Food stamps/EBT Cards review: Food stamps 228

People who receive child support are basically getting welfare, also. My husband and I qualify for food stamps once the child support he pays for his other kids is factored in. After taxes, HALF his check is gone. She gets the child support tax free while he pays taxes on his whole check.

You can't really afford a lawyer to get a child support order modified when you are stressing about how to pay your rent. So you just have to depend on Big Brother yourself.

So think twice before you go around bashing folks who are on government assistance.

And count your blessings and praise God that you DON'T have to be on assistance.

Wow! I've read a lot of these posts and I it seems like it just depends on where you live what the rules are for using food stamps. I live in southwestern PA. First of all anything with any alcohol content is not allowed by our computer system where I work. This includes cooking wine and flavoring extracts. Energy drinks, Red Bull for instance, is considered a pharmacy item as is Slim Fast and is not permitted. Secondly, it seems that whoever has the large EBT or Snap card must be claiming at least 5 0r 6 people. The largest I've seen is about $580 in food stamps. The max for one single person is $78 per month. In my area it is extremely difficult to get food stamps at all. If you have 3 people to support and you make more than $800. a month at your job, you don't qualify for anything regardless of what your rent, car payments, utilities ect. are. The welfare dept will tell you that you make too much money and if you can't pay your utilities on your house that you should move to an apartment. From what a few close friends have told me the welfare dept. is very discriminatory towards white people. They've actually have been told by welfare workers 'If you were of a different ethnic background I could get you a lot of things.' Personally, I think this sort of thing should be investigated but who can you tell and how do you prove it?

@Dawnette, bus passes
what about the jobs that are 100 miles away round trip that they get sent off to work 80-90% of the time? I hear special transport is available but think of the travel time
4am wake up maybe and come home maybe 8ish, to kids, with homework, hungry and need of attention
then a few hrs later she has to do it all again...then the vicious wheels of life begin to turn, do those kids have to take the blame when they didn't ask to be born?
And your great grandparents are lucky they didn't need any handouts
depending on what era you are referring to they are either lucky or white...because no other race was treated fairly during those times and jobs and homes were hard to come by for immigrants and those who are American born black, hispanic, etc
Can't a person be a hard worker and still need "handouts"?

wow benyankinself, you are one piece of [censor], you act as if your proud of knocking someone up and getting off scratch free by working off the books, i think 50 percent of people cheat the system, they all [censor]ing lie and get what hey dont deserve, i am a mother with a child, i make about 800 after taxes, pay bills and rent and they wanted to give me 16 bucks, i told them to [censor]ing keep it, thats a slap in the face, then you have nast FAT people that are trashy getting hundreds! and why are 99% of ppl on food stamps, nasty, fat and disgusting, i dont see how they have kids, i would rather commit suicide3 then [censor] any of them

I just wanted to say that I have read alot of these complaints from everyone. Tell the truth I'm on foodstamps myself. I'm from Missourri. Here they have became really strict about the foodstamps, welfare, and medical. All children (within certain income guidelines) are put on medical. I have 2 kids myself, I can't make more than $292 a month if I want to be on medical. Also when I did need welfare and the father of my kids did pay childsupport they took my childsupport away from me so it would pay the state back the money they gave me. Welfare here was not free for me. The times I didn't get childsupport and the one time I finally got a big lump sum for it, the state took the majority of it so I could pay them back for what I have recieved. I am now just on medical and foodstamps. I can recieve welfare but I choose not to because my fiance helps pay my bills. I lost my job in July. I haven't gone back to work since and the reason behind that is because like most Americans I had 2 jobs, college, and trying to spend some time with my kids. I was irresponsible at having my kids at a young age. Thats why I am now at the age of 28 age almost have all my points to retire. I'm not one to be proud of having this help but I'm like a lot of other mothers here who are relieved that I do. The reason why I stay home now is because my oldest child is mentally [censor]ed. I have had a long path put in front of me as myself I am a manic depressent. I have a mental illness that is suppose to make it almost completly impossible for me to have a job and yet I had jobs and kept them for a long time. I agree with most of the complaints. No one should be allowed to buy gourmet food ingredients like the sherry on food stamps. However I myself do buy olive oil to fry my eggs and such simple stuff like that in. Even though it is a little expensive but it's still healthier then the vegetable oil that is out there. One more thing my oldest child, the one who [censor]ed, also has only one good kidney in her body. I know that everyone wasn't complaining about me but I just wanted to let everyone know that the states are getting harder on people. Even on the foodstamps. Here with the foodstamps they make you go through a program to get a job. The only reason why I'm not been put through it is because my daughter is on SSI. I also thank god for me being in this country alone because my fiance is from Mexico and I do know thoughs in much more need then me.

