During the past three fiscal years, over 30,000 families have been getting food stamp benefits, based on CNMI government records.
Although the figure does not determine the number of people who are below the poverty line, it shows that many families cannot survive on their paychecks alone.
As of fiscal year 2009, the Nutrition Assistance Program, or NAP, had served a total of 32,593 households.
The figures for fiscal year 2008 totaled 30,607 and 32,000 in FY 2007.
The CNMI population is estimated to be less than 60,000.
According to the NAP office, which is under the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, a food stamp household can be a person living alone, or a group of people living together — they do not have to be related — who buy food and prepare meals together.
There can be more than one “food stamp household” in the same house. In this case, “separate household status” is granted to each of these households.
Over 50 residents interviewed by the Variety said they cannot live without food stamps because the money they earn is not enough to provide for their families.
Not eligible
Estella — not her real name — is a government employee.
She said if she declares her salary and includes it in her food stamp application, she will not be eligible to receive NAP benefits.
She said her salary as an administrative assistant is about $600 a month and is not enough to support her family.
She has three children and also receives a total of $700 a month from her parents, relatives and boyfriend.
But she said she still needs food stamps.
Asked why she needs to lie in her NAP application, she said: “I do not feel there is a need to declare the money given to me by relatives. I need to support my family and the pay check I receive is not enough.”
J.C, a printing press worker, said even though she receives monthly child support from the father of her three sons, the money is still not enough.
“I am just lucky to be a Chamorro because I can avail of government services and assistance for low-income families,” she said.
NAP, in fiscal year 2009 alone, spent a total of $8,322,247 on food stamp benefits, according to its recent annual report.
In fiscal year 2007, NAP spent $7,953,864; in fiscal year 2008 the amount was $7,381,803
‘Beer is food’
Although food stamps should only be used to buy food or other edible goods, some of the beneficiaries admitted using food stamps to buy other household materials and to support their vices.
“I use food stamps to buy betel nuts,” Jaime, a resident of Garapan, admitted.
She said the store where she buys betel nuts “accepts [the food stamps]…the owner knows me because I have been buying from her for a long time now.”
Another resident of Garapan, who also requested anonymity, said she uses food stamps to buy soap, bleach and laundry materials.
She said “the store keeper does not mind. I just don’t know what she does so NAP won’t find out about it.”
“Sometimes I use food stamps to buy beer from my friend’s store,” said R.R., a Chalan Kanoa resident.
Asked if his friend knows it’s illegal to accept food stamps for goods other than food, he said: “Beer is food. I drink it. Maybe he knows about it, he just doesn’t care because it’s me, we are friends.”
This reporter went to the stores named by some of the residents she interviewed, but their owners denied accepting food stamps from those buying beer, betel nut or other goods other than food.
But a store owner in Garapan said she accepts food stamps from her friends who buy potato chips, chocolate beer and laundry items.
“I only do that to those I know personally,” she said.
She makes sure that the receipt indicates that food items, and not beer, were bought with food stamps.
“This is my store. If I say this person bought sardines or tuna in a can worth $2.50 instead of beer worth $2.50, how will NAP know?” she said.
CNMI consumer counsel Michael Ernest, in a presentation before the Saipan Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 3, confirmed that some stores are selling liquor, beer and non-food commodities to food stamp beneficiaries.
He said investigation was ongoing.
Filipinos, too
The number of Filipino families applying for U.S Nutrition Assistance Program on island has significantly increased in the past three fiscal years, according to a report from the NAP office.
In fiscal year 2009, NAP served a total of 8,453 Filipino household cases compared to 8,411 in fiscal year 2008.
Filipinos comprise the second largest ethnicity served by NAP, while Chamorros rank first with 13,587 household cases in fiscal year 2009.
To be eligible for food stamps, NAP stated, “you must first be a U.S. Citizen, a National U.S. Citizen, a Commonwealth Board of Election Cardholder or a Green Cardholder or a Permanent Residence within the CNMI for 10 years or 40 quarters actively contributing to the U.S. Social Security Administration.”
You must also meet the requirements on income, resource, documentation and housing.
One household must earn less than $541 a month to be eligible for food stamps.
Most of the Filipino families who apply for food stamps have U.S citizen children born in the CNMI.
The food stamps are issued under the children’s names.
Beneficiaries receive cash coupons worth $60 up to $300 depending on the family head’s income.
The lower the income, the greater the amount of cash coupons.
Dependent
Ana, not her real name, is a single mother of a 10-year-old boy and a two-year-old girl.
She earns $500 every month working as a waitress in a restaurant.
Ana said with her salary, she cannot pay for her monthly bills which include house rent worth $180, carpool worth $100, electricity worth $80, water consumption worth $30, diapers worth $50, her son’s allowance worth $100 and baby’s milk worth $250.
Because she has children born on Saipan, she applied for food stamps and has been receiving $100 a month.
Asked why she preferred to stay on Saipan, she said “life would probably be more difficult in the Philippines especially without government assistance such as food stamps.”
Like Ana, many Filipinos on island are becoming food stamp-dependent because of lack of income.
Some have stayed on island for more than 10 years without a legal job.
But some Filipinos said they also cheat in their NAP applications because they are not really below the poverty line.
Over 15 Filipino food stamp beneficiaries interviewed by this reporter admitted that they do not declare their real annual or monthly incomes and their other financial sources.
Although NAP makes sure that an applicant’s monthly or annual salary report is submitted to its office, some Filipinos on Saipan have non-taxable incomes such as personal services rendered “under-the-table,” part-time jobs or tips from costumers.
“We do not declare our other sources of income,” said Ren. “Why should we? We need help, our children are U.S citizens therefore let [our kids] take advantage of the free programs offered by the [U.S] government.”
He is only one of the many Filipino workers on Saipan who earn a monthly salary that is more than what they could earn in the Philippines.
But their earnings are less than the amount of money needed to feed their family here.
