Food stamp benefits

[wdwfan16]

But the thing about that is, appearances ARE important in our society. Those nice clothes, manicure, styled hair, make-up are an expectation in many settings, including a LOT of jobs. Do you imagine that Macys is going to hire a salesperson who comes in wearing old clothes with neglected hair & nails? That any nice restaurant would hire a waitress that doesn't look well groomed, well-dressed and classy? That an office looking for a receptionist isn't going to give preference to the more put-together looking applicant? In a lot of jobs, even low-wage/low-skill jobs, image is part of the package. And when you're judging that woman in front of you paying for her groceries with her food stamps, you have no idea whether or not maintaining a certain appearance is essential to her job or job search (many food stamp recipients do work; in fact there are work requirements for those who don't have preschool-aged children).

Oh brother. You really thing this is a need? I have never in my life has a manicure or a pedicure. I wore make-up on my wedding day and no other day. I can be dressed clean without those nicer clothes. I get my hair cut for $15. I never put in hairspray or use dryers or curling irons And guess what I have a JOB that pays many times that coveted Macy's job. I get complements on my nice skins and hair all the time.

That mentality that you are endorsing is why they will never get out of their situation and why their kids will follow in their footsteps.

 

[Free4Life11]

I agree. I've seen people choosing $20 bottles of shampoo over food.

With food stamps? I know in my state food stamps CANNOT be used to purchase non-food items.

Foods You Can Buy With Food Stamp Benefits

Households can use food stamp benefits to buy breads, cereals, fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, poultry, dairy, and plants and seeds to grow food for your household to eat. Households cannot use food stamp benefits to buy nonfood items such as pet foods, soaps, paper products, household supplies, grooming items, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, vitamins, medicines, food to eat in the store, or hot foods

 

[Colleen27]

Oh brother. You really thing this is a need? I have never in my life has a manicure or a pedicure. I wore make-up on my wedding day and no other day. I can be dressed clean without those nicer clothes. I get my hair cut for $15. I never put in hairspray or use dryers or curling irons And guess what I have a JOB that pays many times that coveted Macy's job. I get complements on my nice skins and hair all the time.

And I'll bet you got that job based on education or skills that your average food stamp recipient doesn't have (and if she did, she wouldn't need the food stamps). I'm sure that's true for most of us here. But I've had those jobs, when I was in college and fresh-out of school but not yet landed my first career job. Pay attention next time you're out shopping to the clothes the cashiers who ring you up at nicer stores are wearing, the way their hands look, etc. It absolutely is an expectation that if you want to work somewhere better than Wal-mart or the corner diner (not knocking it, BTW; any job is better than nothing, but the pay and benefits are generally better at more upscale stores/restaurants).

I don't think these things are needs in the sense that one cannot live without them, but I also don't think that people receiving assistance should cut out every single thing they can live without regardless of the practical purpose those things might serve in the long run.

 

[brymolmom]

With food stamps? I know in my state food stamps CANNOT be used to purchase non-food items.

I'm not the poster, but perhaps he/she means that if a person actually chooses the $2.00 bottle of shampoo, and the $15 pair of jeans, and skipping the manicure and pinching those pennies in every way possible, might actually come to a position not to NEED food stamps.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

With food stamps? I know in my state food stamps CANNOT be used to purchase non-food items.

No, it wasn't on food stamps, but other kind of welfare. It seems common sense to me though, that when you need to choose between food and expensive shampoo, you should choose food.

 

[wvjules]

No, it wasn't on food stamps, but other kind of welfare. It seems common sense to me though, that when you need to choose between food and expensive shampoo, you should choose food.

What other kind of welfare could one use to buy shampoo? And who buys $20 shampoo in a grocery store anyway? I'm not sure I've seen shampoo that expensive anywhere but a salon.

 

[FlameGirl]

Oh brother. You really thing this is a need? I have never in my life has a manicure or a pedicure. I wore make-up on my wedding day and no other day. I can be dressed clean without those nicer clothes. I get my hair cut for $15. I never put in hairspray or use dryers or curling irons And guess what I have a JOB that pays many times that coveted Macy's job. I get complements on my nice skins and hair all the time.

That mentality that you are endorsing is why they will never get out of their situation and why their kids will follow in their footsteps.

Oooh, yes, the evil, infamous "THEY".

