Feds Tell California To Drop Illegal Food Stamp Rule; Thousands of Families Affected.SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 15, 1999-- A class action on behalf of severely disabled individuals and their families, has resulted in a federal clarification that a food stamps food stamp n. A stamp or coupon, issued by the government to persons with low incomes, that can be redeemed for food at stores. Noun 1. eligibility rule long applied by California is illegal. The mother of a paraplegic paraplegic /para·ple·gic/ (-ple´jik) 1. pertaining to or of the nature of paraplegia. 2. an individual with paraplegia. six-year-old girl is the lead plaintiff in the class action Anderson v. Saenz, now pending in federal court in San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden . She and her children became homeless after losing all welfare and food stamps because of a California rule that considered the family's car too expensive. California enforced this rule despite a provision of federal food stamp law that exempts a car needed to transport a disabled household member. The California rule, now proved invalid Null; void; without force or effect; lacking in authority. For example, a will that has not been properly witnessed is invalid and unenforceable. INVALID. In a physical sense, it is that which is wanting force; in a figurative sense, it signifies that which has no effect. , stated that a person is not a member of her household for purposes of food stamps or welfare if she receives disability benefits (Supplemental Security Income Supplemental Security Income A Social Security program established to help the blind, disabled, and poor. or "SSI (1) See server-side include and single-system image. (2) (Small-Scale Integration) Less than 100 transistors on a chip. See MSI, LSI, VLSI and ULSI. 1. (electronics) SSI - small scale integration. 2. "). "The rule forced parents like Ms. Anderson into the agonizing choice between keeping a car needed for a disabled child and feeding their families," said Emma Leheny of Western Center on Law and Poverty, lead counsel for plaintiffs. A federal policy interpretation issued Nov. 1, 1999, clarifies that the vehicle exemption is in fact available to all families that need a car to transport a disabled household member, regardless of whether that member receives SSI. "The interpretation is especially important now that so many low-income families need a reliable car to go to work," said Clare Pastore, also of Western Center. She estimated that several thousand California families will be affected by the policy clarification. Added Michael Keys of National Center on Youth Law, "Congress never intended for a family to go without food because one of its children is disabled." Plaintiffs are represented by Western Center on Law and Poverty, National Center on Youth Law and San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. Friends of Legal Aid. |
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