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Kasz216 on 08 January 2013
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nightsurge said:
Adinnieken said:
kain_kusanagi said:

We aren't sick of paying for the poor, elderly, and insane. We are sick of paying for those that abuse the system and don't deserve it.

Instead of cutting the programs we just need to kick people off the dole that don't deserve it.

My money shouldn't go to a third generation welfare abuser who gets free money and housing and uses his checks to buy beer and cigarettes.

States control what SNAP funds can be spent on.  If people are able to purchase beer and cigarettes with SNAP funds than talk to your local legislators.  The Federal government just allocates funds to States so they can divvy them up accordingly.  The Fed puts minimal restrictions on how they can be used.  In my state it is illegal to use SNAP funds for alcohol, cigarettes, or lottery tickets.  You also cannot purchase any taxable items, drugs or pharmaceuticals, or dietary aides.  Just unprepared or cold/frozen prepared foods and some drinks (soda, milk, juice). 

If someone is getting paid unemployment, then at one time they paid into it.  Same with Social Security benefits.

I won't disagree that all get abused, but as for SNAP if there is abuse it's because it's allowed by your state.

In what form of payment does SNAP come in? Debit card? Stamps? Direct Deposit into an account? Can cash be withdrawn?

I don't know how most of the systems work in actually giving money to the individuals since I've never needed it, but it seems to me that if ANY of them allow cash to be withdrawn then there is no way for them to track or enforce any laws banning certain purchases with those funds.

Food stamps run on "special" debit cards.  You can't get money off them and they need to be run through special debit card machines that are seperate from regular ATMS.   Stores get in big trouble if they sell you non food items with foodsnaps.

 

Generally what someone will do who wants to get money from foodstamps is they will find a friend who has a job (or better welfare/unemploymment) and offer them a  2-1, 3-1 deal.   The two of them will then go Grocery shopping.  The Foodstamps woman will buy her friend the foods she wants, and then the friend will give her 1/2 or 1/3rd or whatever the deal was money wise.

Happens at my work fairly often.  Usually among the homeless trying to buy someone 2-3 dollars worth of candy bars, 20 ounces or chips for a dollar to gamble with. (I work in a convience store.