Am I annoyed or sympathetic?

[kuntrygirl]

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their expensive car could have been given to them or already paid off before they fell on hard times as well and they could be on assistance temporarily. the car we could be their soul means of transportation as well.

Very true, but most of us are NOT talking about those people. We are talking specifically about those individuals that lie and cheat to get this FREE ASSISTANCE. And YES, there are people like that out there. As I said, we are NOT talking about people who DO NOT fit in this category. ONLY those who ABUSE the system.

 

[kuntrygirl]

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Yeah well in an ideal world that wouldnt happen. Neither would it be so hard to get FS in the first place (unless you lie to them) But I know of a couple of people who "sell" their FS on a regular basis as payment for cash loans they recieved. they dont have the cash to repay the loan so they hand over the FS card

whatever happens to the children involved ..i have no idea. so sad. darn this thread is getting me depressed.

Yea, I have heard of people selling their FS cards. Some also purchase items with the food stamp card to cook and turn around and sell Lunch or Dinner Plates at $5.00 a plate.

 

[KristyHall]

Quote:
their expensive car could have been given to them or already paid off before they fell on hard times as well and they could be on assistance temporarily. the car we could be their soul means of transportation as well.

Very true, but most of us are NOT talking about those people. We are talking specifically about those individuals that lie and cheat to get this FREE ASSISTANCE. And YES, there are people like that out there. As I said, we are NOT talking about people who DO NOT fit in this category. ONLY those who ABUSE the system.

but when that is the only or a majority of the examples brought up when talking about food stamps, of course other people will point out that the abusers do not represent all of the people who use food stamps.

 

[suzettex5]

Funny how this thread has gone from a CL ad thing to almost all about Food Stamps and govt aid. Personally, I think the CL posters are ridiculous- they can get on the internet and thus are able to find more info on how to eat healthy, so the 'maybe they arent educated enough to make better choices' argument is bunk to me. As for asking for specific items? Unbelieveable! I would NEVER, EVER ask anyone, especially strangers on the internet, for help in such a way. Any help someone offered me would be a blessing not a fullfillment of my list of demands. Yes, its ok to have personal preferences, but maybe the reason they think they need this 'help' is because they are spoiled lazy people used to getting things for nothing- thats the feeling I get when I read posts on CL like that. I think they have some serious audacity.

As for the food stamp thing? I think there certainly should be MORE limitations on what can be purchased with the funds you are givin. Seriously, my very close relative whom I go food shopping with (in the last 3 days most recently) buys CANDY with food stamps. CANDY!! In Feb she bought candy for her kid to pass out in class for Valintines day. I cry FOUL at such a misuse of mine and YOUR tax dollars. People need to stop being whiny, self indulgent babies and accept their financial limitations and not make their problems Americas problems. What the heck is wrong with saying no? If you didnt have food stamps, and didnt have the cash, would you steal the items? No, I would hope not. But I feel like they are stealing ffom every tax paying citizen when they dont use the food stamps to buy REAL, decent,healthy food for themselves and their families.

I think WIC is great. Whats wrong with them saying "Here- have some FREE, healthy food to help you get by'? I think its great that WIC is regulated and only has certain foods to offer. They have decent income guidelines too. I think MANY, MANY people simply refuse to live within their means and simply turn to govt assistance as a way to continue to be self indulgent, even if it is on a small scale.

I have seen and heard of jsut too many people who abuse the system and just take, take, take. For sure the system is broken and needs real help. Please, dont get me wrong, I'm NOT against anyone who needs help, getting help. But to insist on and be offended, when you cant get FREE junk food and candy, when people who dont qualify, but pay taxes that pay for your junk food, have to go without the occasional treat or even a preferred brand, is unbelieveable and sick.

A previous poster mentioned that possibly stricter guidelines and rules and acceptable items you can buy with foodstamps can turn those who need them away from them. Um, if you need the help, REALLY need it, WHY would being told you cant buy candy, chips and soda turn you OFF the program?? Thats ridiculous. Either you need any help you can get, or you dont. Period. Why should our tax dollars equal a near-free-for-all for anyone who can qualify? If I needed food stamps, or WIC (I have used both years ago, when it was far more regulated and stringent) I certainly wouldnt tell the govt "Aw, forget it, if I cant buy soda and chocolate and candy and sugar smacks, you can just KEEP the 500 a month you were gonna give me to help me feed my kids!' Nutrition information is PART of what they give you when you get food stamps and WIC- the info is EVERYWHERE! There just isnt any excuse to eat junk on someone elses dime. The info is free and in darn near every language.

I am very sympathetic to single parents and those struggling in these very hard times. And yes, I do think its nice to be able to buy yourself and/or the kids a treat once in awhile. BUT, as far as I am concerned, the money for that treat should come out of your own pocket, from money you earned or saved by being able to have the blessing of foodstamps to help you stretch your food budget. I dont think I (or anyone else) should pay for your treat. Certainly, no one pays for my indulgences but me. My kids and I go without if its not in the budget. Whats wrong with that?

 

[GhostRider65]

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Haven't finished the whole thread yet but have to agree here with you.......... so sad but so very true. Kim

 

[Carols Clucks]

FYI, if some one gave you a fancy car with the rims and all the bling, it is still an asset that you can sell. And thus it is counted against you.

