Gourmet meals on a food stamp budget....
Replies: 60 - Last Post: Oct 1, 2012 9:43 AM Last Post By: Donkeystone
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Gourmet meals on a food stamp budget....
This kinda pissed me off....I was at the supermarket the other day and the guy at the check-out stand in front of me had all these wonderful ingredients.....plump juicy tomatoes, fresh pasta, baby clams, fresh garlic, nice loaf of crusty bread from the bakery dept., an entire wedge of real Regianno parmesan cheese etc....you get the picture.....and he paid for it with food stamps! ......or in reality and EBT card which is the same thing.It's all legal but something about it just rubbed me the wrong way....do you think my feelings are justified?
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Too feckn right I do!The HM Revenue and customs penalised me earlier this year for late filing of tax returns even though I hadn't earned anything in the UK, they sent me a £800 bill for Christs sake. Of course I appealed and sent them a strong worded letter about all the benefit scrounges that live the life of Riley.
3
You quite right to say you don't know their circumstances, but when someone is on the SNAP, you imagine they would be on low or no income, and since food stamps are given to provide financial assistance in purchasing food, you would also imagine they would be little more prudent in their selection of consumables.4
It's all down to what the individual is entitled to.Here in The UK, if you're 59 and out of work through no fault of your own, you must pay to go for interviews.
If you're over 60 and a multi-millionaire, you can travel on some public transport for free.
Govt. food vouchers are for those who are entitled to them. I don't agree or disagree with it, but it's permitted.
I'm more against those with their iphones, Nike Trainers etc., who get benefits without trying for work.
Week in - week out, the same ones hang around the village, smoking, drinking ale etc.
I got the impression quite awhile ago, that these people had their benefits stopped if they didn't look for work.
It appears they're doing just fine. Or is it just me being prejudice?
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Yeah, you can buy whatever you want except prepared foods, so he was 100% legit.Having said that my evil twin thinks they should restrict food stamp purchases to just shelf stable staples....flour, rice, powedered milk, sack of beans etc........but that will never happen, the food industry gets involved and before you know it Stouffer's French Bread pizza is allowed....and tobacco of course, you know the tobacco industry would want a piece of the food stamp pie....its' out of control...
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The neo-liberals are taking over the world NorthAmerican.Don't believe its any better in the UK than in the USA......in fact,the government and the media have been even more successful at demonising the poor,the disabled and anyone else who is not paying into the system (apart from the millionaires who don't pay any taxes in the country of course).
9
Most of what was being purchased is healthy and not all that gourmet. Fresh fruits and veg (tomatoes) are a very healthy and positive choice. Fresh pasta isn't that over the top cost wise. Real parm, well, that is a bit of treat, but who knows and I wouldn't want to judge this just based on one or two items. As someone else said, better that than sugary sodas, chip and cookies.10
How would the authorities know exactly what was purchased 'In every case' with the vouchers?
"Food Stamps" these days are actually a sort of debit card. Any market that accepts it has programmed the cash register with what's allowable and not allowable. There has been a huge movement here to find ways for vendors at farmer's markets to accept EBT, to encourage more buying of fresh fruits & vegetables.
There is a separate program called WIC (Women Infants and Children). "WIC provides Federal grants to States for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk." This is more for staples, plus fruits & veggies, eggs, milk, baby food, etc. There is a specific list of eligible foods.
To be eligible you must be below a certain income level and be certified as being at nutritional risk.
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To add just a bit to Nutrax's info. In this area at least one state and Washington DC have a program where purchases at Famers' Markets give double credit. I think this is a great idea. It encourages more healthful choices and promotes local farmers.ADVERTISEMENT
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