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EBT Cards – Who Knew?

Started by lora777 , Jul 09 2012 10:59 PM

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37 replies to this topic

#1 lora777

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Posted 09 July 2012 - 10:59 PM

Color me curious. How many places and what products can you use Food Stamp EBT cards for? Seriously, honest question. I had no idea that you could purchase jewelry, tattoos, buy gas, get nails manicured and hair done etc. - What do you all think of that??

http://theconservativetreehouse.com/2012/07/09/ebt-cards-who-knew/

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#2 pbf98

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Posted 10 July 2012 - 11:41 AM

I use to work for a grocery store, and we had it where you could only buy actual groceries with the EBT program. The software that added items to the system allowed them to great a list of approved items. So someone with an EBT could come through with both approved items and non approved items and then use EBT and pay cash for the remaining balance for the non approved items. I believe that should be stricter rules for what the EBT money goes to. Even with what the grocery store that I worked at, some people tried a work around by buying things and trying to return them only minutes later to try and get cash back so they could buy other items.

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#3 Pandy

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Posted 10 July 2012 - 12:46 PM

I simply do not think that is strictly true, especially after reading the wording of the article.

Patrick allowed bans on the use of EBT cards in establishments known for the sale of seemingly controversial items — such as tattoo parlors, gun shops, casinos, cruise ships, and adult entertainment facilities —- to stand.

The bold is my doing. This is the wording that makes me think they are mistaking the purchase of a legitimate food stamp item in a place that allows the sale of a few allowable items on an EBT card, for something like a tattoo for example. I think it's taken out of context to some degree. And if some stores are allowing disallowed purchases, then they are breaking the law.

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#4 BlackSpyder

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Posted 10 July 2012 - 03:36 PM

Remember EBT programs are handled by state governments in the U.S. not federally. So rules and regulations varry from state to state. Here in VA for example they cannot be used to buy "prepared food" however one can go to the Ghetto-Mart and purchase a frozen pizza or burrito and then the people will gladly cook it for free. Most times around here a person will ride to the Wal-mart and purchase an amount of high end meats (ie: T Bone, Ribeye, Shrimp, etc) and then turn around and sell them to people to get cash for whatever. Where I used to work wasn't in a great neighborhood so usually on the 1st, 15th, and 30th of the month there were always people coming around with various cuts of meat to sell for 1/2 price. From what I can tell (I've never been involved with the program in any way) a person cannot sell the card outright to someone else (as was done with the old stamps, which was illegal) because it requires the use of the named person's ID and PIN #.

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#5 lora777

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Posted 10 July 2012 - 05:25 PM

The way I look at it...if there is enough left over after purchasing more expensive cuts of meats, junk foods, sodas and pre-cut veggies..to still buy more and sell for cash..that's down right disgusting and evil... why should people on government aid eat as well and better then those that are working and paying for it all?..They get free medical and those that do work a little and are still eligible for government assistance plus getting a tax refund at the end of the year when they didn't pay in a dime.. This redistribution of moneys is criminal.

@Pandy - House Minority Leader Brad Jones pointed out, however, that the items slated to be banned — such as porn and guns — could still be purchased at other facilities.

Edited by lora777, 10 July 2012 - 05:26 PM.

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#6 Orange Blossom

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Posted 10 July 2012 - 05:44 PM

From what I read lower down in that same link posted in the first post here, the EBT card has two parts:

1) Food stamps - can be used only on non-taxable food.

2) Welfare funds - this is what is harder to control. This part is like a debit card. If a store denies use of welfare funds for some item, the person can go to an ATM machine, get cash, and get it that way.

In short, food stamps funds are as tightly controlled as they were. Welfare funds, not so easy to control whether before or after the creation of EBT cards.

It is a fact that work is incredibly difficult to get. Jobs are scarce. Jobs that pay a living wage even scarcer. Safety nets need to be in place to help those who need it. No matter what system is in place someone will abuse it. It is unfair to label everyone as using that system or misusing funds because of a few rotten apples.

Also, while some folks buy extravagant items with their food stamp money, many do not. Most cannot even if they wanted to. If they do, their funds for the month will run out long before the month does. As for items precut etc.? How many of these folks have a kitchen? How many have pots or pans, and food preparation utensils? If they have those things, then yes, you can save a lot of money on groceries. But if you do not, you're rather stuck in your food choices. You have to have money in order to save money.

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#7 MissPlaced

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Posted 11 July 2012 - 09:57 AM

@ Orange Blossom,

Very very well said!!!