This is for Frank, I want you to know that the state of Missouri has taken my child support to repay my welfare and now days when people are on welfare they get to stay on it for like 36 months. I myself have only 12 months in my entire life to be able to have welfare. No I'm not proud of being on welfare but when a single mother loses her only income to support 2 children (I mean a job) and the father is a deadbeat dad, then she has no other choice. I have paid back my welfare that I have used. So yes some states have taken the extra leap and put big strictions on welfare and such things.

Ha~Ha I am just laughing at the people on here! Serious if you live on the street's then i say give them a granted $20.00 to $30.00 a week to survive. if you live in a house, apt, condo, studio or rent a room and you DON'T WORK then yes i fill you should be entitled to a lil help but not a month granted amount of $200.00 to sometimes $400.00 a month to go shopping! Screw that S**T! Sorry but I grew up with a mom on Food Stamps, Cash Aid, Government Insurance, WIC and free lunch crap at school and to this day my mom still get's all of thee above! My oldest sister is 36 and has 6 kids and collects all of that stuff my mom has younger kids youngest being 10 and gets all her government crap and never worked a day in her life! I have a total of 8 brother's and sisters...not one working and almost all of them have kids of their own even my 19 year old sister with two kids who gets all her government crap...! That's teaching her a lot in life. No wonder she doesn't want to work! She even was offered to go to college for nursing and THE GOVERNMENT WOULD PAY FOR IT! wtf! FOR REAL?! I am 26 year's old happily married for 7 year's now and have a 2 year old daughter. I work full time for a Medical Insurance Company and have been working since I was able to work which in my case was 19 because my mom was collecting child support on me so she wouldn't let me work! Anyhow here’s how it goes I’ve seen it all my whole time alive...and ppl often tell me that I am noting like my family well...i must say that is 100% true. I am noting like my family. I’ve done everything as i should have i feel why sit on my A** and get money when I can be working for a future for my daughter saving money not living pay check to pay check. am I upset that the government only wanted to help me with $4, 000 for my Schooling because I worked HELL YEA! My schooling was going to cost $26, 000 and I still haven't started because I can't stop working full time to go to school full time...So is this state screwed yes by far...it doesn't reach out to the hard working people who work and never collected anything from the government. It's sad i was denied WIC..so I nursed my daughter for 20months..Well worth it tho...but things are expensive so why not help the hard working people who can't get by but work, pay their taxes, and VOTE! Stop helping the people not willing to give back such as all of my 6 older sisters and my mom! WAKE UP OBAMA! WAKE UP~!-Courtney Female 26 Orange County, California!

Gee Dawnette ...you have an answer for everything, too bad it dosen't exsist here in the real world were we live
How does a mother of 4 or 5 move closer to her job?
wtf?
What world are you in? and the comment about making kids they cant afford, I hope that comment is suitable for you and yours as well
Lilly

Frank I just want you to know you need to reread what I put. I never said I was from Mexico or my kids where from Mexico. That's ok if you think what I posted was a personal attack against you and you got upset. I wasn't put on this Earth to make you happy. I was just informing people of what the state of Missouri is now doing to the people on state aid and how I knew about it.

It's ok Frank. If I had put that my old man did go back to Mexico that was my fault. The kids dad isn't from Mexico. I'm sorry for that I confused you. I'm sure that you were angry about things so reading wasn't the best. I was like that with your second entry about how parents abused their kids. Which a lot of people here are right. What are we really teaching are kids if we are on state aid all the time? I thought about this alot last night and today enrolled back into college and still trying to get a job. So to a point reading these complaints have inspired me to finish showing my kids the true way to live so I suppose I owe people here a thank you. I also would like you to know that I have found out that Michigan is now putting restrictions on what kind of food they can buy with food stamps.

Look you have a job and you pay your taxes due to your job everybody who works has to pay taxes... its not just going towards food stamps! your taxes are going towards bills being passed and medicaid for the need for people such as me my daughter and my fiancee. yes i do think something needs to be done about the drinking on the food stamps but complaining about it is not going to stop you from having to pay taxes! im a 19 year old mother who even though i have no criminal background, i have my GED, its hard for me to get a job so the EBT food stamps help soooooooo much... im taking care of my 3 month old, my fiancee who is struggling himself doing odd jobs to help pay for what he can, and his 19 year old brother who is a burn victim. you complaining is going to do nothing but annoy people and make it harder and guess what its nt going to help you any with your taxes... your still going to have to pay them and tax rates are still going to rise... its life its how things are embrace it and keep going work hard for what you have and be thankful because there are those of us who have close to nothing and are trying. yes i do believe it is wrong that people are doing that and i do think its wrong! as for your friend thats a very personal problem that he will have to deal with in his own way or with help and if he really is an alcoholic like you say he will get it whether hes on food stamps or not. im sorry if this offends you and i deeply apologize but this is the truth

