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Sunday, November 03, 2013

Food Stamp Cuts Begin Today

More than 47 million Americans who receive food stamps will see their benefits go down starting Friday, just as Congress has begun negotiations on further cuts to the program.

Beginning in November, a temporary benefit from the 2009 economic stimulus that boosts food stamp dollars will no longer be available. According to the Agriculture Department, that means a family of four receiving food stamps will start receiving $36 less a month.

The benefits, which go to 1 in 7 Americans, fluctuate based on factors that include food prices, inflation and income. The rolls have swelled as the economy has struggled in recent years, with the stimulus providing higher benefits and many people signing up for the first time.

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30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Heaven for bid they won't be able to buy soda, chips and other garbage. If this isn't enough of a forewarning of what's to come for people on the government dole to get their affairs in order, I don't know what else to tell them ...

Anonymous said...

The riots should begin today - as promised.

We'll easily be able to identify the groups that are wholly dependent on handouts and the groups that can switch to a minimalist survival mode (the ones that we really should continue to assist)!

Remember folks, this program was designed to provide assistance - not subsistence.

Anonymous said...

Fat-Boys might go out of business!

They could have done a better job of providing healthier food at a better cost if they would limit what and where purchase can be made!

Chips, soda, processed foods, and pre-made foods should not be allowed to purchased thorough this program.

Fruits, vegetables, dairy, cereals (low sugar), and some meats should be the primary staples allowed for a healthier diet. We would have a healthier population at a better cost run - and decent jobs for the skilled labor overseeing the program (not the complacent gimme-job employees currently overseeing the program).

Anonymous said...

A step in the right direction.
H

Anonymous said...

Simply wrong.

Anonymous said...

Why is it wrong? If you receive $500 a month you got reduced by $31. Its not that big a deal.

Anonymous said...

Get a job

Anonymous said...

$30 a month cut is no where near enough, but, it's a good start!

Anonymous said...

Refreshing to see such campassion for the less fortunate here. I would venture to say $31 a month is pretty significant to a family already struggling to make ends meet. I'll bet more than a few people or families every one of you know have needed a hand up at sometime or another. Don't be blinded by the cherry picked examples and urban ledgends of massive abuse of the system. That is not real, hunger in the United States of America is real. It's shameful that anyone goes to bed hungry in the richest country on the planet...but it's happening every day. Millions of children and seniors are hungry every day.

Anonymous said...

It is absolutely absurd, that in a free country, the government would force one group to pay for another.

Anonymous said...

9:31
I don't have to listen to urban legends about abuse. I see it weekly at the grocery store. How about the people that struggle that can't get any help. How about giving them a tax break....oh no we can't do that those taxes have to pay for the ones that don't want to work. Children get free breakfast, free lunch and also food stamps. They also can go to the food pantries to get more food. Tell me how that is NOT abuse.

Anonymous said...

9:31

While I myself a few times in my life have had to rely on the assistance of my government, it was only temporary.

I didn't choose to depend on it.

You are wrong. There is a huge amount of fraud and abuse of the welfare program and I'm so sorry that your love for humanity and good heartedness blinds you from seeing the reality.

The reduction is a percentage of your benefits. Everyone is not loosing $31. If one is receiving $500.00 a month, then no $31.00 is not a hunger imposing reduction.

Also, as a country there needs to be a movement to change what products are able to be purchased through welfare. Foods that create disease and health problems should not be allowed.
The reason they are is because in many areas of our country, such as inner city, the only place they can get to for groceries is the corner store.

Anonymous said...

They need to TAX it also.

Anonymous said...

Tell it to the soldiers families that are being cut too.

Anonymous said...

don't get me wrong I'm not totally against food stamps for those who truly need them. but enough of that garbage how people are going hungry I've never seen skinny person swiping that card at Walmart , usually it's a 350 pound on one of those little motor scooters . and as far as the kids go let's be honest they get free breakfast and free lunch every day in our schools .

Anonymous said...

The problem with you people 9:31 is that personal responsibility is foreign to you. YOU and you type are an example of what is wrong with the country. It's absurd to even hint that a 31 dollar a month is going to cause anyone to go hungry. Absurd with a capital A.
First of all you need to get out and see how it is in the real world. Go to any titled elementary school (below poverty level) and you will see the overwhelming majority of the students are obese as well as their parent/guardian. While walking through the parking lot you may even get approached by someone attempting to sell you a box of food for pennies on the dollar they picked up for free at a food pantry.
Secondly you people think you are paving your way to Heaven with your misguided "compassion." There is absolutely nothing Christian nor compassionate about enabling people. Even Jesus attached strings to when he did good deeds "Go and sin no more." So don't even start with the WWJD.
Thirdly everyone has to do some self sacrificing. It's does a person good. Thirty dollars isn't much and anyone can stretch their food dollars. It's a good lesson in finance and frugality. My ancestors over a 100 yrs ago came to this country. The adults forewent eating breakfast and lunch so the children could eat. They didn't starve nor suffer any ills. As a matter of fact they all live to nearly 100 yrs old without ever seeing a doctor except for a few stitches here and there and births.

