Opinion ID: 2394749
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Exclusion of Food Stamps and Fuel Assistance from Definition of Public Assistance

Text: The Act prohibits the Department from collecting child support debts while the debtor parent is receiving public assistance. 19 M.R.S.A. § 496 (Supp.1985-1986). [3] The Plaintiffs argue in support of their cross-appeal that the Superior Court erred in upholding the Department's ruling that food stamps and fuel assistance were not public assistance within the meaning of the Act. Public assistance is defined as money payments and medical care furnished to or on behalf of dependent children by the State.... 19 M.R.S.A. § 493(8) (1981). The court reasoned that food stamps and fuel assistance did not constitute public assistance as defined in the Act because neither program involved money payments. The Plaintiffs contend that the two programs should be considered public assistance because they are direct substitutes for money. We do not agree. It is readily apparent that neither the food stamp program nor the fuel assistance program involves the payment of money. Money in its ordinary meaning is cash or currency, a liquid medium that enables the holder to purchase goods. Dickson v. Commonwealth Trust Co. of Pittsburgh, 361 Pa. 612, 65 A.2d 408, 409 (1949); Riverside Nat. Bank v. Lewis, 603 S.W.2d 169, 174 (Tex.1980). By contrast, a recipient of food stamps is given coupons which may only be used to purchase food from approved retail establishments. 7 U.S.C.A. § 2013(a) (West Supp.1985). Participants in the fuel assistance program have their fuel bills paid by the State, which reimburses the fuel supplier. 42 U.S.C.A. § 8624(b)(7) (West 1983). Neither benefit resembles a money payment because each is of limited liquidity. 19 M.R. S.A. § 493(8), quoted above, is explicit that public assistance means money payments and medical care. We decline to supply a broad construction to such a clearly and narrowly drafted definition.