Rather I'd like to explain to anyone in the universe who actually reads my personal blog here how being on assistance works for me. At first glance I am a republican's nightmare, a lifelong food assistance user. Except I did not set out to be that way. The social security system assumes that SNAP will provide a food subsidy to those on disability which is for the most part a permanent status. Yet food stamps is a state program and though it has to bend it's will to the government overlord it is not actually designed for the disabled. Every six months they require a review process meaning new copies of data including seeing into your bank account/social security records. While it annoys the hell out of us lifers since nothing ever has changed it does catch people who do abuse the system!
The most horrifying thing I ever heard from a classmate in college was that they saw a friend of a friend use her food stamps for Slurpees and candy every month, in fact she openly bragged about it. While I won't delve into the control what they buy debate, the problem was that she was a dependent student. Her parents paid tuition, her car, her rental home and a few thousand dollars in cash for fun every month. She got food stamps by lying and saying that she was an independent student. Apparently this wasn't a single case either. Around the time I was becoming seriously disabled the State of Michigan issued a rule that students over 18 years old were banned from receiving benefits because of this. I myself was only allowed to continue on because I also gained disabled status which overruled the student contention.
Problems with food stamps don't end there. I've also been propositioned by others to buy their stamps with cash or even had people wonder if I wouldn't sell mine. If you truly qualify then you need these benefits. Trading them for cash would be the last thing on your mind. Anyone wondering at this point about my opinion on the drug testing, I say "bring it on"! The problem with that is that the programs which have launched have wasted waaaaaaaay more money than sustainable for such a small result. This probably is varied depending on the state of course. Areas with high drug use and related crime would probably get more bang for their buck.
So if someone can agree with me that some people need assistance and that we want them to be supported then the next question is probably worrying what they are buying. I can certainly tell you that when I buy steaks it is cheap cuts under 5$ a piece. For the most part I have to stretch my small sum into 30 days of meals. This means I buy whatever proteins are on sale and from the least expensive store possible. Trader Joe's has been a new discovery for me because I have food allergies and they provide such safe qualities. They have amazingly priced single meals and sides. Essentially I would say a 2$ complete meal was built for people who only have food assistance.
When I do have excess, almost never, it goes into buying non perishable staples to fill my pantry. Having a pantry really helps when you can't make a meal otherwise. The true is however than I qualify for so little that for two people there is never enough. So I am certainly living like no king. The truth of food stamps is that "it is only expected to cover 30% of a monthly diet". This is why people constantly fail the food stamp challenge. If anyone you know seems to be living like a king on assistance then they probably don't deserve what they have.
Or they are Cartman who steals the skin off of other people's fried chicken.... then Kenny cries.
