Impressive experiment and what an excellent point it makes! I used to work for the "food stamp" office and it did indeed wind up that sometimes people's stamps didn't hit their card when they should and it would take a while to get it rectified.
This also proves ANYONE can practice frugality and saving wherever they are or whatever their life circumstances if you really put your mind to it.
I didn't know if card errors happened, but I figured if the government is running it then it certainly does happen! Haha.