As the new saying goes: Oh SNAP!

[Opti]

"That was kind of part of my point. It's not anyone's business what you buy. it's also none of their business if you pay with an EBT card. You qualified for the benefit, it's yours to help you care for yourself in the way you see fit within the guidelines of the program.
"

I agree, but I've learned from this board so many people are upset
by what other people do or do not do that they spend an inordinate
amount of time trying to control them. I used to eat quite healthy
and spent way more than average on food back in the day. I have
not lost my preference for the good stuff so judgmental Judy and
George might have a field day with what I buy on occasion.

[Tennesseer]

Dec 19, 2013 21:26:27 GMT -5 Opti said:

"That was kind of part of my point. It's not anyone's business what you buy. it's also none of their business if you pay with an EBT card. You qualified for the benefit, it's yours to help you care for yourself in the way you see fit within the guidelines of the program.
"

I agree, but I've learned from this board so many people are upset
by what other people do or do not do that they spend an inordinate
amount of time trying to control them. I used to eat quite healthy
and spent way more than average on food back in the day. I have
not lost my preference for the good stuff so judgmental Judy and
George might have a field day with what I buy on occasion.

Screw 'em.

[cereb]

Dec 19, 2013 21:26:27 GMT -5 Opti said:

"That was kind of part of my point. It's not anyone's business what you buy. it's also none of their business if you pay with an EBT card. You qualified for the benefit, it's yours to help you care for yourself in the way you see fit within the guidelines of the program.
"

I agree, but I've learned from this board so many people are upset
by what other people do or do not do that they spend an inordinate
amount of time trying to control them. I used to eat quite healthy
and spent way more than average on food back in the day. I have
not lost my preference for the good stuff so judgmental Judy and
George might have a field day with what I buy on occasion.

I firmly believe judgmental Judy and George can go fuck themselves. It isn't quite so much that they want to control others, it's that their lives are so ridiculous and pathetic, and they are such ridiculous and pathetic human beings that they have no alternative than to point the finger at others and say things like "how lazy are THOSE people" just to make themselves feel better at the end of the day. You really gotta feel for them, since ragging on others seems to be the only thing that prevents them from putting a gun in their mouths and pulling the trigger. They go to bed each night firm in there beliefs and odd behaviors that they are better than somebody else. Superiority to their fellow human beings are like a Valium for the benzo addict.

[Opti]

Cereb, I don't think its quite that bad for most, but I think you are on
the right track. Some people are neat freaks or anorexic as a way to
control their environment since I guess they can't handle their inner
life and perhaps some outer circumstances. Its not too dissimilar with
people who want to control family members and friends believing if
they just did X, Y, and Z life would be grand. As you know it wouldn't
make enough difference and then wanting A and C without B would be next
on the list.


To me the ultimate strength is to be OK with whatever thoughts your mind
throws your way and any circumstance in the outer world you might find
yourself in. Its a tall order, and I doubt few are up to it. I think I'm closer
than most, but that's what I choose to work on instead of fixing other people
who don't want to be fixed.

[cereb]

"but that's what I choose to work on instead of fixing other people
who don't want to be fixed."



Or trying to fix other people who don't need to be fixed.

[Miss Tequila]

Dec 19, 2013 21:13:49 GMT -5 cereb said:

Dec 19, 2013 20:55:40 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

I do understand that their are income and asset limitations. My point was that I don't understand have a cleft would be a significant disability entitling a family to government money. And we wonder why so many people are on ssi

It's unlikely your child would have qualified. Just because someone hands you an application doesn't mean you would qualify. Sometimes social workers have the "throw it all at the wall and see what sticks" method.

My child has mental retardation. She would qualify due to her disability. My daughter with one kidney wouldn't. I still don't understand why having a special needs child entitles you to government money. That's a serious question from someone with a special needs child. As an adult, here might come a time that her assets run out and she needs to rely in government services but as a child I don't understand it.

