Food Stamp question

[kt_mom]

Bolded mine. So, work harder and you can. (I am being sarcastic by the way) Isn't that what posters are saying; work harder and you don't have to rely on public assistance? What's the difference?

If you (a general you, not you specifically) know of someone, for a fact, that is abusing the system. Report them. So many posters say....I know this person and that person. Have you reported them??? That is what should be done. IF you know someone is abusing the system, report them. Else, stop judging those you know nothing about.

I never said whether I could or couldn't afford any of those things. You pointed out how much better your life is then those that have to collect assistance. And I just pointed out that even those that don't get assistance often can't afford some of your luxuries. And the ones abusing the system often don't care. They are happy just getting by as long as they can continue to be lazy and let someone else do the hard work.

But actually, yes I do think that people should work hard for the things they want. Steak and lobster and big yards and all that stuff are wants. If you want them, work for them. But nobody is entitled to them.

 

[Colleen27]

This is every taxpayer's business and if concerned citizens don't speak out, nothing will ever change. Some people need to get their heads out of the sand and become educated to the fact that there IS a lot of abuse and fraud in the system and it needs to be revamped.

And some need to look around and see what is happening to our job market. We all want Walmart prices, but then turn around and complain about the consequences of Walmart wages...

 

[luvsJack]

My state if starting a program to take into account a person's assets before receiving food stamps. Unbelievable that this hasn't been done before. My friend who works for the welfare office said one family was getting benefits while driving a Lexus with $200,000 in the bank because they had no income and this was not an isolated incident!

I was on food stamp about 26 years ago, and they asked about my car back then.

 

[luvsJack]

This is every taxpayer's business and if concerned citizens don't speak out, nothing will ever change. Some people need to get their heads out of the sand and become educated to the fact that there IS a lot of abuse and fraud in the system and it needs to be revamped.

And how is gossiping with the next customer going to make a change? Or your friend gossiping about someone applying for food stamps (which is illegal by the way, she should not be discussing it).

If someone wants to make a change, you talk to the people who can make those changes; you don't just gossip and gripe about it.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

We need more elected officials like this with the courage to try to change the system. Though it's getting harder and harder to get people like this elected when almost 50% of the citizens PAY NO FEDERAL INCOME TAX at all and will continue to vote for the candidate who provides them cradle to grave government support.

Yawn. That tired statement again?

Why not share that passion against corporations - a bigger percentage of corps pay no income tax.

What do people expect who shop at Walmart??? When people shop ONLY on price point, employees of those places will not be paid a living wage.

This thread is funny - there are people up in arms about "those people" who have no responsibility, yet some posters ALSO continue to have kids they can't afford. If you are living paycheck to paycheck - maybe you shouldn't even HAVE kids!

 

[eliza61]

This thread is funny - there are people up in arms about "those people" who have no responsibility, yet some posters ALSO continue to have kids they can't afford. If you are living paycheck to paycheck - maybe you shouldn't even HAVE kids!

Because it's easy. Plain and simple. If we can blame "those" _____ people, fill in the blank with whatever group you want, than we don't have to look at the man in the mirror.

I lived to long, every few years it's the same song, different group.
People on entitlement programs are destroying the country.
gays are destroying the country.
Socialist are destroying the country.
Blacks are destroying the country.

For example, It's easier to blame them than to look at one of the fastest growing segment of food stamps users are older workers who saw their 401K's disappear, retirement savings eaten up by one major illness and social security not keep up with inflation and as more and more folks get older without having savings (for whatever reasons) the need is expected to grow. Yet instead of addressing this problem, which would be difficult and require cooperation to solve, it's much easier to simply paint all food stamp recipients as cigarette smoking, beer drinking, lazy losers.

I think we need to tax folks every time they utter a version of this statement. That'll clear up the national debt in no time. LOL.

 

[dclfun]

Bolded mine. So, work harder and you can. (I am being sarcastic by the way) Isn't that what posters are saying; work harder and you don't have to rely on public assistance? What's the difference?

If you (a general you, not you specifically) know of someone, for a fact, that is abusing the system. Report them. So many posters say....I know this person and that person. Have you reported them??? That is what should be done. IF you know someone is abusing the system, report them. Else, stop judging those you know nothing about.

