Food Stamp question

[Colleen27]

Naw...people want to spout their opinions I'll share mine. As we slowly turn into a socialistic European society, you guys will win anyway...that is until the whole country goes broke. Soooooo...pass the A1.

We are so far from that happening that it is laughable that it even comes up. Our left wing politicians are far to the right of most of Europe's conservatives.

 

[Colleen27]

It's not a program helping people splurge once in awhile...or helping them get their fix on candy or any other number of things. It's to give families the essentials needed so they can be healthy and happy. Once again...WIC makes most of this happen.

WIC works because it is a supplement, not a full diet, and as such doesn't need to account for the wide range of dietary needs and preferences that exist. It is also more expensive from an administrative standpoint than food stamps, and often very cost-inefficient because of strict rules on brand and type that get in the way of buying generic or sale products.

For example, I bought a package of steaks to grill last night that were marked down 50% because they were close to the sell by date. I didn't care, because I knew they'd be cooked same-day. But that deal made them cheaper per-pound than the ribs I'd planned on buying. A WIC style program would prevent food stamp recipients from buying those kinds of items, for no real reason other than a petty desire to punish them for needing assistance.

 

[ilovemk76]

WIC works because it is a supplement, not a full diet, and as such doesn't need to account for the wide range of dietary needs and preferences that exist. It is also more expensive from an administrative standpoint than food stamps, and often very cost-inefficient because of strict rules on brand and type that get in the way of buying generic or sale products.

For example, I bought a package of steaks to grill last night that were marked down 50% because they were close to the sell by date. I didn't care, because I knew they'd be cooked same-day. But that deal made them cheaper per-pound than the ribs I'd planned on buying. A WIC style program would prevent food stamp recipients from buying those kinds of items, for no real reason other than a petty desire to punish them for needing assistance.

The "food stamp" program is called SNAP. SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. Why can't it work like WIC?

The steak could be handled very easily. There could be a $ amount per pound that the person could not exceed. If it was on sale or, like in your case, 50% off then it could fall under the limit.

One of the things many who need assistance need to learn is how to budget and not buy on impulse. Buying a steak at $7/lb is not a good deal but at $3.50/lb it is on par with ground beef.

There is an item that I love. If you buy it by the 5 lb package it is 30 cents cheaper than the smaller package of 2.5 lbs. I will buy the 5 lbs package. I can just cook the 2.5 lbs for dinner and then store the other 2.5 lbs. Cutting it in half and wrapping one up to freeze saved me $1.50. Not a huge amount of money but enough to buy bananas for the entire week.

 

[ilovemk76]

We are so far from that happening that it is laughable that it even comes up. Our left wing politicians are far to the right of most of Europe's conservatives.

Proof

 

[luvsJack]

If the amount they are getting is enough to cover expensive purchases such as steak and lobster then they are getting too much and their amount of FS should be decreased.

The amount they are given is actually a small amount per person per meal. If they choose to spend it all on steak and lobster, that doesn't necessarily mean they have enough to cover the rest of the month. You are assuming they are eating that way every night and that is more than likely not the case.

They could very well be eating ramen noodles and cereal for every other meal in the month. Or getting food from another source.

Its like the students we have that get their FA refund check. They need to spread it out over the semester for gas and other necessities to get back and forth to school or for school supplies and such. And many of them use it exactly that way, but there are a few that go and spend $400 of it on a purse (for instance). By the end of the semester those few are borrowing gas money, hitching rides, borrowing paper and pens, etc. Should their FA be reduced? No, they really do need the amount they are getting; they just are not using it in the best way.

So, IMHO and experience, its not that the amount someone is getting needs to be reduced; they just need some education in the best way to use their resources. And even at that, there will still be folks buying steak and lobster with food stamps and there will still be students buying purses with FA checks, you can't make them do it your way.

 

[momto2inKC]

I would just like to see more fiscal EDUCATION in our schools and homes. Educate our youth that no owes them a trip to Disney World, an IPOD or new car. No one owes them money that they do not EARN, and that THEY are responsible for the consequences if THEY SPEND more than THEY EARN. And most importantly, the government is not there to take care of them from the moment they are born until the second that they die.

Heck after! Some of them think the Government should bury them to.

Totally agree!!!

