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computer. “The numbers are cross-referenced to see if there’s any unreported income,” Moffett said.
In some cases, the VEC print-out has shown the client earning more than reported on food stamp eligibility forms. In those instances, Moffett first contacts the employer for written veritification of earnings. If the employer confirms the earnings, she then gets in touch with the client if she thinks failure to correctly report income has come about through confusion. “We make an attempt to straighten things out. We set up a restitution schedule (to repay the value of the food stamp over-issuance) and it ends there.”
But should Moffett determine that the error in reporting income was “willfully and intentionally done,” then the welfare department either issues a warrent if the amount falls in the misdemeanor category or takes the matter to the commonwealth’s attorney for presentation to a grand jury if it’s a felony amount.
According to Moffett, food stamp clients are repeatedly reminded that they must report any changes in income, resources, household size or any other circumstance that affects eligibility. The welfare department periodically sends out amass mailings reiterating the responsibilities of recipients. “If you purposely hold back information about changes in your household, you will owe us the value of any extra food stamps you receive as a result and may be charged with fraud which could result in a fine, and/or imprisonment, and disqualification from the food stamp program,” the notice warns. That notice comes in addition to the repeated admonition on food stamp eligibility forms that “changes must be
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