Food stamp recipients scramble for food

Food stamp recipients scramble for food

www.msnbc.msn.com

For days, Brown said, she has been turning cans of "whatever we got in the cabinet" into breakfast, lunch and dinner for her children, ages 1 and 3.

"Ain't got no food left, the kids are probably hungry," said Brown, a 23-year-old single mother who relies heavily on her $312 monthly allotment of food stamps — a ration adjusted just once a year, in October.

(visit the link for the full news article)

This sounds really, really not good. I really am starting to worry about the people who are struggling right now.

I really don't even want to think about how bad this will get, before it gets better.

"People with incomes below the poverty threshold are in dire straits because not only are food prices increasing but the food stamps they are receiving have not increased," said Dr. John Cook, an associate professor at Boston University's medical school who has studied the food stamp program, particularly how it affects children.

www.msnbc.msn.com
(visit the link for the full news article)


EDIT: Owch, it didn't save what I wanted it to

[edit on 16-5-2008 by LostNemesis]

This must be quite the burden on those who keep preaching about nothing being wrong, because they have a good job and are never hungry. Dont their taxes have to pay for all these food stamps people are needing?

People need to look beyond their own successes and wealth, and see that people ARE struggling !!!!!

As prices rise, the number of Americans relying on food stamps has also climbed by 6.1 percent in the past year, increasing from 26.1 million in February 2007 to 27.7 million in February this year. The sputtering economy, persistent unemployment and the mortgage crisis have all contributed to the increase. The Agriculture Department expects the overall number of participants to reach 28 million next year.

the entire premise behind the "food stamp" program is to "supplement" an ordinary grocery budget. Not be the entire budget...

This is a prime example of why we can not depend upon the gov't. for everything. They are not capable of doing so.

My next question is, what is she buying with the money? You would not believe some of the stuff I see people purchasing with the EBT cards...20 dollar steaks, lobster tails, etc... this occurs far more often than you might think...

Yes, times are tough...gee what a shock, times are always tough for the people down towards the lower end of the financial food chain...speaking as a lifelong member. You got kids to feed? Well then, like my parents and my sisters with kids did, you suck it up and make it work, plant a garden, buy cheap meat and make lots of soup and stews that you can stretch for a week at a pinch. Or if it comes to that, you eat mac and cheese while the kids get something better.

I'm sorry if I don't sound as sympathetic as you might want... I see far too much abuse of these food stamp debit cards to feel a whole lot of sympathy for the whole...

Teenagers, fully capable of working, who qualify for them...getting them simply so they don't have to get a job...I am sure you can think of a few people who have them who shouldn't...

Where are these peoples families? I've lost count of the number of times I went grocery shopping with my sisters to help them out with groceries, when the paycheck didn't quite stretch far enough to cover everything...it's what you do when you are in a family. As I said earlier, depending upon the gov't for anything is foolish. They don't care, never have, and never will...it's yours to do in the end.

If my attitude makes you angry, I'm sorry, just my take on it, from the bottom of it, and as one who sees the reality of the EBT program as it truley is...racked by rampant abuse. Small wonder the money doesn't reach those that it should...

Something else to think about...the lady in the picture in your article is buying Kingsford charcol, why not save a little money and buy generic? The store I work at carries charcol at a third less than what she is probably paying for the Kingsford. Just an example of what you do...

[edit on 5/17/2008 by seagull]

reply to post by seagull


I tend to see it from the same point of view, seagull. I grew up on the other side of town and a good percentage of shoppers were EBT customers. And what was in their shopping carts? Chips Ahoy, potato chips, soda, ice cream. I once saw a woman with a brood of kids buy an entire cart full of nothing but 2 liter sodas with EBT.

My best friend in high school was a cashier at a grocery store and she has seen plenty of people doing the same thing, buying nothing but junk food. No wonder the allotment doesn't buy much.

Put the flame throwers away, kids. I'm not saying everyone on food stamps does this. But I've seen it enough to know it's not just one family out there making a bad name for all the others. And like seagull and the article already said, food stamps are supposed to supplement a food budget, not be the entire thing.

reply to post by seagull


I will agree with you on some of this. I live in a real poor area that's basically a ghetto.. Housing and what not.. Why.... cause I am poor.. But I do know what u are talking about.. people who get these stamps and sell them 2 dollar stamps for 1 buck cash to go get drugs or something...