 

[luvsJack]

The "food stamp" program is called SNAP. SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. Why can't it work like WIC?

The steak could be handled very easily. There could be a $ amount per pound that the person could not exceed. If it was on sale or, like in your case, 50% off then it could fall under the limit.

One of the things many who need assistance need to learn is how to budget and not buy on impulse. Buying a steak at $7/lb is not a good deal but at $3.50/lb it is on par with ground beef.

There is an item that I love. If you buy it by the 5 lb package it is 30 cents cheaper than the smaller package of 2.5 lbs. I will buy the 5 lbs package. I can just cook the 2.5 lbs for dinner and then store the other 2.5 lbs. Cutting it in half and wrapping one up to freeze saved me $1.50. Not a huge amount of money but enough to buy bananas for the entire week.

WIC does not work the same way in every state. In this state, you go to a distribution center and pick up the items each month.

Babies under one get formula, baby food and some other items. Over one, they get boxed milk, evaporated milk, cheese, "fresh" fruits, cereal and dried beans.

The fruits and vegetables they give at WIC are horrible. DGD was on WIC at one time, and dil got apples, oranges and pears. She tried to feed the apples to our horses but after one taste they would not touch the shriveled up little things. (and our horses love apples and pears). Most of the fruit they give out has to be thrown away within two days because its no longer any good.

The brands of the other items can change from month to month as it just depends on which company gets the contract. Even baby formula will be changed and the only way to get the brand your child is on is with a letter from the child's doctor.

WIC isn't exactly perfect. Maybe if they were given cards here to buy things at the grocery store, I would feel differently but its like "oh, your poor, here take the bottom of the barrell stuff".


As for your suggestion about buying meat or whatever in the larger packages on sale, etc. Your exactly right, its the way to go. I always buy meat that way and try to buy at Sam's most of the time. But, I have a freezer and obviously so do you. Not everyone does. If they do, they should buy that way.

 

[ilovemk76]

WIC does not work the same way in every state. In this state, you go to a distribution center and pick up the items each month.

Babies under one get formula, baby food and some other items. Over one, they get boxed milk, evaporated milk, cheese, "fresh" fruits, cereal and dried beans.

The fruits and vegetables they give at WIC are horrible. DGD was on WIC at one time, and dil got apples, oranges and pears. She tried to feed the apples to our horses but after one taste they would not touch the shriveled up little things. (and our horses love apples and pears). Most of the fruit they give out has to be thrown away within two days because its no longer any good.

The brands of the other items can change from month to month as it just depends on which company gets the contract. Even baby formula will be changed and the only way to get the brand your child is on is with a letter from the child's doctor.

WIC isn't exactly perfect. Maybe if they were given cards here to buy things at the grocery store, I would feel differently but its like "oh, your poor, here take the bottom of the barrell stuff".


As for your suggestion about buying meat or whatever in the larger packages on sale, etc. Your exactly right, its the way to go. I always buy meat that way and try to buy at Sam's most of the time. But, I have a freezer and obviously so do you. Not everyone does. If they do, they should buy that way.

Here WIC recipients purchase the same apples that I purchase. There are about 20 different types of cereal to choose from and the shelves are marked. They buy the same milk I buy. WIC cannot buy candy bars, baked cakes and other threats.

 

[deegack]

WIC does not work the same way in every state. In this state, you go to a distribution center and pick up the items each month.

Babies under one get formula, baby food and some other items. Over one, they get boxed milk, evaporated milk, cheese, "fresh" fruits, cereal and dried beans.

The fruits and vegetables they give at WIC are horrible. DGD was on WIC at one time, and dil got apples, oranges and pears. She tried to feed the apples to our horses but after one taste they would not touch the shriveled up little things. (and our horses love apples and pears). Most of the fruit they give out has to be thrown away within two days because its no longer any good.

The brands of the other items can change from month to month as it just depends on which company gets the contract. Even baby formula will be changed and the only way to get the brand your child is on is with a letter from the child's doctor.

WIC isn't exactly perfect. Maybe if they were given cards here to buy things at the grocery store, I would feel differently but its like "oh, your poor, here take the bottom of the barrell stuff".


As for your suggestion about buying meat or whatever in the larger packages on sale, etc. Your exactly right, its the way to go. I always buy meat that way and try to buy at Sam's most of the time. But, I have a freezer and obviously so do you. Not everyone does. If they do, they should buy that way.

