Food stamp benefits

[tzolkin]

Those buying expensive cuts of meat are supplimenting their grocery bill with cash or going without by the end of the month.

This is true.

I remember reading several articles while working with FS about poor people buying a bunch of expensive food when they first get their food stamps (or paycheck) and then going without food at the end of the month/pay period. There were studies being done to look for links between this behavior and obesity.

That's why many areas are trying to include budgeting and nutrition education with the food stamp program.

 

[tina95]

I read a paper the other day that said only one in every three tax forms filed pays any tax. The other 2 receive the tax back and or some type of credit.

I am not saying these programs are wrong. We received food stamps when my husband was in college and Medical school. We had just got out of the Army after Desert Storm and he when back to school. When he started Medical school we had 3 young children, so I stayed home with them as Daycare would have cost more than I would make. So we used food stamps, this was in mid 1990's and we receive $600 plus Wic. We were blown away!

Of course we left school with around 100k in student loans. We have payed back more than we ever received in food stamps. I feel this is the way the system should work. You receive so you can pay.

My husband has 6 employees at this time and is a great employer. Pays well over the going rate, lets the employees pick there own insurance and than pays it 100%. He has a set number appointments eveyday to see people for free. With the way the taxes are going up this will have to stop. We are lucky to stay two steps ahead of student loans, taxes, and his office costs.

If taxes keep going up we will be done. I would live in a farm house off grid and grow my own food before I will see my husband work 70 hours a week to break even. Of course that means 6 people will loss there jobs and people will loss the doctor that sees them for free.

 

[Mathfailure]

I deal with many people who recieve food stamps.

The percentaage that abuses is around 10 % in my experience.

Most are either marginally educated, with often no ability for more, or elderly with no options for employment other than physical jobs they can no longer do, or single parents (of both sexes) who have young children and cannot find/afford child care.

Many of us are feeling "poorer" with the difficulties in the job markets, and get frustrated with the idea that we who are working are supporting those that won't work. That is true for some but by no means the majority.

 

[AshtonsMom99]

yes many people abuse the system, but when people with a valid disability like myself, recieves assistance... we are lumped into the same category and that part is not fair....

I get health insurance through the govt, and even then people look down on you about it. I don't get food stamps anymore or cash assistance. I really don't think it mmatters. People still look down on you. I am on disability, and sometimes I think that was worse than the food stamp game. People think that because I don't appear sick I must be just sucking the govt dry. That is not fair...

the Social Welfare game needs a lot more policing than it gets, because I'll be damned if my congenital heart defect is gonna lump me in with some lazy soul who cares more abouth their nails and hair then their own child.

I think the most important thing to point out is that ignorance breeds ignorance....

 

[3boymthr]

Well, Yup, $668 is a lot for a family of 4 as I spend about $600/month for a family of 5, BUT I use lots of coupons (about $100/month) AND that amount does not include school lunches for two of the kids (about $15/wk), DH's lunches ($50/wk), and one lunch a week for me ($10/wk). It also doesn't include cleaning supplies and paper products - which run me another $50-$75/month.

 

[MrsPete]

I recently read an article in the newspaper about a young mother with three pre-school children who said she received $600/month in food stamps and always ran out of food by the end of the month. Pre-schoolers don't eat much, so I don't see why someone in that situation who was trying to make $600 last a month couldn't do so. That's $150/week -- about what I spend for two adults and two teenagers.

Yes, fresh fruits and vegetables are more expensive, but they have NO nutritional value over frozen and canned -- though they do taste better. It's not expensive to eat healthy IF you're careful about what you buy.

 

[GoldieSaysMeep]

I guess I am just not that nice. I kill myself to try to keep my food budget between $75-$100 a week (family of 4 adults, 1 on the way) because it is all we can afford. I clip coupons, watch sales and go without some things I would really like.

I am a checker and make the salary of a checker at Walmart and see people on food stamps eating much, much better than me, and getting all the snacks and things I would like. It makes me bitter at times. Flame me, tell me it's a bad attitude...I don't care. The abuses people take, and it's not one person it's over and over and over. I'm not saying it's everyone, but it's really unfair.

My measly paycheck is overtaxed and my taxes are being used for this, and it pisses me off.

I agree with you. I'm a responsible 33 year old single woman. I have no children because I can't afford them. I understand about being laid off/underemployed whatever because my FI's job is very unstable and we have watch every dime we spend to avoid going into massive debt. In the time we have been together, we have never even taken a vacation and together we make close to 75K a year (which is like poverty in Boston basically).

