topic Re: Venting About Reduced Lunch in School Program in Community Chat

Venting About Reduced Lunch in School Program

joann1218 — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 15:44:39 GMT

I work in an elementary school as a secretary. I have access to student's files and need to keep certain information confidential, and I do. But please give me this moment to vent and maybe someone will have a way to fix what I see as fraud. To apply for free and reduced lunch in the state of NJ, you fill out an application and do not need to send anything with it to prove your income. Many families apply and are granted free/reduced lunch. Yet, I know for a fact, many are abusing the system. Families purchase homes and I know they receive free and reduced lunch. Students get pulled to travel out of the country for family functions and yet they are on free/reduced lunch. Students, moms and dads come in with designer clothing, handbags and they are on free/reduced lunch. How can families purchase homes, travel out of country, buy designer clothes and yet they have no money for lunch? Fraud is being committed, yet I feel how do I report this, if what I know is confidential? Just venting, but maybe can give me some ideas on how I can report and correct this abuse?

Re: Venting About Reduced Lunch in School Program

Lacey1 — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 15:52:44 GMT

Not exactly an answer to your question, but when it comes to kids and school Breakfast/ lunches- I would worry that these kids wouldn't get lunch. Maybe the parents can afford it-but would they give the money to the kids? I would keep my mouth shut, and let the kids eat. Just my opinion.

Re: Venting About Reduced Lunch in School Program

CrazyDaisy — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 15:55:45 GMT

I get it. While I think most people are willing to help those that need help, way to many take advantage of every loop hole they can. It just keep growing, as people start to become of the mentality that I should get mine too. After all it is the "government" that is paying for it. Way to many people continue to think that if you increase funding you will solve the problem. Public schools continue to prove that stance wrong.

Re: Venting About Reduced Lunch in School Program

aprilskies — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 16:03:30 GMT

I think all kids should get free lunch if they are in school - bottom line.

Re: Venting About Reduced Lunch in School Program

Mustang Shar — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 16:03:54 GMT

I totally understand your frustration!

I don't know how many times I'd see Medicaid paying medical claims as the primary payer, when the family had health insurance benefits with us! Medicaid knew we were active plan, but continued to pay incorrectly.

Re: Venting About Reduced Lunch in School Program

colliegirls — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 16:05:08 GMT

In our district, the family has to fill out a form that asks what other assistance they receive and the case no. It also asks for everyone's wages.

There are abuses in every system, sadly.

Re: Venting About Reduced Lunch in School Program

missy1 — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 16:05:58 GMT

I am glad that they are fed.

Re: Venting About Reduced Lunch in School Program

Maudelynn — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 16:09:30 GMT

Unless you are aware of the personal details of the families' finances, you really can't know for "a fact" they are abusing the program. People buy homes with assistance from the state/and or other family members. Sometimes kids go on vacations because grandma and grandpa are paying for it.

I wouldn't automatically assume someone is gaming the system.

Re: Venting About Reduced Lunch in School Program

CouponQueen — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 16:13:42 GMT

Sigh you will receive many responses on this ..it is a hot topic I am sure.

I am usually very conservative in the 'freebie' programs..In this case while I totally get your outrage..I agree with the poster that the parents probably have their priorities wrong and if they did not receive the free/reduced lunches..the kids would go without. Unfortunate thought but it happens.

That said. What I have found is that many families are not "married" per se in the eyes of the law so the mother is therefore considered "single Mother" and eligible for many entitlements that she would not normally be if married.

Re: Venting About Reduced Lunch in School Program

tansy — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 16:13:46 GMT

Providing lunch for a child is a worthwhile use of my taxes.

Re: Venting About Reduced Lunch in School Program

Tinkrbl44 — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 16:58:24 GMT

@joann1218 wrote:
I work in an elementary school as a secretary. I have access to student's files and need to keep certain information confidential, and I do. But please give me this moment to vent and maybe someone will have a way to fix what I see as fraud. To apply for free and reduced lunch in the state of NJ, you fill out an application and do not need to send anything with it to prove your income. Many families apply and are granted free/reduced lunch. Yet, I know for a fact, many are abusing the system. Families purchase homes and I know they receive free and reduced lunch. Students get pulled to travel out of the country for family functions and yet they are on free/reduced lunch. Students, moms and dads come in with designer clothing, handbags and they are on free/reduced lunch. How can families purchase homes, travel out of country, buy designer clothes and yet they have no money for lunch? Fraud is being committed, yet I feel how do I report this, if what I know is confidential? Just venting, but maybe can give me some ideas on how I can report and correct this abuse?

