I get $200/month in FS. I am disabled and live on Social Security. I don't smoke, I don't drink, I don't do drugs. I need my food stamp allotment to survive. Many of the people who post here are extremely mean-spirited.

I think they need to come up with some sort of a monitoring system. I've read that they are in a test phase for people on FS to get discounts on fresh fruits/vegetables to get people on assistance to eat better. Personally, I don't think this will help. For example, I live in an apartment complex with my two daughters. In the complex across from me, there is a married couple who are disabled. I've heard testimony from relatives of theirs that they buy pop, pour it down the drain, and take the bottles back to get money to buy cigarettes! I've seen ppl buying way too much junk food, tv dinners, etc. An occasional tv I can understand as I work nights and don't always come home to a plate for me to heat up, but what they buy...grrrr!!! Carts filled with tv dinners, frozen pizzas, etc. They need to have a program to teach them how to stretch their dollars, budget, etc.

your doing a good job

I worked in a grocery store, and trust me I know where you are coming from. Did you know that there is also a "cash card" that comes with that and they can get money withdrawn from their foodstamp cards to get in cash for "clothes" and things. So in the long run, the money that comes from that card can be used to buy the booze also?

I'm on disability, so I don't earn enough to pay my immediate needed bills much less for food. I only get about $53/month on food stamps and that has to last a month. There are some people who need it cuz it does help and it is NOT to hinder. If/when I should get off food stamps is when I have a real job but first my doctors have release me from disability.

I'm on disability, so I don't earn enough to pay my immediate needed bills much less for food. I only get about $53/month on food stamps and that has to last a month. There are some people who need it cuz it does help and it is NOT to hinder. If/when I should get off food stamps is when I have a real job but first my doctors have release me from disability.

I'm on disability, so I don't earn enough to pay my immediate needed bills much less for food. I only get about $53/month on food stamps and that has to last a month. There are some people who need it cuz it does help and it is NOT to hinder. If/when I should get off food stamps is when I have a real job but first my doctors have release me from disability.

I'm on disability, so I don't earn enough to pay my immediate needed bills much less for food. I only get about $53/month on food stamps and that has to last a month. There are some people who need it cuz it does help and it is NOT to hinder. If/when I should get off food stamps is when I have a real job but first my doctors have release me from disability.

You'r income decides how much food stamps you get. so if they spend their money on cig. or alch. they probably don't buy toilet paper and laundry soap. lol. so its not ur bussiness.

i'm on foodstamps too but i don't drink i do smoke but have cut way back on it . i never buy foods unless its on sale so i have alot of moneies still in account . i don't buy steaks cause i feel like i'm not intitled to eat fancy things that others are paying for

Do any of you know the actual, NOT TAUGHT, origins and intentions of the "welfare system?" Welfare was NOT designed to help - it was designed to hinder. Yes, I know it will break your ever so patriotic heart to know this - but the truth is painful. Welfare and public housing (i.e. projects) were designed to create the facade that acheivement is not possible, that success is out of reach. These programs were designed out of prejudice. They were and are programs of oppression. Those that abuse them...let me be sure I get this right...you envy them? Or are angry with them? If a mother gets the food stamps and buys food for her two children and spends her cash resources on alcohol and/or cigarettes, what is your solution? Shall we allow the child to starve because his/her mother has a vice? One more thing - look into our national subsudies for farmers if you're so concerned about your tax dollars. In central Pennsylvania, many farmers are a part of a federal subsidy program that PAYS FARMERS NOT TO FARM THEIR LAND. YES IT IS TRUE - the government provides them with money to have crop yielding field sit vacant. But, will that offend you as much as "those people" who do not work. A farmer who has since retired his working farm (whether the govt knows that or not I am not aware) but at 78, with nearly one million dollars for a nest egg, he still receives govt subsidies to not farm land he wouldn't be farming anyway. Examine what you're really angry about, and you may realize your personal prejudices or your muddled education concerning American history may be to blame. I challenge you only to educate yourself.

Like I said in school, single mom, won't be on fs long. Reading some comments though. It is enough to go in to the government center and be treated as a worm, but thats not enough! Now some are saying we shouldn't have caffeine, or candy or chips. I buy a 12 pack once a week @$2.54. I make my own candy and tortilla chips. Some things I can't make or something special my kids want once in a while (I have a 15 year old in college) to celebrate, I am going to do it. When I found out about my son going to college I bought shrimp and a bottle of non-alcoholic wine, which is expensive. But the second I pull out the ebt card everyone looks to see what I have bought. Has not our pride been trampled upon enough? I am at school all day, homework for me and my sons at night dinner, laundry cleaning, no help from anyone. Can you leave me alone at the grocery store?

