What's a food stamp?

Question

Can someone please explain to me what a food stamp is and how they work?? I do not live in the U.S. and have always been curious to know what they are.

Answer 1

They make marks on food, like on m&m's candy. That's a food stamp.

Answer 2

A long time ago people used to be given vouchers or stamps for food but now the welfare offices still give food stamps to those who are in need and either can not make enough income, are out of work, or disabled. But today instead of physical stamps people are given a card that is much like a credit card. The form of a credit card helps to make it easier for the user to keep track of how much they have left and can be more easily replaced than paper stamps. It also allows for the person who needs it most not to feel quite so embarressed about being needy. hope that answers your questions.

Answer 3

Food stamps were a type of substitute currency given by the government to the needy. They were bound in small books of various denominations. Food stamps could only be spent on certain items, food and plant seeds mostly, not other items in the local market such as alcohol or household paper products.

Food stamps are seldom used these days. The current method is to issue an electronic benefits transfer card, EBT that allows users to access their 'food stamp' benefits by swiping their card at the check out of the grocery store.

There are other similar programs in which the recipients recieve govermnemt funds to purchase food. The WIC program (women, infants and children) is designed to provide nutritions meals for pregnant women, infants, and children. The WIC programme has stricter requirements than the food stamp programme. WIC provides vouchers for the purchase of foods such as non-sugary cereals, milk, cheese, 100% juice and peanut butter.

Answer 4

The Food Stamp Program is a federal assistance program that provides food to low income people living in the United States. Benefits are distributed by the individual states, but the program is administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Most food stamp benefits are now distributed using Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards but for most of its history the program has used paper vouchers of some kind. Recent stamps look somewhat like Monopoly money and are enclosed in a book.

Answer 5

They used to be what you get to exchange for food if you were receiving assistance from the welfare system. If you are in trouble you go to a local office where a government worker analyzes your income and assets in comparison to your living costs. If one needs the help and qualifys they can get "food stamps" However there are no longer paper stamps (they were notorious for being sold for drugs) But they give electronic cards like credit cards which can only be used to buy approved items at participating stores. We just still call them food stamps out of habit.

Answer 6

It's basically a credit for food. A U.S. citizen can apply for food stamp assistance with the government if their income is below a certain level, i.e. they are poor. If they qualify, they can use the stamps, like a credit card, to get food products from a grocery store.

Answer 7

When people have low income, basically when they are poor, the government gives them food stamps. This is life money that can only be used for food. So when they go to a grocery store and want to buy bananas, instead of giving money, they would give the food stamps, and they would be accepted.

Answer 8

Most of the answers hit the nail right on the head. However, at a time people have taken advantage of the system. They will exchange a food stamp for gum or something of that nature and then get actual cash back. Then they'll turn around and want to buy a pack of cigarettes. This is one of the reasons they've switched to a debit card type of system.

Answer 9

Food stamps is money the government give you. They used to come in little coupon booklets that look like fake money but the stopped that because people were selling them for drugs and stuff. So they put them on EBT cards. Basically you can go in to a grocery store that accepts them and take the card and buy drinks, COLD food, and other food items. You don't use up any of your money because it is what you get like people who are unemployed. But many are embarassed to use them. You can buy paper products , tobacco or cooked foods with them. Think of them like a get it free government debit card.

Answer 10

Food Stamps are a government program that help people who need help with providing food for their familys, they are normally for those who have lost their jobs or are unable to work, instead of just giving them money which they could spend on other things instead of food, they supply them with food stamps, which they can only spend well, on food.

Answer 11

Merchants also took advantage of the food stamp program. Sale prices would be listed as cash only in small print. When a customer paid for their groceries in food stamps, no discounts were given.

Fast food franchises and ice cream vendors also took advantage of the program. It was not unusual to see a price for cash and a double price for for food stamps for convenience foods.

One of the problems with the food stamp program was that the change from a $1.00 coupon was given in cash. Therefore, many a man would present them to but a one cent item until enough cash was raised to buy tobacco or alcohol.