A man and woman from Randolph pleaded guilty last week to welfare fraud charges. The two say that while they were married, they lived separately in order to retain more food stamp benefits.
An attorney representing one of the defendants says the case illustrates a problem in Maine's public assistance policy.
Assistant Attorney General John Alsop says Harrison Taylor Jr. and Deborah Taylor faced charges for defrauding Maine's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, while they were married from 2008 to 2014.
"The gist of the case was that they were indicating to the Department that they were living separately, when in fact they were living together," Alsop says.
Deborah Taylor's defense attorney Steve Smith says after the couple married, they realized their SNAP benefits would be reduced from what they received as single adults. So, he says, they decided to live apart. But they still shared meals.
"By DHHS regulations, if they are preparing their meals together, then they are no longer eligible for food stamps," Smith says. "If they are preparing their meals apart, then they are."
Smith says marriage may reduce housing costs, but it doesn't reduce the calories each spouse consumes. The situation, he says, forced his client to get a divorce.
"She is truly not employable," he says. "She is somebody that the system really is designed to protect and should protect. And I think to discourage her from marriage is an unfortunate outcome in this case."
Deborah Taylor and Harrison Taylor pleaded guilty to fraud charges. They'll each serve between 30-60 days in jail and collectively pay about $21,000 in restitution.