I am a single mom in college. I accept food stamps. It is hard to see 2nd and 3rd generation welfare people with big screen tv's and new furniture. While I am stuck with military chairs from 1929 and a 12 year old couch. I know I have a future, but they just have a party every day. The kids don't sleep until 1 or 2.

Obviously KV is busy buying his booze to actually listen to what was said!

Bjangles31 you are a very smart young man and I couldn't have said it better myself. I was on food stamps and cash assistance for about a year 20 years ago, and my food stamps and cash assistance went to food and bills to support my son. I even quiet smoking while on aid because I didn't feel it was right to have the tax payer's pay for my luxuries. I was able to secure a good job and get off of assistance, but then and now think that there are way to many people that do abuse the system and if it continues then there will be no help and the families that truly need it will not be able to get it, and that is a very sad thing. Bless you and thank you for voicing your onion.

I agree with you! Even when i did get foodstamps for me and my children i was very aware of what i purchased. I didn't buy junk. I bought the food that my children and myself needed. I wouldn't even buy steak with my EBT card because it just felt wrong. I couldn't imagine buying groceries with an EBT card and then paying for alcohol or cigs with it or cash. My husband and i make $120 too much to get any assistance. I would LOVE to get even $100 a month in foodstamps to help with grocery expenses, which is why it annoys me to see people abusing it.

At food-4-less I was in line behind what looked to be 3 families. which was obvious because they each had their own groceries. The thing that had me biting my tongue was the fact that for each transaction one EBT card was passed down the line. All of there groceries except for what food stamps don't cover and they didn't have alcohol or cigarettes was paid for. They didn't even understand how to use it at the POS. So I know that they really don't understand where the money comes from. Just that the card magically refills each month. How about a little training at POS transactions then maybe they can try to teach them a little about where and what this money is suppose to do. Anyway the cashier told me that what really irks her is they will buy things for their own stores using an EBT card. I MEAN WHAT THE @?*%!!! Most of them really do feel like it is owed to them. I would love to be a welfare fraud investigator. They wouldn't have to pay me much. The worst abusers are usually 3rd generations of abusers. Signing up for government assistance programs is like a right of passage in some families. They have defined the system and nobody wants to say anything for fear of being called a racist. Some of these people would just a soon kill you for denying them. Your superiors would probably fire you rather than have bad PR

I agree Severin!!!!! totally. You took the words right out of my mouth- I don't want my hard earned cash to go to high taxes just b/c people abuse the system, spending their actual money on alcohol, drugs, cigarettes.... it's not fair to those who actually support themselves. I am not a "share the wealth" type of person. That Baily girl must like high taxes, unless she too uses food stamps, then she's probably glad Obama's in office now. (gr)

Also....who cares what they WANT to get through the day. They NEED food. If they can pay for it themselves they have no right to make taxpayers buy it so they can spend their money on their addiction. I don't look down on people with a problem. Heck the government should pay for them to have a program (not to avoid jail but if they want it) I'm just saying TAXES are high because of things like this. Each person should do the best to take care of themselves with their own abilities and the help of family and friends. Its isn't right that the government taxes us to pay for peoples food who can afford it without the peoples money. SO I WON'T STOP COMPLAINING. I HATE PAYING TAXES FOR THINGS LIKE THAT. IT ISN'T RIGHT!!!

there is nothing wrong with being on food stamps. if you need it. to say it isn't anyone else's business is totally wrong. who do you think pays for the money that pays for the food stamps?? this is what [bleep]es me off about this country. we have great programs for people who need them. most people don't. i was crippled (unable to walk and hence do my normal employment.) and i was unable to get myself even down to the place to get food stamps. no one helped me and no assistance was there to allow me the process. i make a good living when i can and i get by when i have to. i couldn't even leave my house. i starved and did whatever i could to eat a 25 cent top ramen so i wouldn't starve. maybe someone on food stamps buys a bottle once a month. thats fine. if you go in every other day for several bottles and mixers and always buy food with food stamps thats wrong. in my time of need i had no money for anything. the way the bureaucracy runs these programs fails.

