Someone has started a: "Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients" on Facebook. Before people start these pages and before people make their comments, they need to research their material and make sure they are stating the facts.
I have been an Economic Service Worker for the last 11 years. I determine eligibility for food stamps and medicaid. The welfare check is a separate unit in the State of WV.
Let me quote you some policy. If you have been convicted of a drug felony on or after August 23, 1996 you can not qualify for food stamps. If you have children and or a spouse, they can! If you work and you are excluded from the stamps because of the drug felony your income counts against the household.
In Brooke and Hancock County you do not have to work to receive food stamps. In other counties you have to. Because unemployment is so bad in those two counties the state asked for a waiver from the federal government to exclude these recipients from working for their stamps. There are other counties in WV that follow our policy also but I don't know what counties. Since I have been at this job that policy has been in effect. That is how bad unemployment is in our area.
If a person receives a welfare check it is now put on a debit card. They cannot make cash withdrawals from an ATM with this card. It can only be used at stores as a debit card. I am not knowlegible with the check policy but I do know that if you are a convicted drug felon you can not be on the check but the rest of your family can be.
Yes, there are times when I want to scream "why aren't you working?" but I can't. I have to help that person. And until you have sat behind my desk and done my job you have no idea what these people are going through. And who knows one day you could be sitting on the other side of my desk. So don't pass judgment on anyone as no one as that right. Only God does!
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