I understand why your mad. Trust me I remember trying to do 3rd shifts at a factory. I was completly cut from the system because of this. My children wasn't even in school yet. I couldn't afford daycare so I could get some sleep during the day while my kids was up. With no childsupport and most of my money going for daycare while I was at work I starved and got no sleep so I could get food for my kids. I've been there and back supporting my kids when no one else gave a damn. Then last year when the economy fell I last a different job. They laid me off without telling me and embarassed me in front of coworkers. I remained hopeless for a very long time. The only thing I had going for me was college and my kids. I did however find a part time job that wasn't worth a damn but it was something. Then I found a second part time job that had the ability to become something. I lost my vehicle and my home during the process. I had nothing but college, my 2 kids, and 2 stupid part time jobs. As my second part time job became more of a full time job, I finally left my first one go do to getting no work. I could have sat down and filed for disability do to my manic depressent, but why should I when I have hope and dreams. I have pulled myself out of the fire dusted myself off and gave it my all at my only job in hopes to become more there. I did leave college after awhile working 9 days straight before one day off and going back to 9 days straight. So when my job turned it's back on me when one customer complained about me and fired me on the 4th of July, it wasn't easy on me. I could have stopped too. Your right, the government does have it's grib on people when they get signed up for welfare. That's why I refuse to go back on it. I'm not that much in need. This is the first time in years that I have been able to get on medical aid from the state. My employers did not even offer health insurance. All I am going to say about politics is they better make it law that employers must provide health insurance for their employees now that it is against the law to not have health insurance because our president said so. I'm by now means a supermom and don't want that title. I just hope that my story could help inspire others to do the same as what I have done for my own kids. That's all I really want to do is inspire others to get out there and see that it's not impossible to do these things they so dream of. Even for my oldest, the one who is mildly mentally [censor]ed, I want her to see that it's not impossible for her either. I understand your anger. I'm a manic depressent myself who couldn't afford medications. So when people come to me giving up completly it made me mad too. So yes I do understand how the tax payers feel. In not only one way but two different ways. That's why I felt so compelled to start writting about what I knew was going on with certain states and the state aid. Just because I do understand and believe that the tax payers have every right to complain just as much as I do to breath. I'm the type of person who would let you the tax payers sit there and take your frastrations out on instead of those who can't handle that. Please don't think I'm anyone special like I'm a supermom. Cause I'm not. I'm just another human that is more understanding is all. I try my best and as long as that is understood then I'm happy.

you probably wont read this but you are able to purchase anything that is edible with food stamps and last time i checked you cook with sherry in a lot of dishes, now on the other hand your friend needs to get off of food stamps and get a job to support his habit. there are a lot of people out there that really need food stamps and government assistance like our veterns who lost limbs defending our country not these lazy bums laying around all day while we get out and work our butts off to support them.

Some people spend too much time writing lengthy defenses for crippled systems when their time can be spent doing something productive like GETTING A JOB!

Yes, I have a problem with people abusing government programs...ALL OF THEM. Not just the programs that a group of people I have chosen hate abuse. No one talks about race when referring to the people who have ripped the government off for billions using ponzi schemes, fraud, and misappropriation of funds as their means. Where were the racial stereotypes when folks were using all the available contract money for the Iraq war inappropriately? When bank executives received government money stem the recession by lending again decided to purchase more banks and give themselves fat bonuses, where was the klan to say that did this not out of greed but because of their race? I do not receive WELFARE ASSISTANCE because I don't have to. Believe me, if i needed it, I'd get on it in a heart beat. I guess some of you, having paid into the system fairly, would not take the assistance you need to prove that you are "better" than the stereotypical user. Way to go. You just cut your nose off to spite your face. Maybe some of you need to educate yourselves... Or maybe your career down at the local Piggly Wiggly is all the education you need.

simplicity89...When you see "white people" use the ebt cards they buy nourishing food and don't show an aura of entitlement? They are entitled though right? Why are you opposed to people buying candy? If they want to buy beer it's their prerogative. If you hate to see the front lines of "guvmint" food stamps then maybe you should get another job. The reality is that you have a problem with "black people". Your rant shows that you hate "those people". You are what's wrong with America and it's divisiveness today. Your name say it ALL! You are "simple minded".

I do not believe that 70-80% of EBT recipients abuse the system. Yes, some do. But, poor food choices are nobody elses business...what you consider junk might be what that person deems healthy or what they always buy or what they'd buy with cash. That's #1.