I aggree 100%. There are to many people that abuse this program.And as for the government paying for this program they aren't.It is the hard working people paying for the food stamp program for lazy people not wanting to go out and find a job.Then the people that really need the help can not get it.

Right on - and well put.

Who are you to judge how a person spends their cash? How many times have you seen the kid still living at mom and dads' not paying rent, not buying groceries, and working a full time job and hitting the bar with his buddies every weekend. It's not up to you to dictate how a person spends their cash. The foodstamp program is there to provide food for families. These people buying alcohol and cigarettes may be buying for other people, or indulging themselves during a time when the income has flowed for them. It's none of your business if I spend my husbands paycheck on a 42 in TV, alcohol, cigarettes, or a fancy sports car. Those are my choices. Yes my family gets foodstamps. $11 worth. Put your nose back where it belongs and out of other peoples lives... you don't know where they are at in life and it's none of your business!

OK, having previously been a participant in the food stamp program, (health issues in the family brought our income down to nothing, it was a temporary thing for us) I will say that one of the most annoying things in the world is when you get up to the counter, no one pays attention to you until you whip out your food stamp card. Then all eyes are on you and your cart, and you can almost hear the people mentally making note of what you are buying and whether they approve or not. OK if you are a checker, then just do your job, you are not there to pass judgment on mankind and their purchase choices. Second, people that are judging (I see many below) MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!! You don't know other people's lives or what they may be going through, and who knows, someday it may be you on food stamps or some other government assisted program. I had to buy my kid's birthday cake with foodstamps, because my husband had a heart attack and was off work. Would you be the one to deny the child a cake if daddy isn't working? I saw many people shaking their heads because I bought a cake on food stamps. Just remember, judge not, lest ye be judged yourselves.

aloha- i agree w/you that poor people like me who on food stamps should not be able to buy booze or cigs w/ food stamps. i'm on food stamps in the state of oregon for 3 years. and i only buy food w/ my food stamps card. but o see illegal immergants like the mexicans is buying booze and cirg w/ theri food stamp in oregon for 13 years while i have lived in oregon.this is why each state need to do their job right and make sure that no one is abusing their food stamps cars by buying things that is not to be buse w/ food stamps. i do not abuse my food stamps at all in oregon. and oregon dhs know what i buy every month w/ my food stamps card. not you or any oregonians or anybody else like the illegal immergants and the drug dealers and gang bangers and the street people and my my neghbors where i lived my my self for 3 years know that the food i buy w/ my food stamps in oregon is only for me. so go after the street people and the gang bangers and the drug dealers and the stupid people all cross this county that does stupid and dumb things all cross this country illegely and school kids and mexicans. these are the people that need to be watch and they should not be allowed to be on food stamps at all. the reason why i'm on food stamps is becase i' have a learning disablility w/ mental retarted and people who is disable just like me and lived on our own in our own home by our self and be able to pay rent and pay our bills and buy food and by things for our home and be able to know when to how to keep our home clean every week and get all the support from a slibbing who happending to be my youngest brother from the time i was born till now as a an adult is still supporting me for this long in oregon and is paying my bills w/ my own money that i have from disablility social security and give me allowences twice a month to keep me going so i can buy things for my apartement that i have beeing living on my onw for 3 years in oregon close to my brother and my white in-law and my 4 necices and 3 nephues and a white boyfriend who i have beeing dating him for this long we both have not choose when to get marred or not that if his sister and his dad and my brother say yes.this is how i as a disable hawiian oregonian for 3 years need to be on food stamps. disable people just like me need to have food stamps or else we don't get the support from our families. and yes i thank my brother every day that things he has done for me when i was a baby till now. my brother was the only sibbling among the 6 of usw/ 3 older brothers and 2 older sisters did not see me grow up to be come a women at all. my 4 older slibbings cecila and amy and clyde and robert was not there for me to support me at all when i was born w/ a mentel retarted. they did not take me out w/ them when i was growing up. they did not attend my high school graduation at all in my home state hawaii . they do not know i have breast cancer today for 4 years. and i'm the first person in my family to have breast cancer. they was not there for me when i moved to oregon 13 years ago to lived w/ their youngest brother ben and his wife karen for 10 years in oregon. they do not know that i have my own apartnment and beeing living on my own as a growing and meture adult for 3 years in oregon. they do not know they have 3 necices and 3 nephues at all and they are great anunt and uncles as i'm right now.they do not know that their father is dead from prosted cancer 13 years ago in hawaii. and they do not know that their father is the person in his family to have prosted cancer at all. they do not know that i have beeing dating a white men name mike in oregon for this long and cecila and amy and clyde and robert have never met mike at all for this long that i have being dating mike. the only thing that cecila and amy and clyde and robert my 4 older slibbings know that their mom did die from heart attact in hawaii 20 years ago and they do not get their parents home in the state of hawaii at all and their names is not on the their parents will right before both of their parents have die. so if oregonians think why i can buy so many food and think that the food is for some else then oregonians have to proff to oregon dhs that the food that i buy once a month is not for me.you have to proff to me that that i'm abusing ny oregon food stamps as a hawaiian oregonian for 13 years to oregon dhs white hippy brother.

