Approximately 9,000 people have been removed from the state’s Food Support Program since a review began in January, Minister of Social Development and Family Services Donna Cox confirmed yesterday.
Cox said the review of the programme had thus far also confirmed people have been abusing the system.
“One of the main issues that we have found is that there are some families in receipt of many grants amounting to some, as much as seven thousand dollars and are also on food support and they should not be, because they would have failed the means tests because the household income would have been above the amount,” Cox told Guardian Media.
The review has also found that there were many recipients who were not using the cards.
“We have found that persons have months backed up on their food cards, so it tells us that there is no need for the food card,” Cox said.
However, it is also possible that persons who may have acquired the card illegally in the first place may also have stopped using them since they learned of the review initiated by the ministry.
Cox said there are also clients who could not be found by the ministry, while there are others who refused to replace the card. There were also some cases in which food cards were not being used by the registered applicant. She said some recipients were also found to be dead but that their cards were still being used.
The review is still underway and may take some time to be completed, according to the minister.
However, she said the Government is spending on average $21 million each month on providing food support to eligible families.
“We have about 800 persons to put on food support and they will be added to the system so as we take off, we will also be putting on so it is not just a matter of removing the food support,” Minister Cox added.
Currently, 23,158 people are part of the ministry’s Food Support Programme.
“As we look at each case and we compare with our means test and check the eligibility criteria, then we will assist as much persons as possible,” Cox assured.