J.K. Rowling was a single mom living off of food stamps before she became wildly successful. I guess she wasn't there the day they taught how they're never supposed to get off food stamps.

Yes, that was just one example. It's about as relevant as all of the other ridiculous sweeping generalizations made here.

 

[luvsJack]

I think that's the point of some on this thread...Appearance can be important to people, however, if you are in a situation where you are having difficulty feeding yourself or your children - it should NOT be so. It should be moved WAY to the bottom of the priority list. And, if there comes a time when you can get your feet under you again - THEN it can be moved back up. The sad thing here is that it MAY (for some, obviously not all) only feed and perpetuate the problem as the kids may be learning to then put appearance and 'pricier' luxury things above the real needs....and if you are not in a position to be buying Coach bags (even knock offs or 2nd hand) you should really be buying NEEDS instead of wants. And putting the money you do have toward what you actually need.

Have you ever been in the situation of not being able to buy your kids decent jeans or shoes? Have you ever had to send your kids to school knowing that they look like the "little poor kids from the wrong side of the tracks"? If you haven't then you couldn't possible understand why appearance is important to someone with little money.

Its very easy to sit in our comfortable worlds and say what should or should not be important to someone; but as one who has been there, its hard to feel like everyone is judging how cheap your clothes are or how "poor" you look. You get tired of feeling like everyone is feeling sorry for you.

And in reality, they do have to put clothes on themeselves and their children and if they are buying these brand names at a very discounted price--what possible difference could it make? I have seen Tommy jeans at the goodwill store for a couple of bucks. And, last time I looked, clothes are a NEED.

Unless you see a price tag on someone's clothes and know for a fact who bought them, who are any of us to judge what someone on foodstamps wears?

 

[C.Ann]

Oooh, yes, the evil, infamous "THEY".

J.K. Rowling was a single mom living off of food stamps before she became wildly successful. I guess she wasn't there the day they taught how they're never supposed to get off food stamps.

Yes, that was just one example. It's about as relevant as all of the other ridiculous sweeping generalizations made here.

 

[wdwfan16]

And I'll bet you got that job based on education or skills that your average food stamp recipient doesn't have (and if she did, she wouldn't need the food stamps). I'm sure that's true for most of us here. But I've had those jobs, when I was in college and fresh-out of school but not yet landed my first career job. Pay attention next time you're out shopping to the clothes the cashiers who ring you up at nicer stores are wearing, the way their hands look, etc. It absolutely is an expectation that if you want to work somewhere better than Wal-mart or the corner diner (not knocking it, BTW; any job is better than nothing, but the pay and benefits are generally better at more upscale stores/restaurants).

I don't think these things are needs in the sense that one cannot live without them, but I also don't think that people receiving assistance should cut out every single thing they can live without regardless of the practical purpose those things might serve in the long run.

I had those jobs you talk about in high school and college when I had no education or only a high school degree. And I did none of what you profess I would have needed to do. I had those jobs because I applied, I showed up to the interview on time, I did not demand anything and I passed the tests they gave (simple math addition and subtraction).

 

[Tinkerbelle32]

Good grief, this thread is going awry!

 

[MN_Gal]

And I'll bet you got that job based on education or skills that your average food stamp recipient doesn't have (and if she did, she wouldn't need the food stamps). I'm sure that's true for most of us here. But I've had those jobs, when I was in college and fresh-out of school but not yet landed my first career job. Pay attention next time you're out shopping to the clothes the cashiers who ring you up at nicer stores are wearing, the way their hands look, etc. It absolutely is an expectation that if you want to work somewhere better than Wal-mart or the corner diner (not knocking it, BTW; any job is better than nothing, but the pay and benefits are generally better at more upscale stores/restaurants).

I don't think these things are needs in the sense that one cannot live without them, but I also don't think that people receiving assistance should cut out every single thing they can live without regardless of the practical purpose those things might serve in the long run.

PLEASE try not to quantify what you think is an "average food support recipient". Unless you work doing determinations for eligibility, you have no idea who an average food support recipient might be.

Due to the economy this past year, I have had applications from many college educated people who lost their jobs due to no fault of their own and would not be considered "average". Or single parents who are not receiving the child support that was court ordered, but are working full time but still can not make ends meet.

MANY (the vast majority of my client caseload) are not next-gen public assistance recipient, especially this past year. These are people just like you and me who have hit hard times. And no one should be judging these people unless you know first hand their situation.

