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  • Wal-Mart Food Stamps Error Causes Shopping Spree

    If you picture the setting at Wal-Mart on any given Saturday, you probably think of an extremely large crowd overflowing the store, long lines and the store in disarray from all of the people trying to get in and out with the things they need before half of their day is over.

    Imagine this hectic scene, but much more busier…

    This past Saturday people rushed to two different Wal-Mart’s, one in Springhill, the other in Mansfield, Louisiana. No, it wasn’t Black Friday, but a glitch in the EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) System that caused people to get to the stores as soon as possible.

    Certain people’s food stamp cards had their spending limit lifted, accidentally, due to the glitch. As people began to arrive to obtain as many groceries as possible with their cards, the police were called to the scene to make sure an out of control uproar did not occur.

    The company that had the glitch provides Wal-Mart with food stamps, through the EBT cards. The glitch occurred because of a power outage during routine maintenance.

    Wal-Mart workers were confused and didn’t know what to do, but ended up ringing out each and every customer.

    “We did make the decision to continue to accept EBT cards during the outage so that they could get food for their families,” Walmart representative Kayla Whaling told KSLA. She added that Walmart was, “fully engaged and monitoring the situation and transactions during the outage,” according to CBS News.

    Whille some shoppers were able to leave the store with 8 carts full of items, as soon as EBT cards seemed to be working properly again, tons of grocery carts were left deserted in the middle of stores because people realized they could no longer get large amounts of items for free.

    Shoppers gave mixed reactions to the incident, with one man in the Springhill store told KSLA it was simply “human reaction” to stock-up when given the opportunity. Shopper Stan Garcia was more critical of the unscrupulous shoppers, however, saying that taking advantage of the brief glitch in the benefits system amounted to “plain theft. That’s stealing, that’s all I got to say about it,” reported CBS.

  • Walmart Food Stamps, EBT Glitch Empties Shelves

    If a temporary glitch incorrectly showed that there were no restrictions to your bank account, would you proceed to max out the card with unlimited merchandise? A similar situation involving the EBT system for food stamp benefits took place at the following two Walmart locations: Mansfield, Louisiana, and Springhill, Louisiana.

    According to Springhill Police Chief Will Lynd, “I saw people drag out eight to ten grocery carts. It was definitely worse than Black Friday. It was worse than anything we had ever seen in this town. There was no food left on any of the shelves, and no meat left. The grocery part of Walmart was totally decimated.”

    Shoppers continued pounding store clerks with carts full of merchandise until Saturday at roughly 9 p.m. CT. At that time, a Walmart employee made an announcement over the intercom explaining that the complications derived from the EBT system had been resolved where the computers were able to show accurate balance amounts. Shopping carts loaded down with every imaginable food item were left vacant in the aisles.

    Springhill Police Chief Will Lynd surmised that situation. “At that point in time, they knew the jig was up and they couldn’t purchase what they wanted to,” he said.

    Shopper Stan Garcia said, “That’s plain theft, that’s stealing that’s all I got to say about it.”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klqqfaZg1wE

    While the situation in Louisiana left many store clerks with an unprecedented amount of unnecessary work, employees at the Walmart in Philadelphia, Mississippi, became fearful when a small riot broke out according to the Clarion-Ledger. When the EBT cards were not working, many of these grocery shoppers left the store without paying for goods.

    Walmart spokeswoman Kayla Whaling talked with KSLA-TV about handling the situation, and choosing the best avenue to ensure safety for the customers.

    “For the safety of our customers we did make a management decision to close the store. We’re looking into everything; looking at surveillance video and working with the local police,” Kayla Whaling said.

    Seventeen states were affected by this EBT system glitch, and people were unable to purchase groceries as a result.

    [Images Via YouTube]

  • Food Stamps Glitch Not Caused by Shutdown

    People who receive food stamps were in for a shock today when they tried to pay for their groceries. A glitch in the national EBT system halted payments on Saturday, which meant people across 17 states had no money to pay for groceries.

    The error scared many people, as they thought this was the end of their food stamp benefits until the government shutdown is over.

