Well the states that do require you to show assets generally just have you haul in your papers. If there was some cheap way to check someone's assets they would probably use it.


I am not aware of any cheap way to tally up how much money someone has.

From the Mississippi website:
Documents to Bring to Interview

At the time of your interview, please bring verification of your income and expenses. If you cannot get all the information together by your interview date, come for the interview because you will have additional time to provide this information. If you need assistance in obtaining this information, please discuss this with your caseworker at the time of the interview. The following are examples of what to bring:

Proof of identity (driver's license, etc.), alien status
Social Security Numbers for all household members
If employed, proof of income (wage stubs, earning statements, etc.) for the previous month or last filed tax return if self-employed
Bank statements for checking accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, credit union accounts, retirement accounts, stocks, bonds, dividends, etc.
Proof of shelter costs (rent or mortgage payment, lot rent, taxes, utility bills - heat, electricity, water/sewage/garbage, telephone, etc.)

You may be asked to provide additional information based on your circumstances.

I know years ago, when my sister had her daughter and not getting any child support, she was living with my mom. Someone came out to check out the house and see "where" she was going to store the food, they didn't want my mom to be able to eat any of it. They actually asked her where my mother was going to eat. My sister got a bit upset, told them she would make my mom eat in the yard with the dog, then she told them to forget about the food stamps, she would take care of herself.

 

-----signature-----

Do you have a link for this? If so I'd be interested in seeing it.

 

-----signature-----

No, just common knowledge. 40 out of 50 states don't have asset checks. As long as you earn less than x income (about 1000/month for a single person iirc) you can get food stamps even if you have a mansion worth 20 million dollars.


Now the vast majority of rich rich people have investment income (interest, if nothing else) that puts them over the income limit for food stamps. But we're not talking about a huge number of people here in absolute terms. I have no idea how many but I'd be surprised if it's more than a couple thousand nationwide.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but it seems like there would be more information about this if it were "common knowledge." About the only meaningful thing I've found was an article from a Cincinnati NBC News site from 3 years ago

 

-----signature-----

The problem is the elderly who may seem richer than they are because of assets.

 

-----signature-----

It's hard to find these people. In the 40 states that don't check assets there's no real reason anyone would know.


Most of them are probably not rich rich. The sort of person I would expect to find would be someone who inherited a house and substantial assets from their parents, but didn't have enough interest income to hit the limit and no real interest in investment. I did know one dude like that. He inherited a house worth about half a million and some money from his parents when they died and he quit work and started travelling until he ran out of money. I don't know if he collected food stamps but he could have in any of those states if he had wanted to.


Food stamp abuse is very rare as a % of total recipients. But I'm sure there are more wealthy people on food stamps who got their wealth through inheritance than who got it through the lottery.


edit: Most elderly people would have SS income that would put them over the limit I would think.

I don't see a problem here.


Passing more laws is not the solution.


I'm with Yuki that this as a percentage isn't large and to be quite honest any legislation passed will only hurt the poor whether intended to or not.


Stupid people will pass stupid laws though I can guarantee that much.

 

-----signature-----

I suspect folks on a family farm might look like they have plenty of assets, on paper, but are really cash poor. Same for an old widow who never worked, but lives in a paid off house that is worth a lot.

I also suspect the number of folks who win a million or more in the lotto and still go on collecting food stamps is miniscule and this is just a politician trying to gin up some /outrage to get a few votes.

 

-----signature-----