I will however tell u my side of the coin. as someone who don't do that crap and actually uses the prgm for what it was supposed to be used for.

Originally posted by seagull

My next question is, what is she buying with the money? You would not believe some of the stuff I see people purchasing with the EBT cards...20 dollar steaks, lobster tails, etc... this occurs far more often than you might think...

I think between myself g/f 2 kids 8 and 9 we get roughly 130 for stamps. I think we have a food budget of about 350 400 a month.. give or take..

This is the list as order goes..

Ground meat if its less than 1.69
Pork if its less than 1.69
We buy alot of chicken however..
We buy cereals like kix and cheap crap non name stuff.. (my kids don't get uppity about it cause they know better.)

Then we have noodles, rice, and whatever else is in that group..
Milk is a lot 4 bucks per gallon and we do about 4 gallons a week.. (I dunno kids like milk.)(I buy or used to buy alot of oodles of noddles untill they went 3 for a buck... used to be 6 to 8 for a buck..)

I don't buy crap food or candy or other crap like that..

Once every month or more we goto a ponderosa or something to get steak, we wont buy steak for its to expensive to buy anymore.. I haven't bought anything to make beef stew in roughly 18 months...

Anyway this is how some people use their stamps to buy food other than abuse the system... I thought i would throw this in to show u not everyone is abusing the system for this.


[edit on 5/17/2008 by ThichHeaded]

They shouldnt be grilling at all.

Good post Seagull.

reply to post by LostNemesis


I agree with a lot of what seagull said. I feel for the people that need and deserve the food stamp program to survive.

My boyfriend ownes a small grocery store in a very rural area and quite a few customers have food stamps.

It's amazing to see what these people purchase with their monthly allowance. Chips, soda, candy bars, instead of nutritious foods like beans, rice, or vegetables. They can purchase anything with the card as long as it resembles food. It infuriates me.

Then, he gets a good bunch each month that try to pull a fast one. They try to used their food stamp cards to purchase gas, or to pay off a tab. My boyfriend is one of the few people around who extends credit to people.

Just last week a lady came in who rents space in a trailer park from another lady we know. She could not pay her rent for the month and wanted to know if she could use her food stamp debit card to pay off the rent she owes her landlord. The landord has a tab at the store. Outrageous!

The system needs to be overhauled. I believe that the system needs to be set up where people can only purchase nutritious items.

From what I hear, since we would not help the lady who could not pay her rent, she took the landlord to town and purchased with her debit card, items for the landord that covered the amount owed it rent.

It's way to easy for people to figure out how to abuse the system!

I think that people who receive the benefits should be audited every once in a while at least, where they have to produce receipts that show they used the food stamp program to purchase approved foods. Something needs to be done!

reply to post by LostNemesis

As prices rise, the number of Americans relying on food stamps has also climbed by 6.1 percent in the past year, increasing from 26.1 million in February 2007 to 27.7 million in February this year. The sputtering economy, persistent unemployment and the mortgage crisis have all contributed to the increase. The Agriculture Department expects the overall number of participants to reach 28 million next year.

I just wanted to bring attention to this particular quote. I have to wonder how accurate it is. I know of several people on Social Security that get Food Stamps. Once a year, when they get their cost of living increase of about $8.00 per month; Then the DSS subtracts this amount from their food stamps. They do not get an INCREASE.

Let me also add, that when they get their yearly increase; IF they live in government Housing, then the Housing Authority adjusts their rent at a higher rate, because their income, increased.

[edit on 17-5-2008 by sizzle]

reply to post by sizzle


I find that kind of weird that the person's housing costs would be increased at the amount of whatever yearly increase they get. Just kind of defeats the purpose, in my mind and doesn't really seem to make sense. That to keep them from getting excited about having an extra $8/month? Lol.. sorry.

In all actuality, this information provided to us could be as false as anything else they have tried pushing onto us. I don't think we can believe any of these MSM articles, and not even the government-published statistics.

Originally posted by Enthralled Fan
reply to post by LostNemesis

It's amazing to see what these people purchase with their monthly allowance. Chips, soda, candy bars, instead of nutritious foods like beans, rice, or vegetables. They can purchase anything with the card as long as it resembles food. It infuriates me.

