Food Stamps

[o2bnocn]

Food Stamps are always tricky for me. The program technically has a requirement that you have children, or a work waiver, or have been employed within a certain amount of time. When the economy tanked, most states applied waivers to the work requirements. I am completely in support of feeding children, and helping the disabled, and those who have become unemployed. I think it is our civil duty. There are limits to what can be bought: must be food items, cannot be already prepared( pre-cooked) foods, i.e. You can buy a take n bake pizza, but not a cooked one, and you can actually use them at farmer's markets. But I do cringe when I go to WINCO, and see cases of Soda, Cookies, Junk etc. Yet, I think that by placing limits on what you can eat, or drink, is such a slippery slope. Can we really say no candy, without also sayiing you can't buy things that are nutritionally or culturally specific?

Yeah I pretty much agree with you, it's difficult. I understand that it is different for everyone. There is too much abuse, I agree with that. I also agree that limiting what you can buy is a slippery slope, and probably not the best ideas. The reason I say this is because you never know what someone is going through or why they are buying that item.

[Gennyst74]

    I am on food stamps.  I get a whopping $16 a month.  No, I did not leave out a zero.  While some people may thing the amount is not worth even trying for, this month that 16 saved me.  I was able to go to the dollar store and buy bread, eggs, and dry beans.  I still have .85 on my card, but I will be able to eat for the rest of the month.  I have been looking for a job since I moved to Florida in April.  God blessed me yesterday with a full time job, but it does not start until Aug 30th.  Until then I will continue to live off the government.  As soon as I get my first check, you bet your but I am calling dfc and cancelling my benefits.

[Screwedupclick4life337]

I don't really talk about that cause a lot of people abuse the food stamp program an there's some that really need it an they don't get approved for it which sucks

[h_padgett]

I used to be a cake decorator for a retail chain that rhymes with "fall apart": birthday cakes. Now, I understand using it towards a 1/4 or 1/2 sheet, let's face it - birthdays don't always fall during convenient pay periods and you have to make do sometimes - but people would come in ordering extravagant tiered cakes, both for weddings and for birthdays MONTHS in advance and paying for them with SNAP cards.

On the flip side, when I was a senior in high school my parents separated for a little while and my mom applied for food stamps so she could feed my sister and I AND still pay the bills - I think we got maybe $35 a month. For food. To feed two teenagers (yes, teen girls can put away the food just like teen boys).

So the system is HIGHLY unbalanced.

[Teacher8889]

i don't think food stamps should allowed for anyone to buy alcohol or any tobacco use .   I think they should do a background check , there to many abuse the system , not for the right reason .  there people out there that lost there jobs or just plain need help . those the people we should help ..   i think they should let or add  diapers and stuff to the food  stamps .  that would help out mom with babies . 

[o2bnocn]

i don't think food stamps should allowed for anyone to buy alcohol or any tobacco use .   I think they should do a background check , there to many abuse the system , not for the right reason .  there people out there that lost there jobs or just plain need help . those the people we should help ..   i think they should let or add  diapers and stuff to the food  stamps .  that would help out mom with babies . 

You can only buy edible items. Those items aren't covered.

[Teacher8889]

I think a lot of people need the food stamps , with single parents and people that are struggling with getting by , i know some people i know lost there jobs . they had to get on food stamps .

[camellia0]

I don't think kids should be able to take the card to the store and buy candy bars and sodas. These cards should be used for foods for baking/cooking or meals. Not buying 8 packs of Pepsi and 4 bags of Doritos. If we want to eat like that, we need to find a job and spend money buying that kind of stuff.

[ivyparkgirl]

I really don't think people are using the food stamp card in the right way if they buy candy all 12 months out of the year.They are using the card as a sap card because they are never getting the n for nutrition.  I have a food stamp card and I bought halloween candy in 2016 and other years but I buy nutritious things with my card such as yoplait yogurt, popcorn,lean cuisine frozen meals,peanut butter, and rice cakes.I also buy hummus, cheese,and pretzels.I pass the candy out to trick or treaters but some of the candy given out at my parent's house was not food stamp purchased candy because my parent's bought it.  I think when people are buying food with taxpayers money, they should have a say over candy issue with food stamps.If I were a taxpayer, I would have no problem with people buying candy with food stamps like for holidays like halloween,christmas,easter,or valentines day but they need to buy other things with nutritional value.

[rdy2pl8]

From my experiecne of having food stamps in the past, I can see how some folks on the outside looking in would view this, but trust me those of us who have/or currently receiving them, if we didn't need them to buy our food until our financial situation changes, we wouldn't use food stamps.

[o2bnocn]

From my experiecne of having food stamps in the past, I can see how some folks on the outside looking in would view this, but trust me those of us who have/or currently receiving them, if we didn't need them to buy our food until our financial situation changes, we wouldn't use food stamps.

I can agree with you completely!

[devil322]

yea so people just abuse the system when they can easy fine a job it showed be fore people who work but can afford living like the thing u need food rent just stuff u need to make it a go at in life. it need to change when it should be need buy the people how need it the most

[vp44]

Nahhh Paints, that rich man will go buy a hooker and hide it from his wife.

And then, after his high profile divorce, he'll write a book, marry a couple more times, and run for president.
Only in America! LOL

Oh this is the best post I seen in awhile. Too funny.

[ladydetroit335]

So in different states the eligibility changes slightly right? I only ask because I live in Michigan and with our economy so weird, I have to apply for food stamps and I am feeling a bit funny about I guess. I am worried that they will literally comb through every document I have and then not give me enough to really feed my family. I noticed one person on the forum who only got $16 bucks a month and that is just outrageous! Who can possibly live off that!?

[kdemers0]

If we start regulating what food is bought I think that becomes a bit ridiculous. I see no reason Halloween Candy can't be purchased with Food Stamps, especially if bought at Dollar General obviously she was looking to save but still wanted to participate in the holiday. But beyond that a lot of options at stores are not "nutritious". I knew a friend on Food Stamps who would buy store brand of anything she was looking to buy. She bought canned vegetables over frozen or fresh, because they were cheaper even though they were less nutritious. I agree alcohol and tobacco shouldn't be offered on food stamps, but I have no right to tell an entire family what they can and cannot purchase at a grocery store.