[cereb]

Dec 19, 2013 22:11:36 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

Dec 19, 2013 21:13:49 GMT -5 cereb said:

It's unlikely your child would have qualified. Just because someone hands you an application doesn't mean you would qualify. Sometimes social workers have the "throw it all at the wall and see what sticks" method.

My child has mental retardation. She would qualify due to her disability. My daughter with one kidney wouldn't. I still don't understand why having a special needs child entitles you to government money. That's a serious question from someone with a special needs child. As an adult, here might come a time that her assets run out and she needs to rely in government services but as a child I don't understand it.

I'm sorry, I got confused as to which child had which disability.

There are sometimes when a child with special needs requires more support from systems as well as their parents. Take for example a child with Downs Syndrome who was also unlucky enough to draw certain traits that can affect those born with Downs such as heart issues, diabetes, vision, digestive tract problems and severe delays in language and learning. Typically, traditional insurance to pay for the medications this child will need will not cover all of the costs or even close to it. Then you also have a mother who will typically stay home to care for this child which limits a family to a single income. SSI helps with obtaining medicaid, as they are linked, and help defray the costs of insulin, syringes, test strips and meters which a month can run 300 bucks. That is just to care for the diabetes. SSI also helps to increase the income of the family so that mom can stay home to care for the child.

[Deleted]

Dec 19, 2013 22:11:36 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

Dec 19, 2013 21:13:49 GMT -5 cereb said:

It's unlikely your child would have qualified. Just because someone hands you an application doesn't mean you would qualify. Sometimes social workers have the "throw it all at the wall and see what sticks" method.

My child has mental retardation. She would qualify due to her disability. My daughter with one kidney wouldn't. I still don't understand why having a special needs child entitles you to government money. That's a serious question from someone with a special needs child. As an adult, here might come a time that her assets run out and she needs to rely in government services but as a child I don't understand it.

What if a child's disability puts demands on the household finances, what if the child would benefit from treatments and services the family cannot afford?  Those are cases when I think that SSI would be of value, as I've previously stated.

[cereb]

"What if a child's disability puts demands on the household finances, what if the child would benefit from treatments and services the family cannot afford? Those are cases when I think that SSI would be of value, as I've previously stated."

And I agree with you, however, the disability determination process can sometimes be exasperating and sometimes doesn't seem to make sense.

[Value Buy]

Dec 19, 2013 9:26:42 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Value Buy said: "I would really like everyone feeling sorry for the permanent food stamp users to take a day trip to any large supermarket in a large northern city on the fifth of the month and observe buying patterns of the food stamp users.Do not go before 2 pm. They do not get out and about before then.

Observe the shopping carts what they have, and observe what they leave behind at the checkout when the card is maxed out, because they have no idea what food actually costs.Guarenteed what is taken off the order because they cannot pay will be the quality food items leaving the chips cookies and soda on the cart.Maybe then, you will realize the system needs a definite tweaking of the entire system.I said tweaking, not destruction of the food stamp program."


Down ìn the southern states you have to go to the supermarket around 6 am to observe what the food stamp users are buying on the 5th.  Too hot around 2 pm in the summer time to be out and about.  At 2 pm, they are sleeping off the prime rib and king crab legs with drawn butter they ate for breakfast.

I said nothing about king crab legs and prime rib.

I may not like those purchases on food stamps, due to prohibitive cost reducing the total dollars available to a recipient for other food items but fully admit they have true nutritional value, unlike soda, cookies and potato chips.

I would rather they purchase the prime rib and crab legs, and let's not forget the jumbo shrimp than the latter.

Remember, I said tweaking, not destruction of the program.

You probably thought I meant twerking  rather than tweaking

[whoisjohngalt]

Dec 19, 2013 11:07:48 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

It is comforting to know that Americans in the Twenty-first Century are finally going to solve the problem of laziness which has plagued humankind since the dawn of time.

I had no idea you could be so funny!!

[Tennesseer]

Value Buy said: I said nothing about king crab legs and prime rib.