The little I know about WIC comes from what I learned from my foster daughter's case. You are allotted a certain amount of items - fruit, dairy, grains etc per month per child. You have a card just like a debit card and the WIC eligible items are noted on the shelves at the grocery store. There are quite a large variety and surprisingly, to me anyway, the grains are whole grains and the dairy low fat (I think under 2 you can get whole milk). So I could buy whole wheat taco shells but not the white ones. We don't opt to take WIC for FD because we simply don't need it and you have to meet with a nurse every month and I've heard from other foster parents that its not pleasant. If she was on formula I would probably do it, but the amount we get in board covers the amount she eats.

 

[jodifla]

WIC works because it is a supplement, not a full diet, and as such doesn't need to account for the wide range of dietary needs and preferences that exist. It is also more expensive from an administrative standpoint than food stamps, and often very cost-inefficient because of strict rules on brand and type that get in the way of buying generic or sale products.

For example, I bought a package of steaks to grill last night that were marked down 50% because they were close to the sell by date. I didn't care, because I knew they'd be cooked same-day. But that deal made them cheaper per-pound than the ribs I'd planned on buying. A WIC style program would prevent food stamp recipients from buying those kinds of items, for no real reason other than a petty desire to punish them for needing assistance.

This, exactly.

I can't believe how green with envy the middle class gets over poor people!!

 

[luvsJack]

Here WIC recipients purchase the same apples that I purchase. There are about 20 different types of cereal to choose from and the shelves are marked. They buy the same milk I buy. WIC cannot buy candy bars, baked cakes and other threats.

The little I know about WIC comes from what I learned from my foster daughter's case. You are allotted a certain amount of items - fruit, dairy, grains etc per month per child. You have a card just like a debit card and the WIC eligible items are noted on the shelves at the grocery store. There are quite a large variety and surprisingly, to me anyway, the grains are whole grains and the dairy low fat (I think under 2 you can get whole milk). So I could buy whole wheat taco shells but not the white ones. We don't opt to take WIC for FD because we simply don't need it and you have to meet with a nurse every month and I've heard from other foster parents that its not pleasant. If she was on formula I would probably do it, but the amount we get in board covers the amount she eats.

That's why I say, its differs from state to state. I think our state should get rid of the distribution places and just give them a card to use, but they have been doing it this way for a long time.

The constant need to go to appointments makes it very, very hard on the parents who work and/or go to school. They have to have a monthly nurse appointments, see a nutritionist so many times a year and those days never coinside with the days you can pick up your food items, so it calls for days off from work or school.

Personally, I don't have an issue with WIC or food stamps allowing for the purchase of a "treat". Kids need a treat sometimes.

 

[MrsMears]

Take it up with your local congress person or vote a different way. If things still don't change, then obviously your view is in the minority. The way each person spends the benefits that they get is not your business, it is the govs business.

YAY, I totally agree. If someone wants to honestly make social services their business, than MAKE IT their business and advocate for better policy. But gossiping at the check out counter.. that's just tacky and low class. If I was truly worried about where MY or OUR money was being spent I'd be doing more than blowing hot air with my clerk.

And for the record, my money pays for the EBT benefits too and I'm perfectly content with benefit allocations.

 

[tasha99]

I remember about a year ago, there was a lady who used food stamps in front of me in line. Her kids were a little unruly, but not overwhelmingly so. When it was my turn, the cashier snarked to me about how she was paying for that lady's kids. I was pretty shocked, because at the time, I was on food stamps as well. I guess I didn't look poor, because I always had to wear business casual type clothes (I was finishing grad school and in my clinical externships.) I was so embarrassed that I paid cash for my groceries and avoided her from then on.

As to buying things like steak and seafood on food stamps, I admit to having done that. A birthday dinner at home costs less than going out, and kids still like their birthdays and holidays to have fancy food. We were able to do it by making cheaper meals in the preceding week and buying the markdown meats like someone else mentioned.

 

[buzz5985]

I remember about a year ago, there was a lady who used food stamps in front of me in line. Her kids were a little unruly, but not overwhelmingly so. When it was my turn, the cashier snarked to me about how she was paying for that lady's kids. I was pretty shocked, because at the time, I was on food stamps as well. I guess I didn't look poor, because I always had to wear business casual type clothes (I was finishing grad school and in my clinical externships.) I was so embarrassed that I paid cash for my groceries and avoided her from then on.