@ many people on this thread: He's not talking about using the actual food stamps and/or EBT card to purchase alcohol and cigarettes. The situation in question is when someone first buys their groceries with food stamps, and then, with a separate transaction, gets alcohol and cigarettes with their own money--cash, check, whatever. The argument is that these people should skip the alcohol and cigarettes and use the money they saved to contribute to their family's needs, including groceries. @ pnemosiene: It's not that unusual. I know many cases like this in my home state of Iowa. Actually, I know a young couple without kids who are on food stamps, due to their low combined income of about $900/month. They receive around $200-300/month (can't remember exact amount) in food stamps. They use that for groceries, pay their bills (totaling about $600/month), then use the remainder of their income--$300--to buy cigarettes. @ bjangles31: I completely agree, but that's an issue with the general public, and it would be very hard to get these abusers to change their ways. The issue I'd like to bring up with my state government is that the following items can be paid for with food stamps: candy, chips, and soda, including drinks off the fountain machine. In the last five years I've worked grocery and convenience stores, I see people come in every day buying 12-packs of Mountain Dew, bags of Doritos, and Snickers bars. This is ridiculous. The program is in place to feed your family in a manner that is at least a LITTLE healthy; it's not their to satisfy your sweet tooth and caffeine addiction.

Foodstamps are for people who need to feed their families, not their habits! I know people who find someone to buy out their food stamps. Say they get $400 in stamps. (Although these days it's a debit-card type thing with a pin #) They will find someone to sell it to for $200 cash! Those are your tax dollars at work! They NEED to come up with a fingerprint system so that won't happen! The other thing I see is stores who will sell anything (abusing the system,anyone?) for food stamps, but they upcharge it so that the customer pays say, $20 in foodstamps for a $10 case of beer. Then there are the people who really NEED food stamps to feed their families who can't get them, but that's an entirely different subject.

I understand exactly what you are saying. It is hard to stand in a line at a store with your chicken and ground beef in your cart and the people in front of u are getting T bone Steaks and Shrimp and high dollar items, then u notice they pay with foodstamps, and then break out a big roll of money to pay for their beer and high end cigs. Then you see them in the parking lot getting into a brand new car. I used to like to buy a six pack of high end beer once a week also, but I lost my job and had to take one making a lot less, so I no longer have that luxury What really bites my butt is knowing my tax dollars are going to the abusers. I don't have a problem with people that need help and get it, and in turn use it the way it was intended. This may be a thought, maybe foodstamps should be ran more like the wic program is, only certain items and off brands can be bought with foodstamps, not T bone steaks, and shrimp, and other high end items.

i agree. i was a cashier for a long time and yes, that happens sooo much, it's like [bleep], ya know. i used to have ppl come into the convience store i worked at and buy an 88 cent candy bar for themselves, then turn around a buy a case of corona. it's so weird... when i got diagnosed with cancer, my job fired me... then i got on food stamps, but let me tell you, i felt bad buying anything we didnt need. we werent buying up the steaks and lobsters... we really need the help. and when me and my husband got back on track, we stopped using the food stamps. i agree with you man, it sucks to see people make wrong choices, but what can you really do?? ppl say that you contrubuted by standing there watching... hmmm [BLEEP]o? that was your job, it's not like we can just deny all transactions like that cause it seemed like everyone did it. keep your head up man, hopefully one day things will change and get better, that's all we can wish for. :)

hi i am bubbles from the tv do[BLEEP]entary, trailer park boys.. julian always gives me liquor money and we use food stamps to buy hookers... we sell dope and i just wondered, why don't they make food stamps out of food?? government cheese?? ricky says that he has the best dope and mr lehey and randy are gay... why does not the governed release hooker stamps, or dope stamps?? rush rule....

