Why are foodstamp recipients allowed to purchase just about everything in the store?

Question

I hate to go to the grocery store and see people with their baskets full of steaks,chips,candy, sodas and frozen foods as pizza etc. and pay with the lonestar card. I believe they should have some type of system like WIC has. They should be allowed to purchase certain items and healthy items as well. I am a single mother and work hard to support my family.

Answer 1

I understand your frustration, but here's the dilemma: those foods you hate to see in those carts are cheap, much cheaper than the healthy alternatives, and easier to prepare. I could live on five dollars a day and eat substantial portions of prepackaged food if I ate that sort of thing; instead I choose to eat healthy foods prepackaged, and so $10+ a day is the norm. If I needed to go back down to $5 a day, I could do it with healthy food that I prepare myself, but that takes time -- and poor people who are working hard generally don't have a lot of time.

So you're poor, and you're on food stamps, and you have a limited set of funds available. What do you do? You probably buy the cheap bulky food, for two reasons:

#1: you get more of it; and
#2: you haven't had lots of healthy foods, so you don't understand why you should pay more for something that doesn't taste good.

That's why the WIC program is so restrictive, by the way; the government is trying to keep parents from hurting their kids nutritionally, either because they're ignorant of proper nutrition or because they're trying to stretch their WIC credit as far as possible.

What the government won't do is tell parents how to feed themselves, and so that's why food stamps are the way they are. If it still bothers you, just consider that the foods they buy are cheaper than the healthy alternatives, so they're using your tax dollars more efficiently.

Answer 2

Because we are a morally bankrupt people who would rather throw money away to poor people then do something useful like teach them a skill, or at least employ them picking up trash on the street.

Instead we give other peoples money to them. We should abandon the Foodstamp program and frankly WIC also. But as long as people seem to feel having a government program actually does more then allow them to feel good about the situation there can be no restrictions what so ever.

Government should stay out of things. So let people buy what they want. Just stop being tools and eliminate the program.

Answer 3

RIGHT ON!! i believe in what you say as well. at least now it is on a credit card and not like it used to be where you got cash back and that cash could be used towards smokes and beer. i also think that you should have to show an I.D. along with the purchases so clerks and the gov. know it is being spent for the right person. but we must also remember that they are not allowed toilet paper and kleenexes or dish soap and laundry soap. i think that there should be a system that makes sure this happens as well. it is hard being on welfare and making ends meet and then once again very hard getting off welfare.

Answer 4

There are quite a few items that cannot be purchased with an EBT card. However, the food that they choose to buy shouldn't be an issue to you. If they want soda, pizza, etc, they're entitled to as much of that as their EBT card allows.

The main difference between EBT and WIC is that EBT is for a certain DOLLAR amount, while WIC "coupons" are good for a particular item, regardless of cost.

Answer 5

My husband and I have worked hard to get where we are and have made sacrifices to do so. When I see people buying a bunch of food that I can't afford and using food stamps to do it, it irritates me to no end. If they can afford stuff I can't, well then they obviously have other money for food since they can't eat on food stamps for a whole month buying that stuff. So why are they getting them in the first place?

Answer 6

I agree complely....and I also feel there needs to be a time limit on it. It should be uses to help single parents get back on their feet, or people who loose a job get going again...but I know people who have told me...why find a job...the gov pays for everything....thats sad. I have no problem helping people who need it....but I have seen to many people who are on food stamps and welfare driving around 2006-2007 vehicles, while not payinf rent or for half of thier food.

Answer 7

each state varies, in washington state, they can only buy food
no toilet paper, booze, tobacco,
and I agree with you,
I have multiple sclerosis, and only stopped working 2 years ago after 21 years of working,
I have asked over and over for help going to school, to learn a new job, and they say have a kid we will help you then
so, if i would have not worked and had kids,i would get help
what is wrong with this system? also I get ten dollars a month for food, if I do this they help me pay for my avonex which is 790.00 a month
I am humilited by it, but do not have 790 for meds, i only pay a 20 dollar copay this way
i dont understand it myself

Answer 8

have you ever been on the system? i'd say no. foodstamps allow ppl like that to stock up on REAL food here. food that unlike wic will last through the month. i have 4 kids ages 3,2,1, and 3weeks. my kids are human garbge disposals. they like to snack all day and eat full meals too. that's why.

Answer 9

Just about everything in the store is food.

Answer 10

I already thought it was subject to certain types of foods. I guess not. I do know that there are limitations, like they can't purchase alcohol.