By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Holes being ripped in the nation’s safety net for low income citizens could leave thousands of Wood County residents hungry and without medical care.
Wood County Job and Family Services Director Dave Wigent is watching anxiously to see how deep the cuts will be for SNAP food assistance and Medicaid – two programs that help the poorest of the poor.
In Wood County, 7,357 people, including 2,987 children, receive SNAP benefits that help them purchase nutritional food. A total of 16,918 people are covered by Medicaid, which helps with medical expenses.
No one is getting rich off either of these programs, Wigent said. For most, it’s a matter of survival. The average family getting SNAP in Wood County receives $315 a month in grocery vouchers.
There are two deadlines approaching that will likely result in several changes to both benefit programs.
First, the state budget is due July 1, with cuts looming to the Job and Family Services programs. Then President Trump’s “big beautiful bill” is expected to be approved by the U.S. Senate on July 4. The new federal fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
The federal cuts will be passed down by the states to local SNAP and Medicaid programs. While Wigent has no doubts that cuts are coming, the specifics are elusive.
“I’ve been looking at this since January,” he said. “It changes almost daily – so it makes it difficult for us to plan.”
Overrun by fraud?
To qualify for public assistance, there are some pretty strict standards to be met, Wigent said. Families have to prove their income, citizenship, household occupancy and other expenses.
The fraud in Medicaid and SNAP programs locally is low, Wigent said. And when it is identified in Wood County, those suspected of committing fraud are pursued and prosecuted, he said.
Wigent cited studies putting client fraud at 3% to 4%.
“There isn’t anybody getting rich on these programs,” he said. “That just isn’t accurate.”
To politicians who say the system is rife with fraud and recipients need to work for their benefits, Wigent said SNAP recipients who are able-bodied adults already have to participate in Wood County’s work activities programs.
One proposal being batted about is requiring adults receiving food vouchers to work 20 hours a week at $14 an hour.
“Those type of efforts have not been all that effective,” Wigent said.
Well over 60% of local SNAP recipients are employed, with some having multiple jobs as they try to escape the cycle.
“The lower wage jobs keep them in the program,” Wigent said.
Deep cuts to Medicaid?
Tough talk in Washington and Columbus looks like there are probably tough times ahead for people on Medicaid.
“In the end it’s a political decision. It’s not our decision here,” Wigent said.
Based on early projections, an estimated 3,600 people could be kicked off Medicaid in Wood County.
“I think that’s highly likely to happen,” Wigent said, questioning what legislators think will happen to those dropped from the system.
“Those folks don’t dissolve into the mist,” he said.
The changes proposed at the federal level are “fairly harsh,” and are being pushed by people who don’t really understand the impact to honest people who honestly need help.
“They will make changes because it seems like a simple fix to a problem,” Wigent said. “But you have to get to the county level to really see the effects.”
Likely outcome of cuts
People kicked out Medicaid will still have health problems, and will have fewer options for care. In all likelihood, they will put off care until it’s a crisis, and then seek help at places like hospital emergency departments.
“Those folks have a challenge coming. They’re going to have a hard time getting health care,” Wigent said.
Despite the rhetoric, the vast majority of Americans on Medicaid are deserving, he added.
As for cuts to SNAP, as the price of groceries spike, local residents are already supplementing their food benefits by getting items at food pantries. Non-profit food banks are already seeing their stock being stretched and in some cases, shelves being emptied.
“Food assistance is becoming a real issue as the price of groceries are too high,” Wigent said.
Unlike some other nations where citizens experience true hunger, Americans have seen food insecurity.
“Hunger, we’re headed into that,” he said.
