Having been forced to go on welfare, I've found some of my preconcieved notions were wrong.
1. The cash allotment of $205.00 per month for one person is not enough to keep a roof over one's head. It is broken down so $51.00 is to be used for housing. If anyone knows where I can live for $51.00 per month, please let me know. I won't go into detail.BUT
2. $200.00 per month food stamp allotment for one person is TOO MUCH if you can cook. My idea is to have coupon use training as part of receiving foodstamps. Cut them. Then switch the welfare budget priorities to reflect the reality of what it costs to live in America.
3. $200.00 per month is too little if you are disabled and can't cook; therefore having to eat out 3 meals a day.
Comments (6)
It's insane for food stamp recipients to have $2000 (seniors $3000) or less in assets. To eat, a senior would have to use up an entire IRA. To eat, a person would have to have an income below the poverty level.
And the poverty guidelines are ludicrous. This is well known.
"Welfare" and food stamps are two different things. Heating assistance, emergency housing, foodstamps, etc., need to be coordinated.
Please, President Obama, do what you can to coordinate the parts of the safety net, weave it a little tighter, and see that recipients are treated respectfully.
Thank you.
I know of no restaurant that excepts food stamps but maybe they should for the serious disabled that can not cook for themselves.
Please click over to my ideas on Welfare reform, and let me know what you think.
Thanks for the interesting feedback. I agree some form of welfare reform is long overdue. And keep in mind that foodstamps doesn't pay for diapers. A newborn uses about 12 per day at .25 cents per. I did read the one posters ideas on reform, I just don't know how to post back directly to him. I think that the benefits should be higher. And should be contingent on attending some individualy tailored lifeskills/employment classes.
As for the person who said they knew of know place that takes food stamps to dine out, it seems to be fast food places. And if you are dining out for all meals, that is all you can afford anyway. But that food is very fattening.
I have spoken to many people you use food stamps and they are not excepted at restruant or fast food places of business. A lot of low wage earning people you know the working poor may eat out, but if you receive food stamps as your only source of food income you can not use them to dine out. This is just another myth that makes the neediest look bad. Everyone knows that eating out as your main source of dining is not healthy and therefore the government would never allow the most neediest to live on a diet of empy calories and fat. as far as Welfare reform goes that is why so many are now living so far below the proverty level. The only income they get from Families First or TANF is a very small income not even enough to rent a decent apt and that small income last just two years and then that income is gone. During that time you must either further your education or be actively looking for work. Food stamps are based on your income level. If you are living 200% below proverty level you qualify for food stamps.
You're just not signing up for enough benefits programs or haven't milked the system enough. Do your research there's a lot of money out there to be had. Oh, yeah - come on haven't you figured out you can sell food stamps to get cash and then go out and eat and if you can't afford food for your dog, why not just use the food stamps to buy them ground chuck. It's better for them anyway.
Or perhaps you live in the wrong State. One where they believe Welfare should be a hand up not a hand out. You shouldn't be able to live on it, it should be something to help you get to your next job.
Move to NYS, MA or California they have great benefits.
Or better yet, maybe the government should get out of the charity business all together. I think some people have grown used to entitlements and just perhaps, it's just another form of buying votes.