As always on these threads, I encourage anyone who might be eligible for benefits to check the DHS website for their state to find out how to apply.

 

[C.Ann]

PLEASE try not to quantify what you think is an "average food support recipient". Unless you work doing determinations for eligibility, you have no idea who an average food support recipient might be.

Due to the economy this past year, I have had applications from many college educated people who lost their jobs due to no fault of their own and would not be considered "average". Or single parents who are not receiving the child support that was court ordered, but are working full time but still can not make ends meet.

MANY (the vast majority of my client caseload) are not next-gen public assistance recipient, especially this past year. These are people just like you and me who have hit hard times. And no one should be judging these people unless you know first hand their situation.

As always on these threads, I encourage anyone who might be eligible for benefits to check the DHS website for their state to find out how to apply.

But you will never convince anyone of that - because everyone knows someones "brothers-uncles-sisters-nephews wife" who is out there abusing the system - or - people can tell just by "looking" at someone what their circumstances "were", "are", and "will be" in the future..

 

[MN_Gal]

As I stated in my first post of this thread, that anyone who knows of anyone (including a family member) who is fraudulently obtaining public assistnce to report the suspected fraud to either the county of residence or to the state welfare fraud hotline.

If someone doesn't report it, then they shouldn't complain about the abuse because they could be doing something about it. As stated on the earlier post, if you report suspected fraud, you may not "see" the result but it can range from criminal charges to reduction of benefits to overpayments for benefits they received that they weren't entitled to and to even loss of benefits entirely.

Workers who determine eligibility try extremely hard to verify that all information is correct, but try as hard as we can, some do get benefits they aren't entitled to and unless others report suspected fraud and abuse of public assistance, they will continue to receive them. (Even though in the majority of cases it eventually catches up with them)

We all need to take responsibility to help stop fraud and abuse of public assistance. Reports to the fraud hotlines can be made anonymously.

You have a choice of reporting it or not, but then you also have to realize that you are now enabling them to continue the receipt of benefits they might not be entitled to. If you chose not to report them, then you shouldn't be complaining about them in the next breath.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

What other kind of welfare could one use to buy shampoo? And who buys $20 shampoo in a grocery store anyway? I'm not sure I've seen shampoo that expensive anywhere but a salon.

It's on the same card as the food stamps, but it's not food stamps. It can be used for anything, and can even be used for cash back.

Anyway, there was $30 left on the balance, and she owed $50, so she took off $20 of groceries, and left $10 of groceries and the $20 shampoo. If it were me, I would've gotten all the food, and a $1 or $2 bottle of shampoo, which is what I use anyway, and honestly, I don't really notice a difference between that and the "good" stuff.

 

[wdwfan16]

As I stated in my first post of this thread, that anyone who knows of anyone (including a family member) who is fraudulently obtaining public assistnce to report the suspected fraud to either the county of residence or to the state welfare fraud hotline.

If someone doesn't report it, then they shouldn't complain about the abuse because they could be doing something about it. As stated on the earlier post, if you report suspected fraud, you may not "see" the result but it can range from criminal charges to reduction of benefits to overpayments for benefits they received that they weren't entitled to and to even loss of benefits entirely.

Workers who determine eligibility try extremely hard to verify that all information is correct, but try as hard as we can, some do get benefits they aren't entitled to and unless others report suspected fraud and abuse of public assistance, they will continue to receive them. (Even though in the majority of cases it eventually catches up with them)

We all need to take responsibility to help stop fraud and abuse of public assistance. Reports to the fraud hotlines can be made anonymously.

You have a choice of reporting it or not, but then you also have to realize that you are now enabling them to continue the receipt of benefits they might not be entitled to. If you chose not to report them, then you shouldn't be complaining about them in the next breath.

I did report a person who claimed to not be able to work due to an arm injury. I saw him lifting 70+ lbs with that arm. All I know is that he was back to work in a week or two.

 

[luvsJack]

It's on the same card as the food stamps, but it's not food stamps. It can be used for anything, and can even be used for cash back.

Anyway, there was $30 left on the balance, and she owed $50, so she took off $20 of groceries, and left $10 of groceries and the $20 shampoo. If it were me, I would've gotten all the food, and a $1 or $2 bottle of shampoo, which is what I use anyway, and honestly, I don't really notice a difference between that and the "good" stuff.

