Food stamp use at military commissaries up sharply in four years

[The Straight Story]

Food stamp use at military commissaries up sharply in four years


BAUMHOLDER, Germany — Food stamp purchases at military commissaries have nearly tripled during the last four years, according to Defense Commissary Agency figures.

The agency reports that nearly $88 million worth of food stamps were used at commissaries nationwide in 2011, up from $31 million in 2008.

There is little information about who is using the food stamps, officially called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by the Department of Agriculture, because DeCA and the Defense Department do not keep data on individuals who purchase items at commissaries. But Joyce Raezer, the executive director of the National Military Family Association, suspects that the majority of food stamp users are veterans who separated before retirement and members of the National Guard or reserve forces.

“I suspect that we are talking about more recently ,” she said, “who have gotten out of the military and found out that it’s not so easy to find a job in the civilian sector.”

http://www.stripes.com/news/food-stamp-use-at-military-commissaries-up-sharply-in-four-years-1.160858

[xchrom]

1. Recommend

[tsuki]

2. I don't understand this. If you are separated before retirement, you can

still shop on the base?

[RockaFowler]

3. My brother-in-law still shops there

He and my sister and no longer married, but he's allowed to shop there anytime

[tsuki]

4. Is she active duty? Is he active duty?

[matmar]

5. Retiree's my arse....

My daughter is married to a US Marine and she tells me that most every Marine who is ranked E-5 or below and has kids is on the WIC program.

Defense budget has doubled since 9/11 but all the money is going to wealthy "defense" contractors or BS wars in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Military pay isn't enough to feed their families. WTF gives?