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Millions in Unclaimed Pandemic Aid in South Carolina
Unclaimed Pandemic Aid: Thousands of Families Miss Out on Federal Assistance
In Columbia, South Carolina, there were over $8 million unclaimed pandemic aid in federal aid that was meant to help families buy groceries during the pandemic, according to state data. Those unclaimed pandemic aid was provided through debit cards mailed last August by the state Department of Social Services (DSS) to nearly 537,000 families. According to the posted article Yahoo, each card contained $120 per child and was intended to support families when children were not in school. The cards expired in May nine months after they were issued. DSS reported that nearly 470,000 cards or 87.5% of those distributed were activated totaling $56.2 million. While it’s unclear how much money remained on the cards it’s expected that most families used the full amount given the high cost of groceries.
Cards were valid for nine months after their first use. For the 1,300 Americans who used their cards between April and May the remaining funds can still be used until January or February of next year. If not used this money in the unclaimed pandemic aid will return to the federal government. The reasons why about 67,000 families didn’t use their cards are not entirely known. Sue Berkowitz from the Appleseed Legal Justice Center suggested some cards might have been lost among other pandemic-related aid or parents might have discarded them thinking they were junk mail. Despite efforts by the social services and education departments to inform families through news and social media some may have intentionally discarded the aid. The cards were sent to addresses of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals at school which includes many families who don’t typically receive public assistance.
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(PHOTO: WLTX)
South Carolina Excludes Itself from New Federal Grocery Aid Program
Furthermore, this distribution was the last of seven rounds of federal pandemic grocery aid. Since July 2020 South Carolina distributed 2.26 million cards providing $1.04 billion for groceries. About 90% of these cards were used at least once a higher rate compared to other states. For example, Missouri had $37 million and Louisiana $16 million in unused grocery aid earlier this year. A new permanent version of this program began in 35 states this summer but South Carolina was not included. Governor Henry McMaster opted out citing other statewide programs that feed children during the summer. Unlike the pandemic-era aid the new program requires states to cover half of the administrative costs. Despite criticism from Democratic legislators and attempts to mandate participation the legislation did not progress.
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