I believe that any returns made that were purchased with the EBT card should be 'refunded' back onto the EBT card, just as if you were using a credit card.

If you go into the Auburn Wal-Mart the day after the funds are posted to the EBT cards you can find carts full of returned groceries. Unfortunately individuals have figured out that if you return the value of the prior day's purchases you will receive cash. This defeats the intent of Foodstamps.

It is one thing to provide a helping hand, it is another when the assistance is converted into currency to be utilized in ways that are not within the parameters of the intent/purpose.

Maine should include photos on EBT cards to eliminate inappropriate usage...ie trading and selling of these cards. I read in the newspaper that the Obama Administration ruled that you cannot require an individual to have to present a photo id to use the card, but the USDA's own guidance states that you CAN include a photo of the recipient on the card itself. It's very frustrating to see 1/3 of the transactions at my local Hannaford being billed to the Pine Tree Card...It's even ****** to watch that person walk out and get into a better car then I am driving!

Give welfare recipients who want to work (but don't bother looking for a job because they know they won't be able to make ends meet better than on welfare), a supplement to help them so that getting a job makes sense. There is a chasm that exists between the amount of money one earns and what living costs that makes it difficult to work and make ends meet. So, once a person is receiving money for housing, food, etc., why should they work? Wouldn't it make more sense to encourage those who want to work by offering them an amount of aid that would fill that chasm, so they can work, earn a paycheck, pay their bills, but still have something left over? It would cost less to give a small subsidy than full benefits, and would encourage working, and hopefully, eventually lead to getting a better job and not needing any help. It could be a short term subsidy to get them going and would probably save the state millions. The point is to find a way to encourage working versus welfare. Welfare is tough to leave behind with no incentive that your life will be better.

I think in order for welfare recipients to get benefits, they should get community service cards where they are required to do volunteer work in their communities to assist food pantries, senior centers, etc in order to qualify for any benefits. Instilling a necessity, getting what they get by earning it, will get them out of the mindset of just taking, and NOT giving back! They should also be required to show proof of application for at least attempting to get a job. You would be amazed at the number of applications that I see where they purposely sabotage a resume to NOT get work. I don't know about you but I work really hard for what I have and am tired of seeing this abuse on a daily basis. Something needs to be done!!

A young girl and guy have a baby, they are wonderful parents with the girl staying home as a full time Mom. They live in a third story apartment, the only one they could afford, but not really. The guy works 40 hrs a week and brings home $294.00 a week, over time is not an option. This young couple does not have cable TV or dish, they do not have the internet, they can't afford these things, but they are getting food stamps, and fuel assistance. They think things over about how their life is going and the young man decides to go back to shcool so that he will be able to support his family well, a safer place to live, a few luxuries. Isn' this what the system is for? Guess what, they just found out that if you go to school full time you are not eligible for food stamps unless you work 20 hrs a week, he is doing all he can do to keep up with his studing. So the system has failed them, but, our state system pays for our druggies to go to the methadone clinic EVERY DAY, we pay for the treatment, the mileage, and guess what, they are eligible for food stamps. What's wrong with this picture? Lets help those who help themselves. Let's put our tax money into the young people who want to succeed and make a better life for their families. These young people should be awarded for their ambitions, not penalized. Not all welfare recepients abuse, lets help those who don't.

TANF/EBT: there should be a system set in place that if this money is to be used for paying bills, rent, and essentials like gas, toilet paper, school/work supplies; then the electric company, landlord, and certain stores can be set up to accept the card, well the landlord should be able to set up an account where the monies are deposited for the rent. This would solve the "drain the card at the ATM" to make unnecessary purchases that the card does not allow at a register.
Foodstamps: recipients should only be allowed to buy store brand items. They should sit with a worker and make out meal plans; (spaghetti Monday night, roast Tuesday, a full chicken on Wednesday, use leftover chicken to make a soup or chicken salad for Thursday, Friday pizza, etc.) and with this plan in place an estimated cost of the plan will be credited to their account for that week. A receipt should be sent in to verify the purchases. A limit of junk food needs to be set as well; one bag of chips vs multiple, no bakery goods unless authorized due to a birthday/anniversary of one the foodstamps are intended for. Candy should only be allowed to be purchased around holidays; one bag for Halloween, etc. Also agree, no soda! Not fair they can buy soda and turn around and also collect the deposit.
If there's an issue that there's not enough workers to help with this, I'm willing to work!
Just think of the savings of, let's say a family of four, if they were to only purchase store packaged brands and meal plans set in just one week!
Also, there should be no reason benefits are utilized longer then four to maybe five years.

First off, I was once a recipient. No I did not run to the doctor or ER for every little tick, pain, etc. I understood and understand how and why healthcare costs get raised.
I think that doctor visits should be limited. Of course there are situations where others NEED the medical attention and will NEED more visits. A limit should be put in place; x amount for adults and x amount for children.
ER visits, follow suit of what I said about doctor visits. Also, I think that the doctor should be called first and determine whether the patient should be seen in the office at the next available appointment or if it absolutely can not wait and the doctors office call the ER. Obviously a broken leg, arm; heart attack, etc is a true emergency so calling the doctor isn't necessary. I think that if they exceed in doctor visits they should be made to pay a fee and if the doctor didn't call ahead of an ER visit they should be responsible for that bill too.
MaineCare and school systems. There are way too many unnecessary referrals being made. For instance, a child being referred to speech therapy because they used a pacifier as an infant and has no other sound reasons except they used a pacifier. There are other programs I've seen kids referred to and there was no other reason I saw fit other then the child is a recipient of MaineCare.
Lets improve this system!!!

Having worked for various mental health agencies, I am always surprised at the amount of missing documentation for services that have been billed. I would think it would be very cost effective to hire someone that is thorough, like myself to audit and get money returned to the department as well as the fines that could be imposed. So many agencies do not get documentation into the charts within 5 days of service either so if those were found as well. Following the paper trails takes time and effort, but I bet it would be a greater savings than the staff finding the errors/omissions in charts.