Ahhh, but you can't really report them. I tried a few years back when I knew of serious abuse and was told I needed the person's social security number to turn them in. How was I supposed to get that? Just giving a name, address, phone number, and other identifying personal information wasn't enough.

 

[eliza61]

Ahhh, but you can't really report them. I tried a few years back when I knew of serious abuse and was told I needed the person's social security number to turn them in. How was I supposed to get that? Just giving a name, address, phone number, and other identifying personal information wasn't enough.

Most states now you don't need ss# but you do need some type of identifying information.

In NJ you will need name and address AND you will need to document the type of fraud you saw. You can't say "my brother is buying steaks with his food stamps" or "my cashier friend says they are using fs to buy extravagent food". That's not fraud, is it maybe not the best way to stretch your food budget, sure. but as long as he's eating the steaks and not reselling them. it's not fraud. On the other hand if the person has 200K sitting in a bank account, a name and address will definitely turn the up.


It would be nice if you could regulate "morality" or "common sense". Sure if I needed help providing food for my family, I would definitely give up the smokes but once again as long as they are not using the FS to buy the cigarettes (which would make the vendor fraudulent also) that's a common sense issue.

 

[cwasil]

Chicago and Eliza...comparing apples and oranges. This thread isn't about corporate welfare or gas prices or who got kicked from DWTS's or any other argument, from what I've read, other than the abuse, by some, of the FS program.

There are individual abuses in this entitlement program that needs to be addressed. I don't think you'll find one person in this whole thread that disagrees with helping people in need, the problem is that some are abusing the system. Heck, for some of them it's a lifestyle. Assistance shouldn't a cradle to grave problem. It should exist to give people to staple of life. If people want to live cradle to grave on the basic necessities of life, well, I'll no longer be angry at them I'll just feel sorry for them. We should not be providing them the finer things in life...we should provide them with life until they can pull themselves up again. There's a reason people don't donate steak and lobsters to the food bank. It's stupid. There is alot better types of food, more reasonably priced out there that can help more people...yet it seems to be ok for these same people that go to the food banks to be able to buy steak and lobster at grocery stores from the same pot of money that helps food banks. Stupid.

I've seen people buy and sell their dollars on the cards at 50% off so they could get cash for cigarettes, etc., etc. That's not right no matter how you cut it. I remember lots of weird stuff as a cashier in the 90's when people would come in, multiple times, buying individual bananas to get enough change to go next door to the liquor store. It's just not right and I don't believe my tax money should go to buying steak, lobster, cigarettes or booze for anyone.

The FS program is the ultimate "honor" system. Some people use it for what it's there for...great...I'll pay in for that knowing that some family really needs it and never say a word about it. However, there is so much abuse that it's time for more rules and regulations to be in place.

People on food stamps aren't destroying the country...contrary to that I'd like to think that the majority of people that get FS's realize how great of a country they live in, motivate them to pick themselve's up after life's given them a knucklesandwich and to give something back after they've "righted the ship". Apparently, a minority of people on FS's think it's a right and a priveledge. That needs to change.

 

[eliza61]

Chicago and Eliza...comparing apples and oranges. This thread isn't about corporate welfare or gas prices or who got kicked from DWTS's or any other argument, from what I've read, other than the abuse, by some, of the FS program.

There are individual abuses in this entitlement program that needs to be addressed. I don't think you'll find one person in this whole thread that disagrees with helping people in need, the problem is that some are abusing the system. Heck, for some of them it's a lifestyle. Assistance shouldn't a cradle to grave problem. It should exist to give people to staple of life. If people want to live cradle to grave on the basic necessities of life, well, I'll no longer be angry at them I'll just feel sorry for them. We should not be providing them the finer things in life...we should provide them with life until they can pull themselves up again. There's a reason people don't donate steak and lobsters to the food bank. It's stupid. There is alot better types of food, more reasonably priced out there that can help more people...yet it seems to be ok for these same people that go to the food banks to be able to buy steak and lobster at grocery stores from the same pot of money that helps food banks. Stupid.