If you have a brand new car that you owe as much as it is worth, or more, you might still qualify because it really has no "value" as an asset to sell.

The big thing that I see that happens, is a single parent will qualify, get the benefits and then have her BF or other people move in with her. Only, she never reports their income as part of the household income. I have had LOTS of girl friends that got public housing and periodically had to hide their boy friends so they did not get caught.

One thing is you might have to "Spend down", spend your savings, so that you qualify. As long as you are not giving your money away or buying an asset (like a car) they encourage it. They will tell you go buy furniture.


FYI-I have had to apply for medical benes for my kids. I have not had medical insurance in 20 years. The youngest was born with a birth defect that will be covered under state programs, but I do have to apply yearly for medi-cal (qualify or not-I just have to apply) Taking in my sons GF disqualifies me due to her income. It makes NO difference that she does not contribute more than a minor $ amount (she does not make that much but covers all of her own expenses-pretty much) Medi-Cal does require copies of your bank statements to see how much $$ goes in vs how much goes out....if you are a cheater, you cash your check and your bank account looks fine.

I buy all of my clothes at the thriftstore on $2 day, usually top designer brands...just a couple of years out of date. Some still have the price tags on them. I can't afford to buy clothes at Walmart-even if we did have a walmart

My mom has a friend, her daughter has a baby every 4.5 years, JUST to stay on full Benes and not have to work

 

[GhostRider65]

So to add to this thread I would tell you a story about my own experience with FS aka welfair around here.
In 2000 I blew out my hands working 2 full time plus jobs. Severe carpal tunnel with nerve damage, After surgery on both hands and months of therapy, I was released to work only 24 hours per week, 1 day on 1 day off forever, it was deduced that was all my hands could physically handle, and at that I was in serious pain where I barely slept, and had to literally cry myself to sleep some nights. My employer was planning to fire me, because I could no longer work 70 + hours per week, mind you this is my BIL, so I just quit, my other employer was ok with my new hours for a short time, then cut my benefits, reduced my pay well made me take a lesser job for less money, and I was getting maybe 12 hours a week, until I said F U I can't take it anymore I have 2 kids and bills to pay, my X worked but was a drunk, and his paychecks paid his bar bills mostly nothing else, the reason I worked 2 full time jobs and killed my self in the first place.
Well after not being able to find a job that would allow the hours I could work, I just quit looking, and went back to school to get my GED, in hopes of a better job or something I could do without the use of my hands. In the mean time I said enough is enough with the x and filed for divorce, on borrowed money from my family.

I sat here no income he didn't pay his CS half the time, and no job my Dr told me to apply for SSD which I did, took them 9/ 10 months to get me a check, in the mean time I applied for assistance, was refused help because my truck was worth too much Blue book, LOL it was not even running at the time the x blew the motor, by not filling the oil, so that was a joke, they also told me because I was eligible for Child support in the amount of such and such dollars, which I told them wasn't paid even half the time, and my house was worth too much, even though I had a 726.00 mortgage payment I couldn't pay. I didn't qualify for anything, they sent me to the local food pantry. so we lived on tuna and stale bread a few packs of venison hamburger, and my veggi's from the garden. then the economy changed again and the food pantry had too many to feed and because I didn't live in that town although still that county, they quit helping me too, said I needed to go to our local pantry LOL there wasn't one, so we existed on hand outs, the neighbors invited us over a few times every week to feed us, my mom bought us stuff even though she was basically poor as well. Well we survived until my checks started coming I caught up my in foreclosure mortgage, and met the great man I am now married too.

So I do know that certain people seem to get help and others don't! why that is I really think they lie, to get it especially if they are driving a luxury car or suv, and if they lied they are abusing the system. Hurting people who actually need the help. I have seen many abuse it over the years, selling their food stamps to drink or for drugs while their kids lived on Mc and cheese, hot dogs and pop corn. The system is bad, the idea is bad, it promotes long term abuse by those that just don't want to work and keep popping out kids to keep getting a check. Its a sad sad situation, and how to fix it I really don't know.

I do believe The CL posters are either scamming or just stupid, no one who's hungry asks for specific items, they only ask for whatever help you can give and that is extremely degrading to even ask, but sometimes it happens. We would have been happy to live on stale tuna sandwiches had we been able to get them.
Also why are there FS gone after 13 days, did they sell them? eat them up in junk like soda and goody cereal, makes me wonder where they are and why they are so short, if you get ssd or ssi are you even eligible for fs? It would make me wonder enough that I would want to help, but I would ask a few why's first. Kim

 

[GarlicEater]

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My GOD!!! How DARE they show initiative, a work ethic, the ability to run a small business!! Someone report them to the KGB!

Yeah it's fraud technically, but I think it's kinda cool. Big Brother, AKA The Beast, gives you say $125 a month to feed yourself and 2-3 kids, you take $1.50 worth of food and put in some creativity and make it worth $5, then you have enough for enough food, plus shoes, clothes, etc. This used to be considered a good thing. You know, back in the bad old days when kids were encouraged to mow lawns or work paper routes, and kids sold lemonade.

 

[KristyHall]

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you have been through a lot. it's true those people in the add are asking forr a bit much, though I have to wonder if it is ignorance on their part. I know a lot of people like that who ask about things like that simply because they don't know any better.

 

[kuntrygirl]

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Well said.