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CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. - Anger and frustration from dozens of Clayton County parents who say their children are going hungry after their food stamps were suddenly cut off.
State officials admit that something went wrong down in Clayton County at the office that administers food stamps and Medicaid but they're still not sure what.
Parents say they can't buy food without those food stamps.
Terry Clark says she stood in line for more than six hours at Clayton County's Human Services Office because food stamp help for her six children unexpectedly ended.
"There's no telling my kids we can't eat. I'm not taking no. We don't deserve that. Nobody should go hungry here in Georgia," said Terry Clark.
State officials say the office was overwhelmed Tuesday with dozens of families facing a similar problem. The food stamps are just not there.
"Me and my kids they haven't ate since this morning. I was supposed to get my food stamps yesterday and I got nothing," said a mother.
A state spokesperson says what happened was out of the ordinary and unexpected but she said they don't know yet what went wrong -- what was the glitch that lead to this mess?
"Our budgets have not been increased, they've been decreased," said one official.
The office director admitted there were problems as he tried to calm fears.
In a statement, a state spokesperson says, "We have both state and county staff working to understand the cause of the problem today. We are working to ensure people receive their food stamps as soon as possible."
"I'm a cancer patient. I need these pills to survive," said Candace Bennett.
Candace Bennett says her cancer medications have nearly run out and after spending all day at the office. Her Medicaid and her food stamps are both still on hold.
State officials say that the Clayton County office was closed Monday because of furloughs and that could have contributed to the lines. They are investigating whether some sort of paperwork or computer problem might have lead to some families getting their benefits cut off by mistake.
see link for video...http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news...20110810-am-sd
State officials admit that something went wrong down in Clayton County at the office that administers food stamps and Medicaid but they're still not sure what.
Parents say they can't buy food without those food stamps.
Terry Clark says she stood in line for more than six hours at Clayton County's Human Services Office because food stamp help for her six children unexpectedly ended.
"There's no telling my kids we can't eat. I'm not taking no. We don't deserve that. Nobody should go hungry here in Georgia," said Terry Clark.
State officials say the office was overwhelmed Tuesday with dozens of families facing a similar problem. The food stamps are just not there.
"Me and my kids they haven't ate since this morning. I was supposed to get my food stamps yesterday and I got nothing," said a mother.
A state spokesperson says what happened was out of the ordinary and unexpected but she said they don't know yet what went wrong -- what was the glitch that lead to this mess?
"Our budgets have not been increased, they've been decreased," said one official.
The office director admitted there were problems as he tried to calm fears.
In a statement, a state spokesperson says, "We have both state and county staff working to understand the cause of the problem today. We are working to ensure people receive their food stamps as soon as possible."
"I'm a cancer patient. I need these pills to survive," said Candace Bennett.
Candace Bennett says her cancer medications have nearly run out and after spending all day at the office. Her Medicaid and her food stamps are both still on hold.
State officials say that the Clayton County office was closed Monday because of furloughs and that could have contributed to the lines. They are investigating whether some sort of paperwork or computer problem might have lead to some families getting their benefits cut off by mistake.
see link for video...http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news...20110810-am-sd
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