    “When we went to go use them today after 12 o’clock–no food stamps,” said Lakendra Washington, a Maryland resident. Washington said her sister called to let her know about the issue after having to leave her groceries at the checkout counter. “She was like, ‘I went to CVS and the machines were down there, went to 7-11 and machines were down there.’”

    “So we decided to call the card, and it says that you can’t get your balance,” Washington said. “You can’t do anything until further notice. We have four children that live in our home. It’s us two adults and there’s only one income right now, and food is expensive.”

    Have you or anyone you know experienced issues because of the food stamp glitch? Share your experience below.

    Washington and her sister were just two of many customers who had to leave their groceries at the register today. Corner Grocery cashier Eliza Shook described the situation as being “terrible.” Shook said that dozens of people had to put back their groceries. “It’s just been some angry folks. That’s what a lot of folks depend on,” Shook said.

    Despite initial assumptions that food stamp benefits had been cut off because of the government shutdown, the USDA says this isn’t the case.

    “EBT cards in a number of states have temporarily stopped working today due to a technical issue that the vendor that serves these states is experiencing,” a USDA spokesperson said. “The vendor is working to fix this issue and EBT cards will work again once it is resolved. This issue is not related to the government shutdown.” Funding for food stamps should be available for at least a year, if the shutdown lasts that long.

    While this doesn’t immediately help the families who didn’t have the means to pay for their groceries today, their benefits should be restored soon. A timeframe hasn’t been given for when EBT users can expect for their funds to be available on their cards, but the computer glitch has been corrected.

    “We realize that access to these benefits is important to families in the states we serve,” said the spokesperson for Xerox, the company responsible for maintaining the system that experienced the glitch. “We continue to investigate the cause of the issue so we can take steps to ensure a similar interruption does not re-occur,” Jennifer Wasmer said.

    Image via YouTube

  • Food Stamps Cut: $4 Billion Cut by House

    Food Stamps Cut: $4 Billion Cut by House

    Millions of people could see their food stamps benefits decrease or go away after the House voted for $4 billion per year for the next 10 years in food stamp cuts. House Republicans introduced the new legislation earlier this week, and passed H.R. 3102, the Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act, on Thursday with a 217-210 vote.

    The bill still has to pass the Senate, which is unexpected, and the Obama administration said that food stamp cuts that exceed 5 percent wouldn’t be signed. There are currently almost 50 million people on the program receiving about $57 billion per year, according to figures released by the USDA. This is an increase of approximately 10 million people from October 2009.

    No House Democrats voted for the legislation, and all but 15 Republicans voted in favor of it. According to Republicans, the bill will eventually help increase employment rates. “This bill is designed to give people a hand when they need it most. Most people don’t choose to be on food stamps. Most people want a job,” said House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) “Most people want to go out and be productive so that they can earn a living, so that they can support a family, so that they can have hope for a more prosperous future. They want what we want.”

    Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid doesn’t see eye-to-eye with Cantor on the bill. “In the richest country in the world, 1 in 6 people are in danger of going to bed hungry tonight, and half of those people are children. But despite these sobering numbers–and despite the difficult economic times–House Republicans…are determined to gut the nutrition assistance program,” Reid said. About 3 million people will lose their benefits if the bill is signed into law.

    While many are quick to wag their fingers at House Republicans for introducing the food stamps cuts, some are happy to hear that it would allow states to suspend food stamps if a recipient tested positive for drugs. The bill also prohibit lottery winners from receiving food stamps. “Able-bodied” adults without dependents won’t be able to receive benefits indefinitely and must meet certain job requirements:

    (1) register for work; (2) accept a suitable job if offered one; (3) fulfill any work, job search, or training requirements established by administering SNAP agencies; (4) provide the administering public assistance agency with sufficient information to allow a determination with respect to their job availability; and (5) not voluntarily quit a job without good cause or reduce work effort below 30 hours a week.

    Many Twitter users are split on the bill just like our lawmakers. Some believe that we do need a certain amount of food stamp cuts, while others accuse Republicans of wanting to starve people.

    Are the food stamp cuts needed? Add your opinion below.

    Image via YouTube