I've seen people buy and sell their dollars on the cards at 50% off so they could get cash for cigarettes, etc., etc. That's not right no matter how you cut it. I remember lots of weird stuff as a cashier in the 90's when people would come in, multiple times, buying individual bananas to get enough change to go next door to the liquor store. It's just not right and I don't believe my tax money should go to buying steak, lobster, cigarettes or booze for anyone.

The FS program is the ultimate "honor" system. Some people use it for what it's there for...great...I'll pay in for that knowing that some family really needs it and never say a word about it. However, there is so much abuse that it's time for more rules and regulations to be in place.

People on food stamps aren't destroying the country...contrary to that I'd like to think that the majority of people that get FS's realize how great of a country they live in, motivate them to pick themselve's up after life's given them a knucklesandwich and to give something back after they've "righted the ship". Apparently, a minority of people on FS's think it's a right and a priveledge. That needs to change.

so are you applying these same ideas to the abuses and waste of money in the military? How about the waste in coporate tax codes? Why is that apples to oranges.

I have no problem as I';ve said many times overhauling any system that is wasteful and fradulent. I find it interesting that people here seem to rant EVERY month on poor people yet have no issue with other forms of wasting my tax dollars.

Oh and the cashier did infere how the country was going down the toilet due to this. I believe she said "we will never get any where".

If assistance has to end for poor people then I want it ended for military, corporations, rich folk (in the form of huge tax breaks). All or nothing.

In Philly, Sunoco oil company gets billions of tax credits and energy assistance money from the government (my tax dollars) while laying off 2000 people by shutting down every refinery they own plus paying their ceo 30 million dollars bonus for doing so. why isn't that welfare gravy train ending? I guess 30 million is poverty if you work for a big company.

They military spent millions of dollars on planes that serve absolutely no purpose even when top brass said that the planes would do absolutely no good in the current conflicts.

 

[ilovemk76]

How old is the lexus? Was the lexus paid for? Was it a gift?

How does your friend know how much they have in the bank? Applications generally ask how much you have in savings but if the person does not state it, you friend would not legally be able to search for her assets so how does she know this?

Here are the general guidelines. so either your friend is illegally allowing fraud to happen or she has no idea what she's talking about.

Resources: Most households are exempt from the resource limit. In addition, individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or households including anyone who receives Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP), Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP), or Strategies to Empower People (STEP) Program benefits are exempt from the resource limit. Households not exempt from the resource limit may have up to $2000 in resources, such as a bank account. Non-exempt households that include at least one household member who is age 60 or older or includes a disabled member may have up to $3250 in resources.

Households are not exempt from the resource limit if:

Any member is disqualified for Intentional Program Violation,
Any member of the household is ineligible because of a drug-related felony, or
The household is disqualified for failing to comply with work registration requirements.

The following individuals are not exempt from the resource limit:

An ineligible alien,
An ineligible student,
An individual who is disqualified for failure to comply with work registration requirements,
An individual who is disqualified for failure to provide or apply for a social security number, and
An individual who is on strike.
Income: Households must meet income tests (unless any member is receiving FITAP, KCSP, STEP benefits, or all members are receiving SSI).
Most households must meet both the gross and net income tests, but a household with a person who is 60 years old or older or a person who is receiving certain types of disability payments only has to meet the net income test.
Gross income means a household's total, non-excluded income, before any deductions have been made. Net income means gross income minus allowable deductions. Households, except those noted, that have income over the amounts listed below cannot get SNAP benefits.

Does she realize that she is supposed to report all instances of fraud? Just trying to figure out how she knows all these people with 200K in the bank and not reporting it.

Here is the link to qualifications.

http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10101.pdf

Follow the "what you can own" paragraph.

Once you are on you can win millions in the lottery and still collect food stamps. Last I heard the Michigan man, who won the lottery last year, is still getting food stamps. WITH A MILLION OR MORE IN THE BANK.

 

[ccgirl]

Once you are on you can win millions in the lottery and still collect food stamps. Last I heard the Michigan man, who won the lottery last year, is still getting food stamps. WITH A MILLION OR MORE IN THE BANK.

Actually, it was a woman and she was charged with fraud. She also owned two homes.

