By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
Variety News Staff

AT LEAST 11 households were disqualified from food stamp and public assistance programs during the first quarter of the year for violating program rules, the Department of Public Health and Social Services disclosed yesterday. 
The total amount of public assistance given out to the disqualified clients was $10,189, covering the last quarter of 2006.
Francis Damian, program coordinator, said the disqualified clients were sanctioned for various violations such as failure to report employment and income, and for keeping information about changes in household size.
“When they do not relay information to us such as having resources that were not in the original application, or having a child who turns 18 and moves out of the house, that’s considered intentional program violation,” Damian told Variety.
“We approve applications and decide on the clients’ eligibility based on the information presented to us. When we receive information about possible violations, we send out investigators. Sometimes we do random audits,” he added.
Households and individuals who committed a first violation are disqualified from the program for one year. A second violation corresponds to a two-year disqualification.
“They can come to us and reapply for the program. We will reevaluate their applications. But those who committed a third violation are disqualified permanently,” Damian said.