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#8 BaronMalleus

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Posted 20 July 2012 - 11:40 AM

I was in Sam's Club in the check out line behind a woman whose 2 baskets of groceries I couldn't afford ( I work full time and am salaried) and she paid for the whole thing on an EBT card. On top of that she had acrylic nails and was wearing Nikes. Granted the Nikes could have been knock offs or bought at Good will, but that's speculation. It bothers me that someone can put that much on an EBT card, especially since my tax money is helping fill that EBT card. A basket load of frozen pizzas, lunchables, and soda should not be put on an EBT card. I think it is sad that EBT cards are not more limited to which groceries are allowed, but I am a bit more militant about what comes into my own house. We do not buy corn syrup products or corn products whenever possible due to familial allergies. In any case, I would like to see changes in the way Americans consume in general. Let alone those Americans on these assistance programs.

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#9 Ktanaqui

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Posted 21 July 2012 - 02:43 AM

While I agree that what is bought on EBT should be more tightly controlled, one has to keep in mind that certain items - such as soda, is actually cheaper (and by a good deal) than the "healthy" foods. My boyfriend's family buys soda simply because it is 1/2 the price of buying juices (which his mother would prefer) and drink mixes. So when you complain about them buying stuff like soda, consider prices. I'm on the fence as far as junk food goes; my own mother buys junk food for snacks for the same reason that my boyfriend's mother buys soda instead of juice. Junk food is cheaper than real food. Same with processed foods.

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#10 BaronMalleus

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Posted 23 July 2012 - 09:31 AM

I agree that they are cheaper if you are buying the premade products, you can usually by frozen juice concentrate and make a similar volume of juice to the soda. I myself have had to buy ramen to take to work for lunch. Its awful for you, its not very tasty, but it gets you through the day. I am not disputing the price disparity. I honestly wish there was more to be done to empower people to purchase better products for themselves. Because once you start buying the cheap, unhealthy stuff it gets harder and harder to keep yourself healthy. This leads to increased medical problems, then increased medical bills, and even less money for decent food. Its a viscous cycle and a horrible shame for a nation such as the U.S.

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#11 MissPlaced

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Posted 01 August 2012 - 08:15 AM

@ BaronMalleus,

Your "Ramen Noodle " Comment reminded me of this...It's alot of reading I know....But perhap's this will be of some help??

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic458447.html

RESPECTFULLY

MissPlaced

You want to be great, Learn how to heal people, To hurt people is easy

Be Kinder then you have to be,you never know what battle someone else is fighting~~~
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#12 82_bleepingirl

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Posted 08 September 2012 - 02:55 PM

In my humble oppinion: Because the tax payers are footing the bill and at a great sacrifice, no convience or unhealthy junk foods should be permitted. And essentials such as toilet paper, laundry soap, shampoo ..etc (only generic) should be allowed instead of unecisarry foods and expesive cuts of meats and the such.

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#13 Greenfuse

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Posted 08 September 2012 - 07:43 PM

Food stamps are funded out of the Dept. of Agriculture budget and are essentially a subsidy from the taxpayer not to the "undeserving scum" at the bottom of the social hierarchy but to Goliath Agribusinesses using the aforementioned "losers" to mask the transfer.

Kellogg, ConAgra, Cargill and their scurvy ilk would rather be collectively flogged with wire before they would give up that wonderfully disguised bit of corporate socialism. And believe me, they don't give a crap whether the recipients are eating healthy or not, just so they are consuming corn syrup and other commodities, well-processed preferably because every time a processor, from the silo to the shelf, gets their hands on it, there's money to be made.

The fat lady with the manicure and the cart full of junk is a cheap and easy target for the existentially angry, kinda like kickin' a three-legged dog. Not very challenging, but I feel so much better after.

Edited by Greenfuse, 09 September 2012 - 06:22 PM.

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#14 Queen-Evie

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Posted 09 September 2012 - 12:13 PM

The people working 2 jobs in order to pay the bills and little left over to buy food.

A mother and father both working low paying jobs just to pay bills and little left to buy food.

The elderly who have worked hard all their lives whose savings is wiped out because of health issues.

The family of a disabled child who needs specialized equipment and care which often has to be paid for by the parents and is expensive. Maybe after the bills are paid they don't have enough money to purchase food.

US Military personnel who get paid a wage that does not match the cost of living anywhere in the United States. Sad but true there are military families on food stamps. A very close family member qualified for food stamps while serving in one of the military branches. That person opted get out of the service even though he loved it because a job with better pay was available.

These are some of the "undeserving scum" and "losers" you refer to.

You have not let it be known where you live. If you live in the US, advocate a raise in pay for the military, enough to get them off food stamps. After all they are the ones defending your right to say stupid things.

While there are those who do want to take advantage of the system and get "something for nothing" many others would prefer that circumstances be such that they don't have to use them.

Edited by Queen-Evie, 09 September 2012 - 12:23 PM.

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#15 Greenfuse

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Posted 09 September 2012 - 06:24 PM

Read the WHOLE post, Queen-Evie. Undeserving scum and losers are the points of view of the people opposing food stamps, not mine. True, I shoulda put that in quotes, but I thought my point of view was evident from the tone of the post. I'll go back and edit the post to make it more explicit if you reread the whole thing.

There! You happy now?