Food stamps recipients clear Walmart stores as glitch removes spending limits

By IVCPOST Staff Reporter

Oct 14, 2013 08:12 PM EDT

Recipients of the US government's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cleared Walmart stores in Louisiana after a glitch caused the removal of spending limits. Food stamp recipients went on an all-out shopping spree for about two hours in Walmart stores in Springhill and Mansfield. Cashiers allowed recipients to use their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards even if this did not show limits.

KSLA-TV reported that police had to be called in to help with crowd control. However, no apprehensions were made as no one was unruly. After the system was restored, customers left a huge behind a mess as carts were abandoned all over the stores.

According to the website Feeding America, SNAP households had gross monthly income of USD 744 on the average. After the deductions are applied, food stamp recipient families had net incomes ranging from USD 331 to USD 338. Moreover, Feeding America revealed that around 83% of SNAP recipients had incomes that were either at or below 100% of the federal poverty guidelines. That meant that for a family of 3 in 2013, their gross income was USD 19,530 annually.

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