Well, no offense... But not all of us care about whether or not we make it to tomorrow. Maybe "nutritious" really doesn't matter to the person who is having a hard time finding a job, and probably facing depression. This is really the only thing I can figure. I hope to god that the nice-seeming people who check me out at the grocery store don't sit there and judge and get infuriated over the things I buy. Food stamps, or not, how do we judge someone who is just trying to live their life and not draw attention?

My family is well provided for, but I still don't plan to be around in 10 years. That happy world where everyone eats rice and beans, that's down south, isn't it?

How is one not to feel like everyone is watching everything they do, when there are people who go out of their way to judge others' eating habits??

reply to post by ThichHeaded


Contrary to what you may think my opinion is...I have no issue with people who need the help, truely I don't. As long as you are trying as hard as you can, I have no issue with the gov't., on behalf of the tax payer, helping you out. No issue what so ever. I see people like you, who make that EBT card work its ass off, they buy budget items, no ice cream, candy, soda, etc..., they buy beans, rice, cheap meat, the stuff that'll get you through.

EBT is supposed to be a hand UP, not a hand OUT. I'm glad to hear from someone who actually treats it like that. It restores a little of my faith in human nature....

reply to post by LostNemesis


Just remember that that money you, and others, are so blithley spending, is our tax money. Levied on our cars, our homes, our "just about every damned thing", it's not limitless.

I have to agree with the majority. When you look in her cart and see charcoal and probably $20 steaks I mean you have to say to yourself hmmm. I cant afford the $20 steaks right now the economy sucks so I have to suck it up. Ive been hitting sams club and buying bulk macaroni and cheese and what not trying to save money. I havent grilled steaks in 6 months... priorities have to be key and people do need help and Im not against that at all because Im a product of it. My mother was a single mom and had food stamps and just this year alone I paid into the IRS to cover all the years my mom was on welfare and food stamps. Priority is the key here and I dont think this lady gets it.

reply to post by seagull


Don't be so quick to judge. The money I'M spending on unhealthy habits comes from MY long hours on the computer.

I would not wish someone else to front the bill for this. But at the same time, those who sincerely need the help... They cannot ALL be abusing the system, can they ?

Surely they have some sort of screening they put people through to make sure this isn't a well-off person who just wants to abuse the system and have $130(or however much) to spend on sweets and soda? I like to think I have a little more faith in welfare/socialist programs than thinking they'll just hand benefits out to someone who doesn't need them.

ETA: I agree... Name brand items shouldn't be priority to someone struggling. My family is more than used to off-brand cereal. We got Nasty-O's, Frosted Fakes, etc. LOL

But seriously, maybe THIS is the problem with these socialist programs, yeah? The fact that they are just handing out benefits to people who don't need them? Come on...Someone who NEEDS the help will probably do better to budget and make sure it goes further.

[edit on 17-5-2008 by LostNemesis]

Originally posted by LostNemesis

Well, no offense... But not all of us care about whether or not we make it to tomorrow. Maybe "nutritious" really doesn't matter to the person who is having a hard time finding a job, and probably facing depression. This is really the only thing I can figure. I hope to god that the nice-seeming people who check me out at the grocery store don't sit there and judge and get infuriated over the things I buy. Food stamps, or not, how do we judge someone who is just trying to live their life and not draw attention?

Well I dont think people cares what you buy but when you are on food stamps which you know does not give a lot of money and you see people buying $20 steaks then complaining because they run out of food you have to say to yourself well that $20 could of bought 2 more days worth of food instead of one good meal. That is my issue. Hay buy what you want but dont complain when you run out of food.

reply to post by mybigunit


Hey, I agree with you completely on your point. Most of us, just CANNOT justify having $20 steaks for our families. I cannot argue that one. But then maybe you'd also think about it like the lady in the aticle's situation..... If the 1st of the month comes and she spends it all on $20 steaks, then maybe that is why she complains of her and her family being hungry the rest of the month. Sounds like a personal problem to me.

**star & flag for you, Nemesis!**

I'm a case manager for a state welfare-to-work program; I also determine eligibility for welfare, Food Stamps, etc.

Is there rampant Food Stamp fraud? Absolutely...EBT cards being sold for cash, households including members who don't really live there, unreported "cash" income,...I could go on and on. It's incredibly frustrating...

From my vantage point, the most under-served population in need of FS benefits are the elderly and/or disabled who struggle to get by on fixed incomes.

