
Cry me a river, what did these darn kind of people do before foodstamps? What? Did people starve to death years ago? Or did they go to work, or attend a church for donations? The government stepped in and now the wont go to church or to a job.... Imagine that.