As to buying things like steak and seafood on food stamps, I admit to having done that. A birthday dinner at home costs less than going out, and kids still like their birthdays and holidays to have fancy food. We were able to do it by making cheaper meals in the preceding week and buying the markdown meats like someone else mentioned.

So let me get this straight - grad school - on food stamps - but you don't see a problem with the system??

 

[tasha99]

So let me get this straight - grad school - on food stamps - but you don't see a problem with the system??

Absolutely not. The system is made to work in the big picture and it is made to help people recover from a financial disaster like a divorce. Without the assistance to go to school, I would still be working low paying jobs like retail or secretarial work--which I did as an undergrad.

If you look at the big picture, the government comes out ahead by helping people get a marketable skill. I know that people who don't believe in investment into other's futures think food stamps while in school is a mistake, but think of it this way: if I were still working low paying jobs, I would be getting the EIC every single year until my kids were grown. The investment the government made in food stamps, grants, and student loans means that instead of taking several thousand a year in EIC, I'm paying several thousand in income tax. I'm grateful that there was a system in place to help me out of poverty, and I don't feel like the money I put into it now is wasted--I'm glad it's there to help other people, too.

 

[torinsmom]

The little I know about WIC comes from what I learned from my foster daughter's case. You are allotted a certain amount of items - fruit, dairy, grains etc per month per child. You have a card just like a debit card and the WIC eligible items are noted on the shelves at the grocery store. There are quite a large variety and surprisingly, to me anyway, the grains are whole grains and the dairy low fat (I think under 2 you can get whole milk). So I could buy whole wheat taco shells but not the white ones. We don't opt to take WIC for FD because we simply don't need it and you have to meet with a nurse every month and I've heard from other foster parents that its not pleasant. If she was on formula I would probably do it, but the amount we get in board covers the amount she eats.

This is how it is where we live. I think it's great to help out those in need this way. The food is healthy and what growing children need to thrive. Right now, you can only NOT buy non-food items with food stamps. I think it should be more selective and include fresh meats, fresh produce, whole grains, low fat dairy, fruit juices and things like that. Just my opinion of course.....

 

[SenecaWolf]

So let me get this straight - grad school - on food stamps - but you don't see a problem with the system??

Read the news sometime...

Even a PhD Couldn't Keep This Man Off Food Stamps

 

[maxiesmom]

So let me get this straight - grad school - on food stamps - but you don't see a problem with the system??

My state just recently closed the loophole that allowed college students to get food stamps. And I knew quite a few of them that got them just because they could, not because they needed them.

I don't think going to grad school makes someone have a true need of them. They could do what one guy I know does, work 2 jobs in addition to going to grad school.

 

[luvsJack]

My state just recently closed the loophole that allowed college students to get food stamps. And I knew quite a few of them that got them just because they could, not because they needed them.

I don't think going to grad school makes someone have a true need of them. They could do what one guy I know does, work 2 jobs in addition to going to grad school.

There are plenty of college students from community college through grad school that need food stamps BECAUSE they are students. Working two jobs is not reasonable with every major or with single parents. IF they can even find two jobs to work around school.

Besides, helping people to get through school so they can make at least a living wage is what food stamps and other government assistance is for.

 

[Colleen27]

My state just recently closed the loophole that allowed college students to get food stamps. And I knew quite a few of them that got them just because they could, not because they needed them.

I don't think going to grad school makes someone have a true need of them. They could do what one guy I know does, work 2 jobs in addition to going to grad school.

It depends on circumstances. The loophole being closed is specific to dependent students not needing to claim their parents' income when they apply. Adult students with children would still qualify if their income is low enough.

I agree that going to school itself doesn't make for need. However, higher education doesn't count towards work requirements in most states, so adult students receiving food stamps tend to be those who are working a low-wage job and attending school while raising children. I think that combination of factors is a real need, and while harder in the short-term it is a much better set of choices than working at McDs full time and likely remaining dependent indefinitely. To exclude those people from receiving the aid they need to get through is to encourage the very cycle of poverty, low-wage jobs, and on-and-off reliance on social programs that assistance aims to break.