For instance, an elderly couple applies for FS benefits:
1) their total gross income is about $1400.00 per month
2) their monthly expenses are:
rent $300
utilities (elec, water, sewer, natural gas, telephone) $600.00 (and steadily rising)
Medicare supplement premium $150.00
Rx $50.00
other household expenses (toiletries, personal care items, clothing, auto insurance, gas, etc.)

FS benefits are determined by deducting allowable expenses such as shelter costs, medical costs (only the elderly & disabled are allowed to deduct medical costs, such as doctor bills, Rx, health insurance, transportation to/from physician) from income....for the most part, other household expenses are NOT allowable deductions.

In this scenario, our elderly couple would end up receiving a monthly allotment of about $60.00 as a means of supplementing their food expenses....not exactly a windfall when factoring in the other living expenses that will leave our couple with very little discretionary income to use to purchase food.

I think that the elderly/disabled population should receive the maximum monthly FS benefit allotment...these are the people who are TRULY needy.

Regarding able-bodied, lazy, people who have had every bit of sustenance provided to them courtesy of Food Stamps, and who would never dream of having to pay for food with their own "cash money":
the times, they are a-changin'...states are implementing policies/procedures which will limit eligibility of individuals who meet the definition of "able-bodied" to receive Food Stamps to no more than 3 months in a 36 month period....of course, the policy which defines "able-bodied" is filled with ridiculous loopholes, which means that many who meet the layman's definition will NOT meet the policy's definition.

Anyone with a FS/TANF/welfare question, feel free to ask me...I'll do my best to answer. Sorry for the long post...Ezzi







[edit on 17-5-2008 by ezziboo]

reply to post by ezziboo


Thank you, ezziboo for weighing in on this. I cannot imagine that your job is easy.

I really feel for the elderly and disabled that you mention. I for one, had no idea that an elderly couple would receive as little as $60/month. $2/day.

Really sad, I think THESE are the people deserving of such benefits.

Originally posted by LostNemesis

I hope to god that the nice-seeming people who check me out at the grocery store don't sit there and judge and get infuriated over the things I buy. Food stamps, or not, how do we judge someone who is just trying to live their life and not draw attention?

How is one not to feel like everyone is watching everything they do, when there are people who go out of their way to judge others' eating habits??

I think you are confusing what I observe with me judging. I see it all the time. Moms come in with their kids, and instead of buying milk, and food for meals, the first thing they grab, is soda, chips, or candy, and use their food stamp cards.

This is not everyone, mind you, but a great majority of people on food stamps that do this. As I mentioned, my boyfriend extends credit to people, and quite a few of them are people who use their food stamps to buy junk, and then run short towards the end of the month. Lucky for them, he is willing to let them have some credit, or they wouldn't even be able to buy the junk they do. Also infuriating, is the enourmous amount of people on food stamps that amazingly can afford packs of cigarettes, and other little goodies that they do manage to buy with cash.

As seagull mentioned, that is our tax dollars at work. It doesn't seem fair.

I do expect to see people using tax dollars in the way of food stamps buy what they are supposed to with the money. That is not a judgement, that is common sense. If you only have $250.00 a month to spend on food, and children, it stands to reason you have no business buying chewing gum and candy bars.

Also prevelant in our area is a great amount of people that manage to be on disability, and also get food stamps and medicaid. I know of one particular family, mother, uncle and son who all are on disabilty, have all these programs, and then, work on the side for cash. Why is it fair they should get any food for free? They are at the liquor store daily purchasing beer and cigarettes, yet manage to use all thier food stamps each month on junk, and also run up a tab.

On the flip side, there are a lot of elderly people who use food stamp money at our store. Those are the people who never buy junk. If one of them ends up a couple of dollars short, we cover that for them, not expecting the money to be paid back.

It's not a judgement call to watch what people do, it's just what it is, an observation.

If you saw it everyday, knowing what I do, how would you feel about it?

It doesn't matter to me who uses food stamps, as I said, I hope people who really need it, can get it. I don't judge people who are down and out on their luck. I do however, not appreciate people taking advantage of the system for their own benefit.

Believe me, I'd almost rather not know, but I see it every day, in my face, and lot of what I see is disgusting abuse of the system.

We are the only country on the planet through all known history who's poorest people are FAT. Not a little pudgey in the mid section but morbidly obese!

Seems to me, they could stand a cut in "benefits".

1 in 10 Americans are in jail.
1 in 8 Americans are on welfare.

This insanity has got to stop!