I may not like those purchases on food stamps, due to prohibitive cost reducing the total dollars available to a recipient for other food items but fully admit they have true nutritional value, unlike soda, cookies and potato chips.I would rather they purchase the prime rib and crab legs, and let's not forget the jumbo shrimp than the latter.Remember, I said tweaking, not destruction of the program.

You probably thought I meant twerking  rather than tweaking.

I don't recall saying you did mention prime rib and king crab legs.

I never got to the part of the thread where you said 'tweaking'.  l lost all interest in the post after I read your comment below:

"...food stamp users to take a day trip to any large supermarket in a large northern city on the fifth of the month and observe buying patterns of the food stamp users.Do not go before 2 pm. They do not get out and about before then.  Observe the shopping carts what they have..."

Folks who feel the need to snoop on other folks' purchases and observe their buying patterns have way too much time on their hands.  

Are you also implying these folks are so lazy, lazy to the point that they cannot function before 2 pm?

[whoisjohngalt]

Dec 19, 2013 21:35:02 GMT -5 cereb said:

Dec 19, 2013 21:26:27 GMT -5 Opti said:

"That was kind of part of my point. It's not anyone's business what you buy. it's also none of their business if you pay with an EBT card. You qualified for the benefit, it's yours to help you care for yourself in the way you see fit within the guidelines of the program.
"

I agree, but I've learned from this board so many people are upset
by what other people do or do not do that they spend an inordinate
amount of time trying to control them. I used to eat quite healthy
and spent way more than average on food back in the day. I have
not lost my preference for the good stuff so judgmental Judy and
George might have a field day with what I buy on occasion.

I firmly believe judgmental Judy and George can go fuck themselves. It isn't quite so much that they want to control others, it's that their lives are so ridiculous and pathetic, and they are such ridiculous and pathetic human beings that they have no alternative than to point the finger at others and say things like "how lazy are THOSE people" just to make themselves feel better at the end of the day. You really gotta feel for them, since ragging on others seems to be the only thing that prevents them from putting a gun in their mouths and pulling the trigger. They go to bed each night firm in there beliefs and odd behaviors that they are better than somebody else. Superiority to their fellow human beings are like a Valium for the benzo addict.

Good to know that at least you are the exception and not being judgmental at all.

[Miss Tequila]

Dec 19, 2013 22:57:12 GMT -5 cereb said:

"What if a child's disability puts demands on the household finances, what if the child would benefit from treatments and services the family cannot afford? Those are cases when I think that SSI would be of value, as I've previously stated."

And I agree with you, however, the disability determination process can sometimes be exasperating and sometimes doesn't seem to make sense.

I'm not disagreeing with a child wih severe disability. I don't know what we would have done if we didn't have the income and assets that we did. While my dd doesn't have downs or anything else, we still spent years in speech, OT and physical therapy, couple wih all kinds of specialists. My daughter and children like her have true disabilities. I'm still not ok with the government paying the parents not to work in these cases but I can at least understand it.

But locally I see a lot of parents get SSI and other benefits because their kid has ADHD. What.the.fuck?? That is what pushed me over the limit. Sorry, that is not a disability that requires the parents to not work.

It is the abuse of the system that pisses me off.

[cereb]

Dec 19, 2013 23:52:13 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

Dec 19, 2013 21:35:02 GMT -5 cereb said:

I firmly believe judgmental Judy and George can go fuck themselves. It isn't quite so much that they want to control others, it's that their lives are so ridiculous and pathetic, and they are such ridiculous and pathetic human beings that they have no alternative than to point the finger at others and say things like "how lazy are THOSE people" just to make themselves feel better at the end of the day. You really gotta feel for them, since ragging on others seems to be the only thing that prevents them from putting a gun in their mouths and pulling the trigger. They go to bed each night firm in there beliefs and odd behaviors that they are better than somebody else. Superiority to their fellow human beings are like a Valium for the benzo addict.

