NEW WELFARE PLASTIC CARDS QUESTIONED - Delegate Claims Misuse

(05/12/2003)

A state lawmaker says some people are using their new state welfare plastic cards to get money instead of food. Delegate Sally Susman, a Raleigh County Democrat, says some merchants have reported illegal use of the electronic support cards. The welfare recipient goes to a store with a friend or relative and buys items for that person with the card. Then the friend or relative reimburses the recipient at a discounted rate in cash. Susman says one recipient used the conversion method to finance a hunting trip. Susman is asking the state Department of Health and Human Resources to provide rewards for merchants who catch welfare card abusers. State officials have touted the transition from old-fashioned paper food stamps to electronic debit cards, saying the Mountain State card has curtailed security problems with paper food coupons and has deterred fraud.

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