I feel like CobraBubbles does...there is just too much fraud for me to feel a lot of sympathy for some food stamp recipients. The "system" has always been open for abuse, but more people are aware of how to do it now. For example, a parent of a daycare child was pretty proud of herself for taking all her jewelry off before going into the welfare office last month, so I could not help asking her if anyone noticed her $50 nail job! They also do not know she lies about her boyfriend living with her. The government is paying for her daycare vouchers, her 1-year-old's formula and food for her and her parents(her food stamps total over $700 per month). She apparently also gets some sort of check every month(near the first) as well...that's when she gets her hair and nails done! She and her boyfriend feel entitled to benefits because they are "poor". She received financial aid to go to school, but dropped out, because it was"just too hard going to school with a baby". But she refuses to apply for a lot of jobs because they don't pay well enough...only here could beggars be choosers! When she goes to the grocery store, she buys the best cuts of meat(they grill steaks at least once a week), deli meat, and "convenience foods" (like Velveeta mac and cheese, canned vegetables, etc.), but mostly she buys snacks(Doritos, Coke, cookies, etc.) And she's not the only food stamp recipient to shop this way...a lot of them do. They would not know what a coupon was if it hit them on the head, and they have certainly never heard of a budget. And just when I thought this parent could not sink any lower, she tells me she thinks she's pregnant. I do know of people who are struggling to feed their families, but because they own their home or more than one car, they do not qualify for food stamp benefits. It's like they are being penalized for trying. For anyone who really uses the food stamp benefits as a "crutch" until things improve, I apologize for sounding harsh. No one should have to go hungry, especially someone who has paid taxes in the past. But I get pissed off, too, when I cut coupons, budget, and plan menus based on what I can afford, while some irresponsible teenager collects food stamps, WIC, and medicaid! She was able to get the Guardasil shots for free(which she obviously needs), but my teenage daughters could not because our insurance won't cover the $660 cost for all three shots. That would be almost $2000 for my family, in addition to the deductible and office visit charge. She takes her child to the doctor all the time "cause it's free", just to get the office note if she called in sick to work(when she works). I think anyone applying for food stamps and medicaid should be required to take a budgeting class before they can collect a dime, and they should be subject to visits from a nutritionist. If I have offended anyone, I apologize...I know it's a sensitive subject. Just think how well a family on food stamps could eat if they used coupons or planned menus in advance?
My sister has almost no income and gets under $200 a month in food stamps for she and her DD. She also gets health insurance. She does not get any money for other living expenses. My sister budgets absolutely everything. She does not buy clothing for herself or ever go out.