I don't know about anywhere else, but here there isn't anything else on the cards. Its FS and for food only. There is another card that has child support and/or welfare checks on it. It is completely different and someone could use it for anything including $20 shampoo if that is what they choose to do, just like when they received checks that could be cashed and spent where needed. Buying $20 shampoo isn't the smartest thing to do, but its not fraud either.

 

[wdwfan16]

But you will never convince anyone of that - because everyone knows someones "brothers-uncles-sisters-nephews wife" who is out there abusing the system - or - people can tell just by "looking" at someone what their circumstances "were", "are", and "will be" in the future..

Or the ones who get letters about it.

 

[brymolmom]

Have you ever been in the situation of not being able to buy your kids decent jeans or shoes? Have you ever had to send your kids to school knowing that they look like the "little poor kids from the wrong side of the tracks"? If you haven't then you couldn't possible understand why appearance is important to someone with little money.

Its very easy to sit in our comfortable worlds and say what should or should not be important to someone; but as one who has been there, its hard to feel like everyone is judging how cheap your clothes are or how "poor" you look. You get tired of feeling like everyone is feeling sorry for you.

And in reality, they do have to put clothes on themeselves and their children and if they are buying these brand names at a very discounted price--what possible difference could it make? I have seen Tommy jeans at the goodwill store for a couple of bucks. And, last time I looked, clothes are a NEED.

Unless you see a price tag on someone's clothes and know for a fact who bought them, who are any of us to judge what someone on foodstamps wears?

I have been lucky enough not to have to struggle to clothe my children. However, I have a very good understanding of the situation. I WAS the child who was wearing non-name-brand and inexpensive clothing amid those who were wearing much, MUCH better than I. I went to a 'rich' suburban high school...And was the youngest of 5 children between the ages of 10 and 17 when my father passed away. A few years later we learned that our accountant (and 'friend') embezzeled all of my dad's life insurance money. My mom worked her butt off...I distinctly remember her going to work when she was very sick...just to make sure she didn't miss time. And we did NOT go on food stamps. Nor did we buy anything expensive. I had very basic, but clean, clothing. Got a job myself when I was 15 and bought all my own clothes after that (and on min wage - nothing name brand among them I assure you).

And what did I learn? That hard work is invaluable. That you can be a good person and have integrity and hold your head high even without a name on your jean pocket.

My mom made sure we got our teeth cleaned every 6 months (ok - likely missed a couple times but usually that often) - THIS was more important than spending money on luxuries. How many people do you know (or do you think) that do not have health insurance or go to dental appointments but DO have really nice cell phones and Tommy jeans not bought at a thrift store? I only know a few personally...but I know for sure there are a lot more.

Oh and even though I CAN afford (via the hard work learned from my mother) to buy my kids expensive jeans...they have never once had a pair. And they too are learning that it just isn't as important as other things.

 

[wdwfan16]

I have been lucky enough not to have to struggle to clothe my children. However, I have a very good understanding of the situation. I WAS the child who was wearing non-name-brand and inexpensive clothing amid those who were wearing much, MUCH better than I. I went to a 'rich' suburban high school...And was the youngest of 5 children between the ages of 10 and 17 when my father passed away. A few years later we learned that our accountant (and 'friend') embezzeled all of my dad's life insurance money. My mom worked her butt off...I distinctly remember her going to work when she was very sick...just to make sure she didn't miss time. And we did NOT go on food stamps. Nor did we buy anything expensive. I had very basic, but clean, clothing. Got a job myself when I was 15 and bought all my own clothes after that (and on min wage - nothing name brand among them I assure you).

And what did I learn? That hard work is invaluable. That you can be a good person and have integrity and hold your head high even without a name on your jean pocket.

My mom made sure we got our teeth cleaned every 6 months (ok - likely missed a couple times but usually that often) - THIS was more important than spending money on luxuries. How many people do you know (or do you think) that do not have health insurance or go to dental appointments but DO have really nice cell phones and Tommy jeans not bought at a thrift store? I only know a few personally...but I know for sure there are a lot more.

Oh and even though I CAN afford (via the hard work learned from my mother) to buy my kids expensive jeans...they have never once had a pair. And they too are learning that it just isn't as important as other things.

The bolded is really sad. You learn very important lessons as a child and you are teaching your kids the same. I hope to teach our kids the same too.