#2 would be how wrong the assumption is that "your taxes are paying for someone elses food"...the majority of food stamp recipients are working families/individuals that simply cannot afford decent housing, all of the costs involved in taking care of a family, transportation, utility costs, medical insurance costs AND food. It is a statistical fact that the majority of food stamp recipients are on them temporarily, whether a matter of months or years. Many states have much more stringent criteria and time-limits for ANY state administered assistance. Most people are paying taxes even as they receive food stamps. It is an entitlement in the sense that EVERY citizen who is taxed can take a bit back when needed. It should not have such shameful connotations or stigma attached to it, abusers of the system or not.

#3 I began working 2 jobs at age 14, have sometimes worked 3 jobs or more simultaneously throughout my life and paid my fair share of taxes all along. Today, at 44 and disabled from a disease expected to result in death, I receive food stamps, Medicare, SSDI and Medicaid. I take several medications and see three different doctors regularly. Despite my current situation and inability to work in any of the fields that I have previous experience in, I am working to attain 2 certifications as a full service PC tech so that I can resume a normal financial life, and of course I will stop receiving most of the above benefits. Rest assured, were these safety net programs not in place, I would die a slow, miserable death, most likely homeless, and starving to boot. Do you think anybody, even "scammers", deserve that in the richest country in the world?

#4 The racist tone in a couple of of the above posts is just reprehensible. We have enough problems getting to true racial equality without some yahoo judging people he doesn't know while reinforcing ugly stereotypes. The majority of welfare scammers I've encountered in my life were, in fact, white. I have known FAR more black families/individuals that REFUSE to accept welfare of ANY kind.

#5 An alcoholic is a physiologically and sometimes also mentally ill person. Many late-stage alcoholics will drink almost anything with an alcohol content, including cologne/perfume, rubbing alcohol, mouthwash, heavily salted cooking wine and Yes, even gasoline. Google and order a book called "Under the Influence". You will see the science that the booze biz doesn't want you to know.

#6 When I shop with my Access card (which buys ALL of the food I eat), I cut coupons, match them up with store sales, and mostly buy the cheapest (often store brand) of what ever is on my list. That does sometimes include steak if it's on a great sale. It sometimes includes a cake mix and canned frosting. I'm going shopping tomorrow and have a coupon for a bag of Utz cheese puffs, which combined with the store sale price is actually free. About 35% of every shopping order for me is fresh produce (whatever is on sale, but trust me, here on the east coast, produce prices have been incredibly high for the past few years). Beans, rice, canned meats/fish, pasta, yogurt, cheese, bread, some frozen or micro-ready things (again, coupon and sale items mostly). There are some things that I simply would never buy with food stamps, not just that it's financially impractical, but just seems wrong to me. These would include expensive cuts of meat (barring drastic sale prices), lobster, crab, extravagant fresh fish, candy bars, small size sodas or any real high-end gourmet items. I do include large bottle soda, usually one bag of crunchy chips and sometimes a tub of ice cream. That's it though. And, even though the reasonable part of me knows I shouldn't, I get apprehensive each time I get inline for the checkout. Except for the checker and bagger, I avoid making eye contact. On some occasions I have felt my cheeks begin to burn with embarrassment in the fear that I go over my card limit, and subsequently have every person behind me potentially judging me. It shouldn't be that way. I know I am not now, nor have I even been a lazy, slothful person. My taxes were paid for decades into the system without thought before I was ever in a position to need to accept federal or state help to have only the basics. No matter how reprehensible some might be or appear to be, it isn't for a stranger to judge over what minimum standard of life that they deserve. I am not an exceptionally religious person, but all I can say is "There but for the grace of God go I".

#7 It's worth noting that most states now allow individuals to purchase restaurant and store prepared foods. For some urban folks in depressed areas, there aren't proper grocery stores and elderly or otherwise infirm people can benefit from a local restaurant bringing them hot food. Restaurant participation is voluntary; stores, however, are legally bound as part of their participation in the federal food stamp program to make these exceptions for the individuals that have requested so at the time of application. Just an FYI.

A last note:
There are lots of people, of all colors, all economic backgrounds and all education levels that are simply dishonest. They cheat on taxes, they prey on the less fortunate, they steal from churches and local community/sports centers...the list of examples could go on and on here.
People most visible for recrimination are the poor people that need to use food stamps, they are easy to judge, the proverbial low-hanging fruit. Most of them don't deserve your scorn. As for those that blatantly abuse the system, why don't we talk about the far greater number of multimillionaires and even BILLIONAIRES, that automatically start collecting Social Security at 65, even though they don't need it. But, you'd never call them on it. Hell, you'd never know to look at most middle and upper class scammers as such. They aren't questioned. That to me is a far greater and immoral abuse of our taxes that the minority of food stamp recipients that may be either dishonest or just don't want to eat broccoli.

P.S. I drank cooking wine once about 20 years ago...I vomited for about 2 days and never considered it again. Yuk!

