Hundreds line up at food stamp open house

 As early as 8am yesterday, hundreds were lined up at the local food stamp office to either claim their checks, follow up on their  applications, or try their luck if they can get their vouchers that have been pending since December.

Yesterday, it was learned, was the department’s open house for the month where clients, regardless of their schedules, can claim and follow up on their applications.

In a random interview with recipients, many expressed optimism that their checks will be issued yesterday upon submission of some documents they were asked to turn in. Among these is proof that they are staying lawfully on island-any permit from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

A mother of three U.S. citizen children, who requested anonymity, told Saipan Tribune that upon receiving her CW receipt yesterday, she immediately informed the Nutrition Assistance Program office so she could avail of her children’s pending assistance. She usually gets $376 worth of food stamp for her children.

“They told me to come today and try if I can get the checks for my children,” she said.

She said she was first informed about the need to submit a CW permit or receipt when she renewed her children’s application for food stamp benefits on Dec. 14.

Mercedes Apritado, 47, was also lining up for her two children’s food stamp vouchers, usually amounting to $132. She was told of the CW receipt requirement when she renewed her children’s application on Dec. 13. She was petitioned for a CW-2 permit by her husband and was ready to file the document with NAP yesterday.

Marlyn Surima, 40, said she’s waiting for the January voucher for her four children, which amounts to $334. Because she filed the necessary documents as early as December, she was able to get the benefits on time. She feels sorry, however, for those who were not able to provide the necessary document as that would hold up their check assistance.

A mother of three children who has been getting food stamps since 1998 said she is deeply saddened by the situation of some of her friends and acquaintances who continue to be barred from getting the assistance they need because of the new requirement.

She disclosed that since the CW receipt or permit was included among the NAP requirements, many foreign-born parents of U.S. citizen children have opted not to avail of the assistance for fear that they will be referred by the local agency to the federal government. These parents are now considered out of status.

She is convinced that, based on the listings of qualified recipients posted at the local office, there will be a large drop in the number of beneficiaries until the end of the fiscal year.

A food stamp case worker confirmed last week that many checks for December are pending due to the non-submission of CW receipts or permits. This was later denied by Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Melvin Faisao, who blamed the government’s austerity measures for the delay in the issuance of checks. Faisao failed to respond yesterday to Saipan Tribune inquiries-both phone calls and emails-about some food stamp issues.

Food stamp vouchers are issued every first week of each month to low-income households.