 

[RitaE]

Actually, it was a woman and she was charged with fraud. She also owned two homes.

There was a man before her.
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/2m-michigan-lottery-winner-leroy-fick-food-stamps/story?id=13632236

The law was changed after he was exposed.

This was the recent case - the woman
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/...gan-lottery-winner-food-stamps_n_1431777.html

 

[ilovemk76]

Actually, it was a woman and she was charged with fraud. She also owned two homes.

She was the second one. There was a man before her.

 

[ForAandA]

This is every taxpayer's business and if concerned citizens don't speak out, nothing will ever change. Some people need to get their heads out of the sand and become educated to the fact that there IS a lot of abuse and fraud in the system and it needs to be revamped.

Their is alot of abuse in just about every goverment system. That does not give you the right to demand to know people's personal business.

If your child was in public school and was receiving special services for example, would it be ok for us to demand to see your financials? After all, perhaps you can afford those services, yet receive them for free because of public schooling?

I hope you get it now.

 

[kt_mom]

so are you applying these same ideas to the abuses and waste of money in the military? How about the waste in coporate tax codes? Why is that apples to oranges.

I have no problem as I';ve said many times overhauling any system that is wasteful and fradulent. I find it interesting that people here seem to rant EVERY month on poor people yet have no issue with other forms of wasting my tax dollars.

Oh and the cashier did infere how the country was going down the toilet due to this. I believe she said "we will never get any where".

If assistance has to end for poor people then I want it ended for military, corporations, rich folk (in the form of huge tax breaks). All or nothing.

In Philly, Sunoco oil company gets billions of tax credits and energy assistance money from the government (my tax dollars) while laying off 2000 people by shutting down every refinery they own plus paying their ceo 30 million dollars bonus for doing so. why isn't that welfare gravy train ending? I guess 30 million is poverty if you work for a big company.

They military spent millions of dollars on planes that serve absolutely no purpose even when top brass said that the planes would do absolutely no good in the current conflicts.

That's fine, we'll end those tax breaks, but for everyone including the people that get back more then they even put in.

 

[ccgirl]

What posters are failing to see is that MANY of those that get benefits are paying in as well. They do have jobs. Not all of them sit on their butts all day.

 

[momto2inKC]

What posters are failing to see is that MANY of those that get benefits are paying in as well. They do have jobs. Not all of them sit on their butts all day.

I would just guess that those who do work (not all) end up getting EIC at tax time since their income is low enough to qualify them for food stamps. So a lot probably actually do pay taxes but get that amount PLUS a LOT more at tax time.

 

[tosha27]

so are you applying these same ideas to the abuses and waste of money in the military? How about the waste in coporate tax codes? Why is that apples to oranges.

I have no problem as I';ve said many times overhauling any system that is wasteful and fradulent. I find it interesting that people here seem to rant EVERY month on poor people yet have no issue with other forms of wasting my tax dollars.

Oh and the cashier did infere how the country was going down the toilet due to this. I believe she said "we will never get any where".

If assistance has to end for poor people then I want it ended for military, corporations, rich folk (in the form of huge tax breaks). All or nothing.

In Philly, Sunoco oil company gets billions of tax credits and energy assistance money from the government (my tax dollars) while laying off 2000 people by shutting down every refinery they own plus paying their ceo 30 million dollars bonus for doing so. why isn't that welfare gravy train ending? I guess 30 million is poverty if you work for a big company.

They military spent millions of dollars on planes that serve absolutely no purpose even when top brass said that the planes would do absolutely no good in the current conflicts.

Um thank you. I live in a Katrina disaster area. Our counties and cities got so many grants for useless crap that it is ridiculous. We have a huge fema disaster "compound" in our small rural county that no one is ever going to use for anything. No telling how many millions that cost. All 6 counties in coastal MS got millions in grants to redo the entire water system. We have triple the amount of water towers that we need in our county - some of them less than a mile from each other and not being utilized. Oh well we might need them one day! Sure coulda used those millions for something else now though!!!!!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I would just guess that those who do work (not all) end up getting EIC at tax time since their income is low enough to qualify them for food stamps. So a lot probably actually do pay taxes but get that amount PLUS a LOT more at tax time.

Exactly