Frank294, you are an [censor]. Do the world a favor and shoot yourself. [censor]ing shameful.

I worked for 3 decades. Now, 52 I get Food Stamps and taking a work break. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN 'YOU' ARE GOING TO NEED THE FOOD STAMPS 'NEXT' ! THEREFORE, I'D QUIT COMPLAINING ABOUT PEOPLE ON FOOD STAMPS. I WAS AN INTERNATIONAL RECRUITER AND CORPORATE AMERICA IS BECOMING STRONGER AND BEATING DOWN THE LITTLE PEOPLE TO TAKE LESS AND LESS COMPENSATION - EVERY YEAR. YOU BETTER KEEP YOUR MOUTHS SHUT ABOUT GOVERNMENT HELP FOR PEOPLE IN TROUBLE NOW - BECAUSE YOU MAY BE UNEMPLOYED NEXT. -

WOW! What a debate.

Well first of all to simplicity, honey you are a racist. You kept saying "this black couple this" or "this black man that". WTF? I've seen people of all races and creeds get welfare so why are you so keen on pointing out what specifically black people do.

Frank82-splaz is right, you are an [censor]. Every millionaire and billionaire did not work hard for their money. Most of the billionairs came from money, some of them made more money, but they had money to begin with. For a lot of millions it's the same deal, all though some created something (products/inventions) or are celebrities who do work very hard, yes they of course deserve their cash. But let's face it, the really top brass of the financial world did get their money by ill gains. Mostly on the blood and sweat of the poor people who work in their companies/factories.

Look at all these car companies that have laid off thousands of people. Does the assembly line worker lazy compared to the top brass of the ford company? No, but when the company goes bankrupt who do you think suffers the most?

I for one am currently on welfare. Why should i be ashamed to say it? The rich bankers destroyed the economy and the president gives them bailouts! So my food stamp card is my bail out. It's true that the middle class is [censor]ed in the united states, because it isn't the rich who is paying for the poors welfare anyway, it's the middle class!

while I am on welfare though I am trying to start my own business. Hey, maybe I will become the next millionaire. Probably not but maybe I'll make enough so that i can support myself when I am old. The rich are working the poor to an early grave and if you don't die like they want you too, now you can't be sure you'll get your SSI.

So you'd better be smart and do what I do. Start your own business, something that will generate an income even when you can't (like books and other products that once created can be sold over and over again). If you don't create some kind of a plan now you're [censor]ed! Truth be told we might all be [censor]ed anyway but at least with a plan, it gives you a bit of piece of mind.

Seriously, if you are on welfare use this time to come up with a real game plan. Do not waste your time working in factories, or jobs like that unless you are building your other source of income as well. Working in a grocery store isn't going to get you much of anywhere unless you are the owner of that store.

get rid of the program we'd save a lot of money sooo [censor]ing abused, I don't have time to feed the 3 babies of single momma who has 3 different baby daddies and expect me to feed them, so much entitlement [censor]

To all you perfect people out there who complain about the way others spend their food stamps? If the shoe was on the other foot what would you be buying with the card? And don't tell me you would live on beans and rice? If the food is approved they can buy whatever is on the list and it is none of anyone's business! The amount they are given does not last a full month, so if they choose to buy crab legs then they may have to eat beans the rest of the month. It is their choice not yours. Get a life and hope you are never in their shoes. And never say never it can happen to you...

To all you perfect people out there, what would you be buying with your food stamps? I don't think beans and rice all month, month after month! If it is on the list, then they can buy it! The amount they receive does not last a month so if they choose to buy crab legs, they just may have to eat beans the rest of the month. It is up to them, not you. There are a few rotten apples in every bunch. I bet the stores you work in have several people who take home items that have "fallen off" the truck out back. Hope you are never in their shoes, and never say never it could happen to you...

I get the food stamp card but I totally agree with the person that started this conversation. She is absolutely right. I am not offended because I don't abuse the system. I the ones that get offended are the ones that re-act to what she/he said in a negative way because they are guilty. I see people taking advantage of the system everyday and know that people sell their food stamp money to buy drugs, alcohol, lottery tickets etc... The stereotype is also correct and I can't tell you how true it is. I am not a bit racist, my Daughters best friend is black, but those types of people act like fools. The way they talk, the way they act. Its not racist talking about it when you are basing it on the truth. They purposely talk in their own language and its NOT proper grammar. They do this on purpose. They make that choice. The family of my Daughters' friend does not talk jive or ebonics and they act normal and do not do drugs. Those are the ones that are good. I would judge them all the same as whites because whites act that way as well and its a shame.

