Selling food stamp benefits

By: Yami Virgin

A 15 year-old girl asked Fox San Antonio to find out why her disabled mother was only approved for $11 dollars in SNAP federal food benefits.

This when some beneficiaries are selling their benefits for less than they are worth online for tables, haircuts and even tattoos.

According to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission over 3 million Texans receive benefits every month.

They want citizens to call their fraud numbers if they know someone is misusing their benefits.

To report somebody misusing SNAP benefits call the Office of
Inspector General toll free at 1-800-436-6184

Or to report a business misusing SNAP benefits call the USDA
toll free at 1-800-424-7374.


As for our 15 year-old's family, the state tells us their household income was just over $2000.

They were just above the federal guidelines for any more benefits than the 11 dollars they qualified for.

The young woman's mother was a nurse and broke her neck in an accident.

Doctor's then found a problem with her heart and she is now unable to work.

The family appealed their benefits after we shot the story.

Their benefits have been increased by 80 dollars a month.

A spokesperson for the state says that its because their rent went slightly up.

The family says that's not correct.

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