Ohio Food Stamp Aid Reduced

"And if you need anything Ohio, there's some ants."

 

Strange how these notices weren't sent out until after the election... It's almost as though someone though that the news might put a damper on that Obamamania in the cities.

From the Toledo Blade: (via Drudge)

Ohio families receiving food stamps could get an unwelcome surprise come January: $50 less every month in assistance.

For the 869,000 households enrolled in the program for the poorest Ohioans, that could amount to about $520 million annually out of the grocery budgets.

Because of the way the federal government calculates utility expenses for people receiving the benefit, a mild winter nationwide last year, and a lower price for natural gas, many families could experience a significant cut in aid, those familiar with the program say.

Recipients should get a letter from the state Department of Job and Family Services this month explaining the change, said Ben Johnson, a spokesman for the agency.
Meanwhile, food banks and others that distribute food assistance are bracing for increased demand.

[...]

Ms. Hamler-Fugitt said her organization is particularly concerned that some seniors or persons with disabilities who have a low benefit amount could lose all their monthly assistance.

"We’re really worried about [the change],” she said.

What’s called the “standard utility allowance” — the amount deducted from a person’s income when the state determines his or her eligibility for the food stamp program — will decrease by $166 for 2013, translating to about $50 less per household in food assistance. State Job and Family Services officials tried to appeal the change to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the food stamp program, officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, but the USDA denied the request.

USDA officials did not respond to requests from The Blade for comment [bold mine].
 

Odd that adding a bunch of people to the food stamp dole results in a reduction of benefits. It's almost like there's limited resources out there or something. And mild winters result in a reduction of benefits? Well, let's hope we have a really nasty winter there so the feds won't reduce them again. Of course nasty winters have a way of being expensive and all... Uh oh, I sense a ridiculous bureaucratic cycle beginning.

In the meantime, it's pretty much looks like it's "thanks for the electoral votes Ohio, now suck it."