$7K in Food Stamps?

[hapamama]

[

In Los Angeles County, anyway, you can use your EBT at fast-food restaurants only if you are homeless or disabled. The assumption is that this population either doesn't have access to kitchen facilities or is otherwise unable to cook food at home. That's why I find it so ridiculous when people bitch about the EBT signs at Taco Bell or whatever. Not everyone on EBT is eligible to use the benefits on fast food. This isn't the case elsewhere, I don't think.

This is statewide, not just LA County.

Apparently anyone can use their SNAP/CalFresh benefits at PapaMurphy's for the take and bake pizzas. And at least in Contra Costa County, you can use SNAP/CalFresh for cold fried chicken or pre-packaged sandwiches from the grocery store delis....

[wild little fox]

In Los Angeles County, anyway, you can use your EBT at fast-food restaurants only if you are homeless or disabled. The assumption is that this population either doesn't have access to kitchen facilities or is otherwise unable to cook food at home. That's why I find it so ridiculous when people bitch about the EBT signs at Taco Bell or whatever. Not everyone on EBT is eligible to use the benefits on fast food. This isn't the case elsewhere, I don't think.

(http://dpss.lacounty.gov/dpss/restaurant_meals/default.cfm)

Regarding the original article: stories like this make me so angry. Does anyone ACTUALLY think that being on SNAP is some kind of luxury? I bet 99% of recipients would choose not to be eligible if that meant having a job with income sufficient to support themselves.I imagine that hardly anyone feels that the time-consuming, degrading process of applying for and receiving SNAP benefits and then having to use them to support a family is so awesome that it's somehow better than not being poor.

Also, who am I to give a shit what people spend their EBT on? Being poor sucks ass. It's stressful, it's humiliating, and it's depressing. If eating a lobster you buy with your EBT makes it suck ass a little less for one evening, if it makes you a little less stressed or humiliated or depressed, then go ahead. The world would be a lot better if we could all be a little kinder about shit like this.

(Full, sentimental disclosure: I grew up way below the poverty line. My mom refused to accept any government assistance. We often went hungry and without electricity or water. When I grew up and moved out, a friend managed to convince me that applying for SNAP didn't mean I was a bad person or a grifter or doomed to a life of loserdom. The first time I walked into a grocery store with my EBT card, I cried actual tears - I had never experienced being able to buy whatever food I wanted. It's a moment that I will never forget. Nobody should be hungry in the richest country on Earth. Ever. Even if that means letting a handful of people game the system.)

QFT, especially the bold.

I would give anything to be able to function enough to have a job! I dont want to have to get SNAP! I don't want to file for SSI! I want to be well! I want to be able to wirk 50 hours s week like i used to. Or, in the very least be able to have a garden and homestead. Yeah, living on less than $500/month is how I want to spend the rest of my life. I don't but I don't think I have a choice.

When my senior parents had SNAP it was no problem for me to pull out the card and pay. I am receiving SNAP now and I always feel ashamed.

[longskirtlotsakids]

I work in social services, and I would rather not have volunteer AT ALL rather than one who shared this type of story littered with this many figurative eyerolls about my disabled clients. You may not have meant it this way, but the post drips with contempt. Sorry, but "nothing to do all day"? The woman has intellectual disabilities; it sounds more cognitive than mental. There is a difference.

Oh, ITA how this can seem like a condescending post dripping with contempt and judgement, and yes, the "nothing to do all day" thing was a bit off the mark, but honestly- that was a quote from the father who was a lot higher functioning than the mom. It stuck in my head, I typed it, and screwed myself into a judgemental rabbit hole.

I apologize.

I apologize too for the judgement on this family- it was my repeated efforts and communications (and yes, I am not a cognitive/mental issues specialist) that got me frustrated beyond belief. I won;t go into all these details and more personal info but there was some manipulation going on as well.

You know what else? A lot of this familys' problems probably stem from the fact that they have to rely on well=meaning volunteer civilians such as myself, who get about 50 hours of training with 12 hours yearly of cont. education, instead of EDUCATED people that went to school for this stuff and know how to effectively communicate to people with cognitive, mental, or emotional problems. But, it's more important to bomb middle eastern kids than it is to employ teachers, so, well, there you are.

I apologize for passing judgement. It was sucky all around and is only minimally better. But the kids got a lot of fun outings out of it at least.

[wtfrenchtoast]

Food stamps don't roll over in Texas, at least not when I worked at a grocery store a couple of years ago. We always had a lot of people come in at the end of the month and buy things just to use up their card before the money expired from it. So I don't think someone could get 7,000 on it that way, but maybe it was back benefits like others mentioned. I could see how much was left on the card from the receipt, and I rarely ever saw more than 1,000 on a card. I think the guy is just lying.

[already hungover]

QFT, especially the bold.

I would give anything to be able to function enough to have a job! I dont want to have to get SNAP! I don't want to file for SSI! I want to be well! I want to be able to wirk 50 hours s week like i used to. Or, in the very least be able to have a garden and homestead. Yeah, living on less than $500/month is how I want to spend the rest of my life. I don't but I don't think I have a choice.

When my senior parents had SNAP it was no problem for me to pull out the card and pay. I am receiving SNAP now and I always feel ashamed.

I just wanted to reply to say that I know at least a bit of what you're going through, and I know that it totally sucks. Don't feel ashamed, though! Really. SNAP and other government benefit programs exist so that people who need them can use them. There is no shame in doing what you can to take care of yourself and your needs. Don't let anyone make you feel like a lesser person. Getting SNAP is no big deal, sometimes people just need help.

Hang in there. I hope things get better for you.

[Coconut Flan]

There is also the irony that a person can not receive both SNAP and SSI. I find that one rather appalling as if SSI is supposed to be enough or make up the difference enough for a person to survive.

[flyawaystray]

There is also the irony that a person can not receive both SNAP and SSI. I find that one rather appalling as if SSI is supposed to be enough or make up the difference enough for a person to survive.

What? I get SSI and SNAP, and SSDI.

[mg78]

Even if that means letting a handful of people game the system

I strongly agree with this. There is always going to be people gaming the system, but that does not mean the benefit should be cut for everybody.

[Coconut Flan]

Maybe that's one of the different states have different rules things. The state where I live doesn't allow SNAP with SSI. But then I think the state supplements SSI which is another option.

[flyawaystray]

In my state, SSI automatically qualifies you for SNAP. I wasn't even aware it was different in other states.

[Coconut Flan]

That encouraged me to look a bit deeper and once again Cali is different.

California is the only state that provides all SSI clients a “cash equivalent†instead of SNAP benefits.