Gaping hole
There is potentially a gaping hole in the federal Food Assistance Program - and students might be climbing through.
The program, which provides money to beneficiaries to use to buy food, gauges need with several factors, including the income and assets of everyone living in the household. It also takes into account bills and rent payments, among other things.
But it doesn't take into account the assets of someone on whom a person might be dependent - such as students who rely on their parents for money. The program requires its beneficiaries to notify the Department of Human Services, which administers it, of any income the beneficiary is receiving.
But there's simply no way to keep track of money coming from parents.
For students living off-campus especially, often working minimum-wage jobs and living in apartments where they pay bills and rent, the Food Assistance Program can be a big benefit.
A person using a program he or she doesn't need is committing fraud.
And as taxpayers, everyone else is paying for it.
The government spends plenty of time and resources dealing with students' financial aid in the form of the FAFSA - the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This form takes into account income, assets and other information not only of the students themselves, but also of their parents.
If so much attention can be paid to giving students money for school, surely the same level of attention can be trained on the Food Assistance Program.
Allowing students to use the program without checking to see if they really are in need of it is irresponsible.
Using this loophole is ripping off the government.
Changes should be made, on both levels; the federal government needs to make sure this program isn't abused.
And students need to take a moment to think about right and wrong - and those who are abusing the program need to stop.