When I see unmarried early-20-something women with 5 kids (who I doubt are all from the same dad), wearing all kinds of name brand clothes, not even speaking english (I live in a very spanish area...noone speaks english in my town it seems) paying for GOOD food with my tax dollars, while I'm stuck with Mac and cheese, it pisses me off.

ETA... I feel bad for people in the heartland who are actually proud Americans who learned English, got work, were responsible with their family planning, lived humble non bling filled lives and who just got a bad break.

But where I live, that is not the average food stamp recipient. So my opinions are skewed.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Gee whiz. Sterotype much?

 

[Lovin' Disney]

It's bad here in MI, too. I work as a cashier and there are some families that get over $1,000 each month. Most are blended and have a few kids each. I think our guidelines are something like $200 for each adult and $100-$150 per child.

I'm pretty sure they had them out in the orientation packet at our local community college......95% of the college kids that go through my line has a food stamp card. There's no shame in it nowadays since it looks like a debit card. Imagine if they had to use real paper food stamps....it wouldn't happen!

Many get cash benefits from the state, too. The other day a girl took out $20 off of her EBT card, then handed it to her boyfriend in line behind her so he could buy his 30 pack of beer. Last night a girl took out $100 off her EBT card and used part of it to pay for a pregnancy test. She already has 3 kids under the age of 4 and is in her early 20's.

I feed my family of 4 on about $200 every 2 weeks. I agree that there should be guidelines like WIC for food stamps where you can only buy a certain $$ amount in each category, including fresh fruits/vegetables.

 

[wvjules]

i couldn't get my computer to open that link. What do they base it on? Income?

Volume II OMTL-327
Food Stamp Program R. 4/1/09

MS 5800 CALCULATION OF ALLOTMENT

For households with no elderly or disabled household member, calculate the food stamp allotment as follows: (See MS 5810 for calculation procedures for elderly or disabled members, excluded members and self-employed members.)

A. Add all nonexempt gross monthly earned income minus exclusions by all household members. This figure is the household's total gross earned income.

B. Add all nonexempt gross monthly unearned income minus exclusions received by all household members. This figure is the household's total gross unearned income.

C. Add total gross earned income to total gross unearned income. This figure is the household's total gross income.

D. Compare gross income to the Income Scale in MS 5200. If the household's income is equal to or below the standard for its size, the net income and benefit level is calculated. If the income exceeds the gross income standard, the case is de¬nied/discontinued unless the household is categorically eligible.

E. Subtract the standard deduction.

F. Multiply the total gross earned income by 20% and subtract that amount to determine the monthly income.

G. Allow monthly dependent care expenses paid for each child or other dependent in the household.

H. Allow a deduction for legally obligated child support paid to someone outside the household.

I. Total the allowable shelter expenses to determine shelter costs. Subtract fifty percent of the household's monthly income after all the above deductions from total shelter costs. The remaining amount, if any, is the excess shelter cost. If there is no excess shelter cost, the net monthly income is determined. If there is an excess shelter cost, the shelter deduction is computed.

J. Subtract the excess shelter cost from the household's monthly income after all other appropriate deductions, up to the maximum of $446. The remainder is the household's net monthly income.

K. Compare net monthly income to the Income Scale in MS 5200 for the appropriate household size. If the household's income is above the

allowable net income, the case is denied/discontinued unless the household is categori¬cally eligible.

L. Calculate the allotment by multiplying the net monthly income by 30%. The result is rounded up to the next whole dollar. Subtract this amount from the Maximum Food Benefit Allotment for the household's size.

[Maximum Food Benefit Allotment:

Household Size Allotment
1 200
2 367
3 526
4 668
5 793
6 952
7 1,052
8 1,202
Each additional member +150

M. Approve all households whose initial month benefit results in less than $10, (regardless of application date), for $0 benefits for the initial month.

Issue benefits for months other than the initial month as appropriate for the individual case situation:

1. One and two person households who meet the appropriate income tests, or who are categorically eligible, receive a minimum allotment of $16. ]

2. The minimum allotment does not apply to households with three or more members. These households are issued the actual benefits they are eligible to receive, except if the allotment equals $1, $3, and $5, the household will receive benefits of $2, $4, and $6 respectively.

Approve for $0 benefits those categorically eligible households with 3 or more members who are not financially entitled to an allotment.

N. If benefits are prorated, the following formula is used for the initial month:

1. Subtract the date of application from 31. For households applying on the 3lst of the month, the date of application is considered the 30th.

2. Multiply the amount calculated in Item 1 by the household's full month's benefit for the initial month.

3. Divide the amount from Item 2 by 30. This amount is the prorated allotment. If the result ends in anything other than a whole dollar, round it down to the next whole dollar.