I honestly doubt that they buy crab legs all the time? But I certainly think once in a while is OK to buy something you really like with the food stamps. I personally love beans and rice and try to have it at least once a month. And I am not on food stamps and never have been. I do know people who receive food stamps for their family. They cut coupons and stretch the amount as much as they can through the month. They even grow their own veggies. Did you know that you can purchase vegatable seeds with food stamps? They do this as well so their food supply will last longer. Anyone truly needy of food assistance will manage their amount wisely or they will go without. But I still say you only live once, so once in a blue moon buy those crab legs.

helpNu, yes I agree. All I am saying is once in awhile it is OK to have something "special" If people choose to waste the stamps on expensive foods, then they just might find themselves hungry before the end of the month. But for those who diligently use the stamps for the purpose they were intended, then they deserve to buy those crab leags once in awhile.

this is a scam i received one first for women they send to collections i get a bill for $ 21.97 for what the magazines are a dollar each then i cannot even pay online the website lied it is not secure. Julie

I have no idea who "blondie 1978" might be but I must applaude you. You say you are not "a bit racist" and that is great. Your daughters' best friend is even black? WOW! I have just one question for you. Who are "they"?! ("they don't do this, "they" don't do that. "They" talk like that, etc.) I am very sorry, but that just hit me the wrong way! Actually, the only reason I signed on here was to share something like everyone else is doing. (My two cents!) About 37 years ago, my sister and I had an aquaintance (she used to be a friend) who, at age 17, applied for food stamps (that's all they were called then), for herself and her new-born daughter. With the help of her parents lying for her she got full AFDC benefits. This was considered quite considerable back then. I'm assuming a lot better than what people get these days because so many more people are on the system and so many changes have been made in the form of cut-backs. Especially as she was living at home with her family in a very nice area and her dad made very good money. Shortly after she was approved, she decided to move in with her "boyfriend" and he helped her get a great job making good money, as a prostitute. After he beat her repeatedly and finally threw her down their back stairs, she reported this and he was sent to jail. When he was gone, she was having trouble making ends meet so she went back "downtown" to Social Services and applied for benefites again (she was still getting them under her SS#). She used his SS# this time and was approved and started recieving benefits under his SS# as well). My sister and I both reported this, two different times each, because it was wrong and nothing was being done about it. This continued until her daughter turned 15 years old and only stopped because they were moving out of state. I had gone into the military for 5 years and I checked on her when I was home for good and guess what. They had never heard of it! I see on here that people have been "discussing" this for 300 and some odd days and these conversations are getting extremely heated, and this has been going on for longer than some people even imagine. Oh, and I forgot to say, she was a white girl, so am I (well, I was a girl then!). Just saying...

these people who are [censor]ing and [censor] about not having any money and what not...your full of it, your lazy and you obviously have enough money or you wouldnt to be sitting around for hours on your internet [censor]in...you people go to hell.

if some stupid immigrant without speaking english and without legal docs to work can make ends meet thn every one can. you can make urself belief that these are tough times and there is no other way out thn u r [censor]ting urself ... if you guys have money to afford internet and phones you guys have money to eat ...stop stealing from government

Wow. This is all getting very heated in here. I am new to this Complaint Board thing and had no idea it was this intense. I would just like to say that not all people abuse the system. I just got an EBT card. I have never had any help before. I am a mother of three and got fired from my job a few months ago because my three years old was diagnosed with cancer and I was not able to be at work enough with taking him to all of his appointments and caring for him. I understand that companies need someone who can be there but when I lost my job it made things extremely difficult for my family. I am currently looking for more work and hope to not need help for very long but, I am thankful for the EBT card to provide food for my family. And NO so you all know I am not making any of you taxpayers pay for my sons extremely high medical bills. Im sure Frank will be happy to know that!

Because obviously everyone who has the internet is accessing it from their home. Never mind that a lot of companies are making the ability to telecommute or have internet access a requirement of employment, and many schools are requiring students to do the majority of their research or class accessing outside of school online - obviously these things should not matter.
I have seen some horrific, disgusting, insulting, racist, crude, cruel comments passed about on here toward those who are on government assistance. I don't think anybody will argue that there are unfortunately individuals and families that knowingly and happily abuse the system, but the gross generalizations are a horrible insult toward those of us who have been in the unfortunate position where we need to access these funds for a time in order to assist ourselves and our families while we rebuild our lives from lost jobs, problems with housing, and family illnesses. Those of us who have accessed these funds consider ourselves lucky for having a government thoughtful enough to provide such useful assistance, and are grateful how much help these programs have provided.
Calling everyone who has used welfare programs a "stupid, lazy [censor], good for nothing piece of [censor]" is not politically incorrect, it's downright inhuman and argues against the "good Christian" persona that so many of these supposed suffering taxpayers are enduring. Guess what - you live in a country that has chosen to provide assistance to families in need. There are those who will take advantage of the situation. I will say to you the same thing that is so often said to individuals and families who utilize the welfare system and are told what they ought to do instead of "sucking up" taxpayer funds: If you don't like it, move to another country.