@joann1218

Sorry, but I think the blame should go to whomever set up the program. WHY aren't applicants required to substantiate income? There would be fewer "frauds" if it had been set up correctly in the first place!

If you need to vent to someone, how about state government representatives .... there's no reason the application process cannot be "tightened up".

That being said, children eating because of my tax dollars is VERY low on the fraud spectrum. JMO

Re: Venting About Reduced Lunch in School Program

CouponQueen — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 16:24:52 GMT

I know the subject of food stamps/EBT/SNAP on these boards is also a hot topic..

But I was recently behind a couple (eh late 50's maybe) in a grocery store where they announced the EBT was down and asked each person before ringing up if they were paying with that..as obviously it could not be processed. The couple in front of me did...she said to ring it up and lets see how much it was. It came to $101 and change. He paid it with cash, then asked the cashier if he could bring his card back when the system was up and swap out..At first she said yes, but then thought better of her answer and called over the Supervisor, who checked and said no...He then became irate, sent the woman out to the car and was headed to see the Manager. I do not know the outcome..

The thing that got me was that every fruit/veggie was organic..every piece of meat was organic..every bottle of juice they purchased Organic..Impossible not to see since my items were on the belt right behind theirs. all equaling a lot of extra money..and anybody can slap a sign on a product and say organic and really and honestly how regulated is it? I hear the explanation..yes that Coach purse was a gift, he needs the iphone for jobs and communication...that heavy gold necklace was a gift or from before they lost their jobs..but you know to me and the rest of the customers it was like just rubbing it in our faces..I have seen people use the EBT card and try and not let people see..I have seen them walking around adding up their purchases with a calculator as they shopped and got behind them in line..totally shopping effectively and in budget..and probably the helping hand vs lifestyle..

Unfortunately we see/hear about the abuses not the ones using them proper and for a helping hand..

very tough call sometimes as it does irk the common tax payer who busts their butt working and budgets and does without the organics in their life..just to stand and watch somebody get those organic on the tax payer who is doing without..

I know 'many' think that is great..they are looking out for their health..no not great really in my book as those food dollars could of been stretched A LOT more if utilized a bit more effectively!

I am not going to begrude Little Johnny a bag of candy..several bags YES..several bags of chips Yes..

I have told this before being behind somebody in Walmart who had purchased a cart load of chips, snacks. soda and beer..all for a Super Bowl Sunday party...they used their EBT card and paid for the booze. Now we hear how benefits are always cut etc..so that family purcashed $125 worth of snack items..so what was their children going to eat in its place?? So yeah, I have issue with that too..

Re: Venting About Reduced Lunch in School Program

mima — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 16:31:08 GMT

@aprilskies wrote:
I think all kids should get free lunch if they are in school - bottom line.

Nothing is free. Everyone (including me) would be paying for all the free lunches that their own parents CAN afford.

Re: Venting About Reduced Lunch in School Program

Snowpuppy — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 16:31:40 GMT

I work with women who sign their kids up for free lunch simply because, well, it's free and no documentation is required. There's no way they qualify.

They also sign them up for Head Start because well, since documentation of income is required then surely they're learning disabled, right? Actually, they use it as free day care for at least part of their work day.

Re: Venting About Reduced Lunch in School Program

CatsyCline — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 16:31:58 GMT

all kids should have a lunch. i have a family member who is a lunch lady and the lunches the gov't provides are nothing special. much of the lunch food comes in those giant cans. if they have the voucher, the kids are to select one fruit and one vegetable along with the main serving. many of them do not even take the fruit or vegetable. canned peaches or soggy green beans

Re: Venting About Reduced Lunch in School Program

SoX — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 16:41:33 GMT

Well, since you know the information is confidential and you cannot reveal it, I'm assuming you're just venting about a program you cannot do anything about ...

Next time your state has a referendum on the free lunch program, maybe you can exercise your frustration at the ballot box.