4. If the prorated allotment is less than $10, do not issue benefits for the initial month.

5. If the monthly allotment is greater than zero but the prorat¬ed amount is zero, the household is eligible as the zero allotment is the result of the date of application, not avail¬able income.

 

[fletchers5]

we were on financial assistance for one month 20 or so years ago. My husband had to do community service to collect the financial assistance. We had a friend that had been on welfare for years and never once did the welfare office make him work community service. Believe me when I say that my husband was GLAD to be working for the welfare office...he felt that at least he was working for what they gave him.. even though we had paid taxes all the years prior. I just always thought it was funny....not even on welfare for a month and we had to work for it.....never have heard of this happening to anyone else.

 

[emh1129]

When I was pregnant with my second I was put on bedrest at 24 weeks, then had a premature baby. My spouse was a full time student. I applied for food stamps as we had virtually no income. We got about $300 a month for a family of 4. I am always bothered by these posts. Someone posts and now everyone thinks that all food stamp recipients are getting over $600 per month. It is all calculated on a case by case basis. If you qualify for the max in food stamps it is because you really don't have anything else. Most people do not get that much in food stamps.

Exactly. Most of the people here are completely clueless about all of it & are just making assumptions. Based on one or two families they have seen at the grocery store, they assume that all of them are like that. And like you said, it's a case by case basis- the application process is very difficult and a huge pain. As it should be, to keep people honest and forthright. But very few get the max amount listed.

And still not sure what other people receiving benefits have to do with the OP and her grocery budget.. but that's beside the point, I guess.

The people I've met who were on benefits were very deserving, hard working people. They were all either dealing with an unexpected death, loss of a job, huge medical issue, etc. All were dealing with some form of a catastrophic loss and the FS were temporary assistance to help them get back on their feet while they were trying to better their situations. It's not fair to lump all FS recipients into this one-size-fits all category of irresponsible people.

And you would not want to trade places with any of them.. it's humiliating enough for them to ask/apply for benefits without having to deal with public attitudes like the ones displayed here.
Be thankful for what you have and don't judge so much without knowing all the facts (not directed at anyone in particular, just a general statement).

 

[tnmt]

We have several family members on both sides of our family that get free cell phones, food stamps, public housing, disability checks, heating assistance, etc and they all brag about it. Oh, they are also getting it by cheating the system. I am not going into detail about that, that is another story. They tell us what we should do so that we can get the same. I don't think so. I would rather work for my money! There is absolutely nothing wrong with them other than lazy and don't want to work including my mom who also draws disability and has for years. Now I know there are a lot of people hit hard by the economy and really need assistance and I say they deserve it but it is the ones that abuse the system and you know it but they still get everything for free while we are paying for it.

I think it would be a great idea if they made some of these folks volunteer their services somehow, especially the ones that are on it for years and years and keep popping out babies by different dads.

 

[Leajess99]

I guess I am just not that nice. I kill myself to try to keep my food budget between $75-$100 a week (family of 4 adults, 1 on the way) because it is all we can afford. I clip coupons, watch sales and go without some things I would really like.

I am a checker and make the salary of a checker at Walmart and see people on food stamps eating much, much better than me, and getting all the snacks and things I would like. It makes me bitter at times. Flame me, tell me it's a bad attitude...I don't care. The abuses people take, and it's not one person it's over and over and over. I'm not saying it's everyone, but it's really unfair.

My measly paycheck is overtaxed and my taxes are being used for this, and it pisses me off.

I won't flame you for it as I have seen some of it as well. 2 years ago while waiting in line at Walmart to check out, the lady in front of me had $200 worth of candy and 1 turkey. She was talking to the cashier (in which she apparently knew) about the Easter baskets she was making for the kids and her daughter's boyfriend's kids. I was livid because she had more than 20 items for one and for 2 was using tax dollars to buy this crap. It just irritates me that so many can ride the system.

Oh yeah and growing up, my cousins on my dad's side were always on food stamps and welfare and always had the name brand stuff. They, to this day, still have many of the kids on welfare because that is all they know.

 

[Leajess99]

It's bad here in MI, too. I work as a cashier and there are some families that get over $1,000 each month. Most are blended and have a few kids each. I think our guidelines are something like $200 for each adult and $100-$150 per child.

Yep, that is where my cousins have been abusing the system for years and years from one generation to the next. The sad thing is that most of their parents worked so they did not learn it from there.

There really does need to be stricter guidelines on what can and cannot be bought.