Frank294:
I'd like to answer some of your questions, being that I am a 'welfare recipient.'

What do Welfare People pay for? Not baby sisters (don't work) DAYCARE IS $120/ WEEK. I work 32 hours per week (At a Gov't Criminal Justice Headquarters, but no benefits of course) and attend school (I will graduate with my bachelors in 12 days!)

Not rent (Government subsidized) RENT IS $735/ MONTH. I DO NOT RECEIVE ANY ASSISTANCE HERE.

Not food (get food stamps) I RECEIVE $288/ MONTH. THE COST OF FOOD REQUIRES ME TO SPEND ALL OF IT USUALLY PRIOR TO THE 15TH, WHICH I THEN PAY OUT OF POCKET.

Not Doctors (free Medical) NO FREE MEDICAL (UNLESS IT'S A PREGNANT WOMAN) SO I PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR ALL MEDICAL EXPENSES, INCLUDING DENTAL AND VISION.

Not rides (Free Tokens) $305 CAR PAYMENT/MONTH AND $30/ WEEK IN GAS. $75/MONTH IN CAR INSURANCE. (I purchased the car prior to being forced to resign from another career due to a complicated pregnancy which included 6 months of bedrest and several near early births)

Everything is free for these moochers.
EVERYTHING IS NOT FREE. NOTHING IN LIFE IS FREE.

We (taxpayers) (I AM BOTH WE AND THEY) pay for all the above and more. Who in the [censor] do you think has the most money left at the end of the Month? Not the taxpayer. After paying for these poor unfortunates to sorry to find a means of support, we have to live pay check to paycheck, dodging bill collectors. We don't know if or when our paycheck will be there. These freeloaders are 100% certain their check and all the goodies that go with sucking the Government dry, will be on time. If it wasn't, bet your [censor], the [censor]ing neighborhood would go up in smoke. Us, the taxpayers are just plain [censor]ed because, nobody gives a [censor] about us. So, [censor] it, everybody should quite working and get on the Government Dole. That way we can burn the whole [censor]ing world down.

NOT ALL RECIPIENTS ARE 'MOOCHERS' 'LIFELONG WELFARE USERS' 'BLEEDING THE GOVT DRY' ETC...

I am scraping by just as well as many others. I don't understand why people view welfare recipients as 'living free.' Do you realize the quality of life most recipients have? The 'free' housing is atrocious, the limits placed by using gov't services are not the best conditions to live under, but people scrape by everyday. The system is flawed as well as SOME of the user's, but please understand that not all recipients are the most undesirable, uncouth, non-self sufficient persons who will never progress or benefit society. Before judging why not go into these communities and see exactly what all this 'free' stuff really gives... it's not as you describe.

I still cringe as I pay for my items with my EBT card, so I only go to grocery stores where I've seen the people repeated, I wear my work ID, I even go through self checkout to avoid the glares. You have no idea what being in need does to one's pride, but I choose my daughter's nourishment over my pride any day of the week. I am glad my tax dollars (REMEMBER I WORK), help those who may not be able to help themselves. As for those who are 'working' the system... everything in life works in cycles, eventually they will receive their just due. I am not judge nor jury, it's not my responsibility to count anyone's money or benefits.

Dawniette you have no idea what you are talking about because income guidlines are different for each type of assistance and you can qualify for food and nothing else. Food has the highest income guidlines.

I overall agree with this complain. I work at a gas station in a small town in Michigan and I see all kindsof fraud. Most of the people I see doing the fraud own their own car, so then they don't have a payment. Owning their own car is the best thing they have done. But when I see a man come in with his girlfriends EBT card and get cash from the cash side from the ATM and buy Lottery tickets there is a problem. I have personally tried to report this man annomously to the local FIA office, but they did nothing. This man claims he cannot work but will for cash doing dishes. He told his girlfriend to take a test with FIA, much like an IQ test, and to purpusfully anwser questions wrong because she will get more money. They are not married because then they may recieve less assistance. His entire family is on aid and all gamble. Gamble my tax dollars away. The mother, who also does not work, some how one year spent two weeks on vacation is Floirda when I had to save for almost three years. It is bull that you have to be a complete idiot with no education and no conscience to be able to scam the system. I do not mind people gettinghelp. Especially when their children may suffer, but the people scamming the system are making this society worst than it already is. I have personally used aid from the state, but it was just long enough for my now ex-husband to find a job. Before he even recieved his first paycheck I called my social worker to cancel my benefits. I just feel that more people need to start pulling their own weight and stop depending on others to fix things for them. I understand that it is hard to find a job right now, but, there are jobs in other states that people are not taking advantage of. There are programs to help people get education for free. Some programs are paying people to go to school. I see men claiming to have bad backs and then lifting motors out of their vehicles. I see women claim they can't find work and when they go for an interview say they are only tring because if they don't they will loose their help. That if they do get hired they might make $40 more than they do on aid. What happened to PRIDE, seriously. What happened to birth control? I went four years of marriage and did not get pregnant and its not because I can't. It is because I knew how not to. These girls claiming they can't afford it, well its free if you are that broke! Now aday its have another baby, the state will give you more money. I mean why does a woman with three kids need $900 on her EBT card. It is unessary. So instead they buy junk food, Soda Soda Soda, and microwave meals. What happened to HOME COOKED MEALS? The EBT card should be like WIC. Designated items unless a health condition requires something outside of that. Nothing carbonated and no "junk food". That is what cash is for. Spend your own darn money if you want it bad enough. I hate my job not because of what I do but because of all the fraud that I see. I have lost so much respect in people. Just think back to the famous quote from JFK. "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." I was not alive to see JFK, but this is still a meaningful quote.