Good to know that at least you are the exception and not being judgmental at all.

Um..knock knock..Irony and sarcasm calling...

[The Captain]

So for the folks who work in social services,

can you provide any insight on how "one-third of the children receiving SSI benefits in December 2002, whose awards had been granted in the previous 24 months, had come from TANF families".


That was just a sample month and I couldn't find out if the trend was consistent.  I honestly can't wrap my head around those numbers.

(ETA - this is an honest question, I understand to a certain amount there is cause and effect (having a special needs child puts financial strains on a family) but to this extent?)

[Value Buy]

Dec 19, 2013 23:47:01 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Value Buy said: I said nothing about king crab legs and prime rib.

I may not like those purchases on food stamps, due to prohibitive cost reducing the total dollars available to a recipient for other food items but fully admit they have true nutritional value, unlike soda, cookies and potato chips.I would rather they purchase the prime rib and crab legs, and let's not forget the jumbo shrimp than the latter.Remember, I said tweaking, not destruction of the program.

You probably thought I meant twerking  rather than tweaking.

I don't recall saying you did mention prime rib and king crab legs.

I never got to the part of the thread where you said 'tweaking'.  l lost all interest in the post after I read your comment below:

"...food stamp users to take a day trip to any large supermarket in a large northern city on the fifth of the month and observe buying patterns of the food stamp users.Do not go before 2 pm. They do not get out and about before then.  Observe the shopping carts what they have..."

Folks who feel the need to snoop on other folks' purchases and observe their buying patterns have way too much time on their hands.  

Are you also implying these folks are so lazy, lazy to the point that they cannot function before 2 pm?

Nice try.

Your response was to my thread statement #164 where you responded in #169. You only quoted part of #164 where you think it is cute and serves your agenda.

You cherry picked my statement by only quoting part of my statement.

Another Tennesseer drive by

[Value Buy]

Dec 19, 2013 20:34:13 GMT -5 Opti said:

"I would really like everyone feeling sorry for the permanent food stamp users to take a day trip to any large supermarket in a large northern city on the fifth of the month and observe buying patterns of the food stamp users.

Do not go before 2 pm. They do not get out and about before then.
"

Why the 5th? I think around here cards are loaded on the 1st. I avoid
crowds, rarely buy more than what will fit in a small cart or basket
so I miss anyone who buys a cartful of food by design. I'm the person
on the 7, 10, or 12 items or less line. I'm pretty sure I don't want to
waste my time seeking out lines I avoid like the plague just to see
if I can catch EBT users who spend it all at once. And except for the
ShopRite, I'm not sure how convenient any of my preferred grocery stores
are to people who don't own cars or need public transportation.


Perhaps some of the EBT watchers can start creating videos on their
phone and posting them on Youtube and then here. I'm going to stick
to my crowd avoidance. I still have bad memories of the time I made the
mistake to go shopping at the Mall on a Sunday. <Shudder>

Why the fifth? By then the majority of recipients have loaded cards. This will change for the state of Indiana after the first of the year, where the card loadings will be staggered thru the 19th.

You do not have to be a ebt watcher. You only have to be the person in line behind one to quickly learn the ins and outs of the program.

I always love it when they ring up $300 on the register, and the card only shows a $200 balance, and they cannot decide what to take off the bill one item at a time.

First the argument of "the card was just loaded yesterday"

Then it's "this is my money and it is there and why are you stealing from me?"

then it's "the system has to be wrong"

Then it's "I am using my cell phone to call the hotline to see why the money is not there". A two minute diversion.....

Then it's "I was using the wrong pin number" because I forget which card I was using, mom's, my husband's, my daughter, or boyfriend/girlfriend" (take your choice on that one)

Of course, this is still better than the wic vouchers they use with separate transactions where they never have the correct items.

But that is for another thread......

Sometimes they seem to think if they take a $.199 item off, it will reduce the bill by $20, or so.......but usually, that is when the fresh produce and meats come off the bill to get to the balance.