Re: Venting About Reduced Lunch in School Program

Maudelynn — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 16:42:17 GMT

@Snowpuppy wrote:
I work with women who sign their kids up for free lunch simply because, well, it's free and no documentation is required. There's no way they qualify.

They also sign them up for Head Start because well, since documentation of income is required then surely they're learning disabled, right? Actually, they use it as free day care for at least part of their work day.

What does this mean? Head Start is pre-K for kids who have parents who cannot afford to privately pay for pre-k. IMHO, pre-k should be publically funded, like all public schools are. Studies show that kids who are enrolled in pre-k fare better academically than kids who enter school for the first time in kindergarten.

Re: Venting About Reduced Lunch in School Program

CouponQueen — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 16:43:14 GMT

On the comment about not having any checks/balances on the applications.

I know every year when my kids were in school..the free/reduced lunch application was sent home the first week with all other important documents they needed completion.

The application does have income - and other financial questions. I am sure that they could possibly ask for verification if needed but the cost of the program vs the cost of employee time probably weighs in.

I think the school lunch program is federally mandated so therefore the school is reimbursed for the students who are eligible for free/reduced.

I can understand the OP...day in/out she sees an abuse of the system while she is busting her fanny working and providing for her family.. On the other hand in this case - I feel that if the family is going to the extent of not being honest on the applications with all incomes in the home etc..then they are not financially responsible enough to priortize and the kids would probably go without often..'forgot' to send it in.

I know for some this can be a very upsetting situtation ..as we are faced with it all the time. venting is a great way to get it out. People can disagree...and tell others to MYOB but reality is she deals with their business in her line of work..so it is hard not to notice the abuses of the system..but that also makes you wonder what other things are they receiving that they really are not eligible for?

Unfortunately we are always going to have that handful that ruin it for others and that handful is the ones that stick out in our minds. I know it does me, I admit it freely!

Re: Venting About Reduced Lunch in School Program

ChynnaBlue — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 16:44:45 GMT

@joann1218 wrote:
I work in an elementary school as a secretary. I have access to student's files and need to keep certain information confidential, and I do. But please give me this moment to vent and maybe someone will have a way to fix what I see as fraud. To apply for free and reduced lunch in the state of NJ, you fill out an application and do not need to send anything with it to prove your income. Many families apply and are granted free/reduced lunch. Yet, I know for a fact, many are abusing the system. Families purchase homes and I know they receive free and reduced lunch. Students get pulled to travel out of the country for family functions and yet they are on free/reduced lunch. Students, moms and dads come in with designer clothing, handbags and they are on free/reduced lunch. How can families purchase homes, travel out of country, buy designer clothes and yet they have no money for lunch? Fraud is being committed, yet I feel how do I report this, if what I know is confidential? Just venting, but maybe can give me some ideas on how I can report and correct this abuse?

I can't comment about all of these, but I can say that my friend's designer clothing and handbags has ALL come from Goodwill and thrift stores. You cannot judge a person's income by the clothing he or she wears. She owns more high-end designer pieces than anyone I know and most of the pieces cost about the price of a shirt from Walmart. She's an unemployed law student on scholarships and student loans.

When I was in high school, I got my first prom dress for $13 from a thift store and my mom and I turned it into something unique, Pretty in Pink style. And I did that because I wanted to, not because I had to. (My second prom dress was $112.) My family was upper middle class and I went to school in an area so affluent that the class president had an after-prom party for the entire junior class in the ballroom his parents build for his sister's debutante ball.

You cannnot judge how much money a person has by the clothing he or she wears.or buy the fact that they have a house. There's no rule that says poor people can only rent or be homeless.

Do some people abuse the system? I'm sure they do. Can you identify them JUST based on their clothing or home ownership? No.

Re: Venting About Reduced Lunch in School Program

stevieb — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 16:45:44 GMT

I understand your issue @joann1218... I used to work for a local health department and it used to absolutely floor me to see folks come in dressed to the nines, jewelry, designer bags, the whole nine yards... for the free immunizations that were offered... It's abuse pure and simple and we are funding it. I don't know the answer, but I do know some jurisdictions actually take a stab, from time to time, at trying to tighten up eligibility. At the end of the day, it's probably more of a hassle for them to do so than to simply give things away that the tax base is funding. Of course, it's not fair to those picking up the tab, but then so few things are...