 

[momx2]

When I was pregnant with my second I was put on bedrest at 24 weeks, then had a premature baby. My spouse was a full time student. I applied for food stamps as we had virtually no income. We got about $300 a month for a family of 4. I am always bothered by these posts. Someone posts and now everyone thinks that all food stamp recipients are getting over $600 per month. It is all calculated on a case by case basis. If you qualify for the max in food stamps it is because you really don't have anything else. Most people do not get that much in food stamps.

If you re-read my post, you will see that was not my intent. My reason for posting was because of my own thinking that if the state I live in thinks that a family of 4 needs $668 per month to eat healthy then I must have my thinking wrong about me needing to spend so much less than that.

 

[pipersmom]

There is good and bad in everything, and there are always going to be people who take advantage of the system. The key is not to stereotype or judge everyone who uses food stamps, WIC, medicaid, et al, by the actions of those who abuse it.

As far as guidelines to what can/cannot be bought, there are..in VA you are not supposed to purchase candy, or soda products. It falls to the store however, to enforce that. Unfortunately most stores lump those things in to scan under "food" or "groceries" so it still happens. Stricter guidelines will probably never happen, because of the effort stores would have to take to enforce them. Because of my dd's medical condition, we do use food stamps (EBT now, to be correct)..personally speaking, I would HATE it if it got stricter, not because I buy the "forbidden fruits", but because 1. It would make shopping a pain in the butt trying to follow a strict list of "this is okay, but this isn't", and 2. Because all anonymity would be gone when you're cruising the aisles with a big glossy brochure of accepted items in hand, or looking at shelves for an "approved" item sticker. My benefits are put on what looks like a credit card, and no one in line would have any idea we were receiving benefits unless they got a good luck at my card. I personally don't really care toooo much, but my daughter would.
I would also guess some stores would stop accepting it all together because of the efforts they would have to make to stay in compliance. As far as what I purchase, yes, I purchase steak maybe twice a month, and yes, when my dd wants snack cakes or pop-tarts we get them. I can do that because I budget..I also shop at all 3 stores in the area for sales, and use some coupons. To pay for that steak or those pop-tarts, you'll also see a lot of generic cereals, crackers, etc, in there. I am never out of benefits at the end of the month, so at holidays we can have a nice meal with the saved money. Please don't generalize about everyone you see going through a line getting "pricey" items on food benefits, one of them could be me.

 

[summerrluvv]

If you re-read my post, you will see that was not my intent. My reason for posting was because of my own thinking that if the state I live in thinks that a family of 4 needs $668 per month to eat healthy then I must have my thinking wrong about me needing to spend so much less than that.

A realistic food budget for a family of 4 is around $200 a week. If you coupon, shop at multiple stores for loss-leaders, etc., then it can be done for less, like you. I don't find $200 out of the ordinary AT ALL for someone that doesn't do the above, and I'm pretty frugal for most things.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I won't deny that every form of government subsidy is abused one way or another... but there are kids in this country who, through sheer bad luck alone, wouldn't have anything to eat if it weren't for those food stamps.

I can't even begin to imagine the misery of being cold, homeless and/or foodless and being too young to do anything about it. Take a deep breath and be thankful that reading an internet message board is the closest you'll get to that.

 

[Mic]

I know my views on Food Stamp fraud are not very popular, and I do agree that there are people out there who truly need them to survive. MANY of them are children, and children and elderly should always be taken care of, regardless of the cost. But many of these children are not getting the food, and if they are, they are not getting healthy food. I would never look down on a family using food stamps if the able-bodied adults were doing something to improve the situation, be it searching for gainful employment or getting a better education. I was brought up to think that government assistance was something you sought temporarily, not used for generations! When a 35-year-old mother has a 17-year-old daughter with her own infant in tow, and they all live in the same house collecting several types of benefits, but no one goes to school or has a job, what should one think? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that there seems to be a pattern developing. But it gets even better; the 17-year-old buys drugs from my husband's cousin using her food stamp card! At this point, her child is still on WIC, but I don't see her breaking the habit once he is eating baby food. So he will not get the nutrition he needs, and will likely not perform well in school. While I would love to think(or hope) that his future looked better, chances are very good that this child will end up in the same position...uneducated and relying on government assistance as a young parent. And don't try to tell me that this family represents maybe 10% of food stamp recipients...if that was the case, then all 10% of them live near me! Most of us know of a family/person that needs the assistance, and uses it as it was intended. But most of us also know of a family/person that abuses the system, and we have the right to want a better system. I really don't see how much harder it would be to limit what you can buy with EBT cards. I see WIC stickers up all over my local grocery store that make it easy to choose the approved items; EBT should be set up the same way. Or at least designate items that CAN NOT be purchased with food stamps, such as anything listing sugar as the first ingredient! EVERYONE should read a label every now and then, whether they are paying cash or using a card.