DCCA: Fewer food stamp recipients since 2006

Food stamp recipients in the CNMI posted a significant drop in the last three years, according to the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.

DCCA Secretary Cecilia T. Celes said this could be attributed to three factors: increase in minimum wage, attrition because of non-compliance with rules, and recipients moving off-island.

Records obtained by the Saipan Tribune showed that last October 2008, the agency provided assistance to 7,606 clients compared to 7,694 in the same period in 2007. DCCA had 8,192 recipients in October 2006.

Celes said the minimum wage increase from $3.05 to $3.55, and now $4.05 made a large number of recipients ineligible for food stamp assistance.

Celes also said that a number of food stamp recipients were terminated for violating program rules and regulations.

She disclosed that many program clients have also moved off-island because of the current economic crisis.

DCCA presently extends $133 monthly assistance to a household size of one, if the income is zero. The maximum monthly income allowable, meanwhile, for a household size of one is $541.

Celes said that in terms of dollar value, DCCA issued $620,259 worth of food stamps in October 2008; $618,866 in October 2007; and $674,375 in the same period in 2006.

For November 2008, DCCA recorded 7,593 recipients valued at $622,408 compared to only $603,353 for 7,516 clients in November 2007.

It was in November 2006 when the agency posted 8,187 recipients, of which $674,666 were provided assistance.

Last December, Celes said they issued $617,711 to 7,513 recipients; $607,823 for 7,626 clients in December 2007 compared to $670,517 granted to 8,106 clients in December 2006.

The secretary said these are just a sample of the fluctuations in the total number of recipients from 2006-2008 for the months of October to December.

Comparing January 2008 to January 2009, Celes said there is a difference of 197 less clients in 2009.

Although more families applied for the program, Celes said the agency denied their application due to ineligibility.

“We also have a 52-percent increase in the number of those seeking food assistance but were denied because of ineligibility during the same period,” Celes added.

The Division of Nutrition Assistance Program in the CNMI, also known as the Food Stamp Program, was established to promote the general welfare and to safeguard the health and well being of Commonwealth residents by raising the levels of nutrition among low-income, zero-income and needy families and individuals.