There's this guy by the last name of Freeman working at the SSI wing in brooklyn @ 718.722.4898. He's more than rude - abusive, from the beginning of the conversation, but he picked the wrong one to mouth off to. He asked me "Why are you playing with me Mr. ---" after he checked my EBT balance and told me it was there when it wasn't. EBT periodically pushes my date up and I'm really needing something to eat. I'm leaving this message here in case anyone else encounters this monster. Hit me up at distantviewer@gmail.com if you would like to discuss this. No one anywhere should talk to someone like that. And I'm not that sensitive, very easy going here.

That's not true, I once went to buy Sherry to try it for the first time. I never drink. The EBT rejected my purchase and I had to put it back. All the same you shouldn't worry what other people do. Would be the same as if someone had an overeating disorder and wasted your money that way. And why do they have these disorders? The very same system that overprices and stresses people out to the point of sickness from month to month... and they end up on disability.

I find this conversation late. Not to bring up anything or restart the fire, I have a question.

Did the Walmart store have a sign stating on their doors that they would be clossing at a specific time? Did you not get the TV annoucements or at anytime before the 24th of December read any store circular about the store closing at 8pm?

The Only one who is at fault here is our government. I Never imagined that I would be jobless and most of all on Any kind of government assistance, but here I am. Although mortified of embarrassment that I need an ebt card in the first place I was still giddy when I found out how much I qualify for. I can only imagine people who are proud to be broke and require assistance how they feel when they receive their ebt card. But then again a lot of those shameless people grew up on food stamps w/ parents that told them not to be ashamed to be poor and that it was okay to live off the man cuz he "owes" them anyway. I had a single mother w/ out a college education or decent man growing up, we at one point lived in a trailer park. The woman worked her butt off and did Any and Everything to provide for me. She never Once gave me any inclination that it was Okay to be poor Or that it was Okay to abuse the system. We're all raised differently, some w/ morals and values and some w/out. When you grow up w/ the "everybody owes me something" demeanor then you will proudly take Anything that's for free, even if its a swift kick in the [censor]. "My ancestors we're slaves therefore you All owe me" "land of the free food and home of the free health care, head on North!". And No not all blacks and mexicans think like this just like not all whites watch jerry springer and make moon shine. Its not the race, its the pride full ignorant demeanor that every one of us knows Way too well. To me the only people that should be complaining are Jews and Native americans. If we could change the food allowed to be purchased on ebt it would make a whole lot of difference. It would also cut down on medicare. You are what you eat ;-) p.s. I intend to buy a plethora of healthy living foods to prepare healthy homemade meals at home. Not soda candy and chips. And I will purchase these items at a ghetto grocery store in the hood to save myself from humiliation. - California

I am 61 year old, unemployed because I was lay off and I have health problems. I apply for food stamps last year and I received them. It wasn't a lot, but I was able to go to the store and buy enough for a month. However, last month my food stamps was cut off, because I fail to go to the interview to reapple. The only poblem is that I received NO LETTER from the caseworker to tell me that it is time to reapply! When I call the caseworker to asked what happen! she didn't tell me, but she could put money on my card. However, there's another problem. I needed another case number and only her supervisor could do this. She called the supervisor and I called the supervisor. NO ANSWER! So here I am still in my apartment with the little food that my relatives brought me, because they have kids first and now I have to go to the food bank for some additional food. I'm sick and tired that some people thinking that all people on food stamps are lazy and don't need the food stamps! WELL, I'M NOT LAZY AND I DO NEED THE FOOD STAMPS! But, I mad because whyI didn't get the letter to reapply?