Anonymous said...

Hunger in the US is so NOT real 9:31. FYI-The fact of this matter is that the majority of those considered overweigh are also those whose wages are below poverty level.
There are many safeguards in place in this country so hunger is not a problem, so don't even go there. Telling and spreading lies does nothing to advance your case.

Anonymous said...

If they went through and booted the career abusers, maybe they'd have enough to support the people who truly need it. Hell, they could probably even fund social security by trimming the fat off the hand out.

Anonymous said...

9:31 - when 'they' rely on the money to live on instead of helping them buy good stuff - that's not what the system was designed for.

With the food stamps allowing 'them' to spend other money on iPhones, plasma tv's, and 22 inch chrome rims...that's not what they system was designed for.

I have seen it two ways - buying junk food and using the other money to buy more junk!

I feel sorry for you - you don't get it - or maybe you are getting the benefit too!

Anonymous said...

MILITARY SHOULD BE EXEMPT.

Anonymous said...

Let the weaning begin.

Anonymous said...

Is it true that students are not only getting free breakfasts and lunches at schools, but they are also getting free dinners? Aren't these probably the same students whose parents or guardians are also on food stamps? Just curious because I don't know anyone who depends on the government to feed them. We were taught to work for a living and our family ate what we could afford to buy, and nothing more! Treats were rare at our house unless Mommy made them!

Anonymous said...

Obama has already got the suckers to vote him into power for another 4 years, he can now crap on the same people that put him in office, he doesn't care about them at all. He's got his game, watch all the benefits get cuts and the liberals will blame it all on the republicans so that Hillary might stand a chance in '16.

If you ask me, in the next election, Hillary will have to carry all of Obama's baggage + her own, as she's always been his supporter.

Anonymous said...

I heard today that the Salvation Army in Salisbury notified people who get free food from them each month that they will not have anything for them for at least the next 3 months. Would this be tied into the food stamp decrease?

Anonymous said...

"The average family of 4 will get $36 less a month...$9 less a person per month will not starve anybody to death, I can't say how many times I have seen carts loaded with steak, shrimp, the best cuts of meat...the woman pulled out her food stamp card, left and got in an Escalade. One day a guy in his early 20's came up to me at the Salisbury Wal-Mart and asked if I would BUY his food stamp card for 50 cents on the dollar...I started to call over an employee and he ran off...he must not have been THAT hungry to try to sell them!

Anonymous said...

this country is headed to a police state and all u people are worried about is someone elses foodstamp benefits...sheeple.

Anonymous said...

9:31-The only one this is going to hurt are the food manufacturers and retailers who lobbied hard for the food entitlement expansion.
As soon as you liberals figure out that it's all about big corporations with the democrat politicians and not the people you will be better off and more informed about what really goes on inside the beltway.
2 of the biggest lobby were Walmart and Kraft Foods (and the banks who handle the card transactions.)
Anyone who followed the Obama food entitlement expansion knows it wasn't at all about people being hungry but a hair brained idea to stimulate the economy. The idea was if people didn't have to spend so much on food they would have money left to buy other things which in turn would boost the economy.

Anonymous said...

8;23 you are right however MAO said it best control guns and butter and you control the populace. Looks like the government almost has the second part of that under control! you wanna eat then get in line!

Anonymous said...

The SNAP program has grown around 40% since Obama took office. His Administration actually promoted the program in Mexico. As 6:18 mentions, it has nothing to do with helping to feed the less fortunate, it has to do with Obama Control. It's the same with Obamacare. It's the planned Obama Socialist takeover of America. Wake up people before it's to late.

Anonymous said...

"Beginning in November, a temporary benefit from the 2009 economic stimulus that boosts food stamp dollars will no longer be available"

See? This has nothing to do whatsoever with hungry people! It was an nothing more than an ill conceived plan by the Obama admin urged on by big retailers, banks and food manufactures to stimulate the economy. Instead of finding ways to create jobs, this is what the brain trust in DC came up with to boost the economy.
The whole problem with this country are the low information people who run their mouths before doing their research. It's not about starving people-PERIOD-End Of Story! OKAY? You got it now?