Flame away, but this happens all the time with snap recipients

[Tennesseer]

Dec 20, 2013 8:02:14 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

Dec 19, 2013 23:47:01 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

I don't recall saying you did mention prime rib and king crab legs.

I never got to the part of the thread where you said 'tweaking'.  l lost all interest in the post after I read your comment below:

"...food stamp users to take a day trip to any large supermarket in a large northern city on the fifth of the month and observe buying patterns of the food stamp users.Do not go before 2 pm. They do not get out and about before then.  Observe the shopping carts what they have..."

Folks who feel the need to snoop on other folks' purchases and observe their buying patterns have way too much time on their hands.  

Are you also implying these folks are so lazy, lazy to the point that they cannot function before 2 pm?

Nice try.

Your response was to my thread statement #164 where you responded in #169. You only quoted part of #164 where you think it is cute and serves your agenda.

You cherry picked my statement by only quoting part of my statement.

Another Tennesseer drive by

Why not cherry pick a busybody's post?  You are the one snooping into shoppers' food carts and judging them as lazy because they cannot getvto thecfood store before 2 pm.  Not me.

[Opti]

"Why the fifth? By then the majority of recipients have loaded cards. This will change for the state of Indiana after the first of the year, where the card loadings will be staggered thru the 19th.

You do not have to be a ebt watcher. You only have to be the person in line behind one to quickly learn the ins and outs of the program.
"

You apparently have to go in the lines with people with lots of purchases
on busy times of the month. That isn't me. I'm not willing to waste hours
to find out either. I use my EBT card a little at a time in the small lanes
and only once was I wrong about what was remaining by it turned out less
than 20 cents.


Reading one of the welfare threads though it made sense to me why the
longtime users do spend it all at once. They don't have transportation so
its cheaper to spend bus pass or other costs just once a month instead of
multiple times. Because of that, asking these people to spread out their
purchases would be a waste of money. Just like smart spenders who only
go to Costco once a month or every three weeks because it isn't nearby.

You aren't learning the ins and outs of the program though. All you are
learning about is those who can only afford to show up once a month -
how they choose to shop. I even understand why some people aren't going
to save the healthiest food and preserve the indulgences instead. Its probably
what they look forward to. If you have a bad day, you don't say to yourself,
"I think I'll go home and eat something very healthy." Not at all. Most
people say things like "I'm going to have something to drink(alcohol), I've
got some chocolate, or something like that." If your life sucks at that level,
you are going to go for the small rewards you can get, not hold out for years
planning to indulge some day in soda or chips. For Dark others this may not
be true. For me I already know. When I had $2 to spend a week to augment
food pantry food I chose my cheap chocolate candy far more often than an
onion or some celery.

[Value Buy]

Well, where are all the bleeding heart news articles of starving children now that benefits have been cut back this month?

C'mon, people, post some articles.

[Miss Tequila]

Jan 5, 2014 15:40:04 GMT -5 deminmaine said:

You can make a solid argument that as the UE rate goes down and the economy improves that the extended unemployment benefits should end. I certainly get that. What is unfair about this cut off was that it was sudden and unforeseen by those depending on the benefits. It was a really crappy way by the pols- all of them- in Washington to do it. There will be a lot of people hurting because that rug was pulled out from them suddenly and with little warning.  That does suck, and hey, at the holidays no less!

I'm all for getting rid of the extended benefits. But to do it so abruptly was not the way to do it.

[formerroomate99]

I haven't read the whole thread, but spreading out the benefits does make sense.  When I lived in a welfare neighborhood, it didn't seem like any of the neighbors I was friendly with did any kind of meal planning.  Food stamps would come in, they'd buy a bunch of overpriced junk and then they'd be eating at the soup kitchen or going hungry at the end of the month.  One even made a habit of blowing her check on pizza delivery and then her rent would be late.  Honestly, I don't get that mindset, but the situation is what it is.