Food Stamps
By Sarah Bacon
@sdkokc (6)
Choctaw, Oklahoma
June 13, 2017 12:49pm CST
Recently I read an article on Facebook about people who receive food stamps are going to have to either work, be enrolled in school or volunteer at a local charity in order to receive food stamps. There are lots of opinions on who should receive assistance and how much they receive. My question is this. Who is going to enforce this? My husband and I have full custody of his two boys. Their mother is able bodied and even has her license to cut hair, but she chooses not to work. She lives with her boyfriend and relies on him to pay for everything. She also gets food stamps. She tells the boys that they really don't need food stamps, but it helps them to afford to go do fun things when they come to see her. I'm sorry, that isn't what the program is designed for! I've called DHS to inquire about how she can get assistance when she only keeps the boys every other weekend. They told me even if she gets them ONE day a month, she qualifies. This system is BROKEN! I'm not sure how to fix it, but I do know the qualifications need to change. I would love to get an extra $400 a month to buy groceries and afford to do extra fun things with my kids. However, I wouldn't want a family to go without groceries because I am getting benefits when I don't need them. We don't go without, but we have three 14 year old boys that eat non stop. I don't have faith things will change anytime soon, but I am letting my voice be heard in my local community by contacting our representatives. If you agree, you should too.
12 people like this
11 responses
@skydream (1445)
• Agate, Colorado
13 Jun 17
Well I used to recieve foodstamps, I dont anymore, but when I did there were monthly meetings and you had to get paperwork from them. You would pick a specific place from them to voulenteer from and they would pick the hours based on how much you got and then you would have like a month to do the hours and if you didn't you didn't get your foodstamps the following month. Idk what state you live in but in mine that's what they do. The only people who don't have to do the meetings and voulenteer are the ones who are disabled, working part time or getting unemployment
3 people like this
@sdkokc (6)
• Choctaw, Oklahoma
14 Jun 17
I live in Oklahoma. When my husband passed away, I wasn't working and had a 2 yr old son, so I too needed help. That's the thing, I really needed help. That's what it's there for. Not so people can keep their money for "fun" things. In the situation with my husband's ex, her live in boyfriend makes enough to support them, but I would bet money she doesn't report that she lives with him. Those are the ones taking the benefits away from the ones that really are in need.
3 people like this
@skydream (1445)
• Agate, Colorado
14 Jun 17
@sdkokc That's so messed up. I know someone who does something like that and takes advantages of many programs she doesn't need, she'll work 8 hours a week but refuse more hours to keep the help. I wish there was a way they could tell who really needed it and who didn't
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
16 Jun 17
@skydream sadly i know a gal who works 'nder her ex's name/social security # 40 hrs a week. claims no income, 's disability payments fer herself 'n 2 'f her young'uns. the housin' authority helped her buy a 4 bedroom home, churches 'n other charities provide 'em with food (she gets food stamps, too), clothin' 'n e'en bought her a like new s.u.v. she also gets huge 'mounts'n terms 'f state tax rebates, 't times totalin' $5,000 'r better e'ery single year. do ya think the authorities care? nope, not one iota. i e'en taped a conversation with her'n gave such to 'em 'n they said 'oh well' 'n did nothin'.
this does take funds/goods/services from those who direly need such aide. sickens me, 't does :(
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
14 Jun 17
Our state bases the food stamp benefit upon the income of the applicant. If they are not truthful about their income they would get more. Most who apply have jobs and have trouble making ends meet.
We have local food shelves that are mobbed all month long. They go by household income as well, but do not turn anyone in need away. Sadly this is also abused. Some people use their income for other things rather than to feed their families and turn to the food shelf to supplement their needs.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
16 Jun 17
like rent-to-own leather furniture 'n 72" big t.v. screens? yepperz, i know a person who does such...
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67085)
• United States
13 Jun 17
All states are different when it comes to who qualifies. As here, you had to have a job, do applications to get one, go to school or volunteer. But some people can get them without doing any of that.
2 people like this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
14 Jun 17
I agree that of you do not work, you need to work,Food stamps are not forever unless you are disabled, or you work and do not make enough to feed the family.
1 person likes this
@librarygeek1980 (3137)
• United States
14 Jun 17
Hi, and welcome to mylot! I actually did a post on here similar to this a few months back, feel free to check it out. As one who is on food stamps herself, and working, we only get barely 300 a month. It all depends on what state your in, what the cost of living is like for said state, and wether or not the state has any money to actually enforce anything. Here in Utah, all things are done online, including followup reviews and paystubs. Food stamps is another one of those complex issues with no winners and no easy answers good luck!
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
13 Jun 17
People who scam the system should leave the benefits for those who actually need them.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
16 Jun 17
there'd be many loopholes'n the 'system' 'n i've been advocatin' fer able bodied persons to do any 'f the 'bove fer years. too many hand-outs'n folks sense 'f entitlement. too many politicians 'n corrupt folks workin' 't the offices to where one applies don't help much either.
i believe those teens come with tapeworms?? ne'er endin' pits, lol.
yepperz, holler at'cher local/state 'n federal folks 'n join with others'n yer community who strive to see the change. there's too many who're'n dire need 'n bustin' their butts jest to survive who can't e'en qualify fer assistance whilst able bodied folks jest keep gettin' more'n more.
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
14 Jun 17
I get a whole $16 @sdkokc . I'm 66 years old and am disabled. I told the food stamp lady, "Thank you for the loaf of bread, gallon of milk and a box of cereal." "Now what do I do for the other 2 weeks of the month." She looked at me in shock. I said, "Oh wait, no habla espanol." (As the entire room was filled with illegal immigrants). Most of which didn't speak English and their child had to interpret. And it really pissed me off when you look at the brand new vehicles in the parking lot.
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
13 Jun 17
You state your case well and I agree. Too many are scamming the food stamp program which ultimately hurts those in need.
1 person likes this
@Blushandglow (725)
• India
14 Jun 17
Hope things work out for you and those who really deserve assistance, get the same.
1 person likes this
