get a drug card = give up some of your food stamps

[donsu]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=571&ncid=751&e=10&u=/nm/20040610/hl_nm/medicare_drugs_dc

Against the express wishes of the U.S. Congress in writing last year's sweeping new Medicare law, it appears that low-income beneficiaries who sign up for a $600 subsidy to help pay for their medicines could face a reduction in food stamps they get to help pay for their groceries.

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Elaine Ryan of the American Public Human Services Association, which represents the nation's food stamp directors, agreed with Toelle's interpretation. "That's exactly right, their benefits would be reduced because of the discount card," she said.

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But Bill Pierce, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services (news - web sites), says USDA is wrong. "The law is clear in terms of (the $600) having no impact on other federal benefits and we are working with USDA to resolve this," he said.
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groan