Is it legal to refuse service to *some* food stamp recipients based on discriminatory policy? (California)?

Question

Please answer only if you are pretty certain. I can guess without help.

A local chain grocer (one store only) will not accept California Advantage EBT card if the card has become demagnitized, unless the customer has ID proving that they are the person named on the card. The Food Stamp program allows for designated representatives (and has a procedure for legally designating them) to use an individual's EBT card for disabled or other recipients.

While I intend to boycott the store and encourage many, many others to do the same, and begin a letter-writing campaign to both the owner and the chain, I do wonder if it's even legal. Since this store is in a neighborhood which has a high number of food stamp recipients without the wherewithall to shop elsewhere, I am sure that my neighbor is not the only one who had to depend on others' kindness for food for 2 weeks while her card was being replaced.

If you can't tell me, can you help me figure out where to find the information?

Please excue typos and spelling errors. I hit "submit" too soon.

Gokart, the reason *this* particular woman needs it is because she's 82, blind, and can no longer walk. She's also a widow. You let your neighbors starve, but I prefer not to.

Answer 1

That doesn't really sound like a discriminatory policy, since it has nothing to do with race, sex, religion, or any other protected class. It's a reasonable policy based on the need to reduce fraud.

Answer 2

I used to grant welfare in California and was there when they 1st switched from the coupons to the card. We actually got the card way later than most counties and we had heard that it was already being mis-used.

Businesses are only trying to protect themselves, as well as their customers and yes, they have the right to refuse service to anyone. They don't even have to take the EBT card. I know it's a pain for your friend, but tell them to take better care of the new card so this doesn't happen again and be thankfull that the store owner doen't just let anyone use those cards.

Answer 3

Most stores have alot of fraud and at times refual to be paid on unauthorised cards. You noted that the card in question was demagnitized, thus not reading on the code machine.
This could be a sign of a counterfit card, or one that has been voided and a new card issued.

The store is merley protecting itself with a good policy.
All they wanted was proper ID, which the person would or should have had to even get the EBT card in the first place.
So she merely shows her ID and what is the problem.

Basicly the store was following what sounds like good business practice ( would you like to risk giving away your food and perhaps not be paid for it) Or if you sold it on a stolen EBT card, even losing your licence to accept EBT cards.

Answer 4

I don't think it's too much to ask when the store requires ID for using a food stamp card that has become demagnitized. They would do that with a credit card for the same reason--because anybody could use someone else's card and lost or stolen cards would have a lot of street value.

It sounds like you think this is discrimination, but I really fail to see how asking someone to prove their identity or the fact that the card belongs to them is discrimination. Turn it around--your neighbor lost her card and someone went on a shopping spree and used up all her credit for that month because the store didn't ask for ID. Then you'd be pissed the store didn't ask for ID, wouldn't you?

Answer 5

Whyinhell does anyone need a 'welfare card' with 96% employment? Shut this garbage DOWN. California's in debt, find a job and pull your socks up, and encourage others to do likewise. If California wasn't such a welfare state, they wouldn't have an immigration problem. Since they are, they do. Didya read the part where california's in debt? Who will california turn to? That's right, the federal government. Who's the federal government going to turn to? That's right, the American Taxpayer, the 'people with jobs' that don't have fancy welfare food stamp cards. California needs to blow out about 65-75% of their welfare program, and ensure it's only used to support LEGAL citizens, and of those, ONLY elderly/disabled/Women/infants/children etc. In other words, they need to audit that program to check for abuse. Any time you're giving out 'free' money, first of all there's no such thing, and second, it's an abuse target....

Answer 6

contact the welfare department, with amount of fraud in this program and the fines against stores that don't follow "the rules" can recieve, I really can't blame the store owner for protecting his business, but I do believe there has to be some allowance for disabled persons or home-bound folks to send a care-giver or family member in their stead