its none of your business what people buy and its an invasion of privacy 4 u to even talk about customers purchaces, just be thankful u dont need food stamps

smokes and booze are for hard working people who can afford them, if you life of the goverment then you have np right to these luxarurys as it was in the old days, if you want these things in life THEN GET OF YOUR ASS AND PUT A HARDS DAYS WORK IN and controbuit to your country (GIVE SOME BACK OF WHAT YOU HAVE TAKEN) iF YOU HAVE TWO ARMS AND TWO LEGS AND CAN ADD TWO AND TWO TOGETHER THAN REALY YOU HAVE EXCUSE,these people we call "BLUGGERS" they take take and take some more and never care about there fellow man

That wasn't directed at me, was it?

If you are so broke you need our tax money to buy your food then QUIT smoking and at least try to pay for some of your own crap!! I bet you get gov assitance for rent, heating and medical too.

I agree with you, because as someone who receives food stamp benefits, for the time being, it really irritates me to see someone abusing them. I am a full time college student, with a schedule that doesn't allow any more than a sporadic, part-time job which does not provide me with enough income to cover all my bills (rent, utilities, etc) plus have enough left over to provide myself with a month's worth of healthy meals. I have personally never been more thankful for such a helpful government program, that will help me provide for myself until I can secure a steady career. My biggest annoyance is people that use this system as a hand-out, and not the hand-up it is. Food stamp benefits are for people like me, or anyone down on their luck and in a tight spot, to help provide themselves or their family with good food they couldn't otherwise afford; because I know without the assistance I would not be able to afford the fresh ingredients I use to prepare meals and would probably end up having to rely on lesser, frozen meals, and hand-outs from the local food pantry, when there are certainly people more needy of it than I. My point is here though, that you have made a decent point, but, just because a person receives food stamps doesn't mean they can't enjoy themselves once in awhile. I can understand there being an issue with a compulsive alcoholic spending his or her money, but a casual drinker, or smoker does not have to give up simple pleasures in life simply because they're down on their luck for a time. I am not saying I agree with their actions, because I am neither a smoker nor a drinker, but, if these things hold a simple enjoyability to a person, there's no right for anyone to deny them that.

The state I am in does not allow food stamps to be used for tabacco, alcohol, paper goods (Like toilet paper)soap, toothpaste, dog food- but allows for crap like gum, soft drinks, candy.So maybe this issue is state to state.If what you are saying is true, then you would be making a better use of your time contacting your local (SRS) Social and Rehab Services that issues these cards.

Uhm, maybe you should take up reading books on tape. It sounded like you were reading off your computer screen (aka, impromptu teleprompter.) Had you at least given some ... SOME... attempt at personalizing your case, you would have had my vote. It sickens me that people abuse the Food stamp program. But, you are a party to it if you witness it working in the store for the many years you claim, and allow it to happen. Accomplice. Has sucha ring to it.

Some states have gone to debit to where you cant get change and stuff back.

Maybe if the govenment did a debit card system then they could make sure that the total amount of aid went to just food stuffs. Use a special debit card and the user can't get change back to use for cigs and booze.

I completely agree where he is coming from i have had to use food stamps in the past and i want to yell at all the stupid people i see that have alchohol constantly but then ither dont have enough food or buy it with food stamps because their money is wasted. But it is the same concept with section 8 and welfare and everything else not just food stamps.

If you can't afford something, you can't have it. That goes for alcohol and cigarettes too. If you lost your job and needed help, then cigarettes should have been the first thing to go. They are expensive!

Hey. Read KV's comment below. He/she actually calls the peoson on the video dumb. lol. I take it they didn't "listen" to or understand the video at all. Talk about dumb.

I hate that we pay for all these lasy people.They can drive Caddies but can't work? They use the system and get everything free.No wonder why we call them nigs.

why do you always respond to people on this site with your swearing? Grow up, and watch your kids at wal-mart you fat moose

Ciara is a stupid b###h who needs a good knock down. At least the guy works. She is probably a crack w###e who lives off us taxpayers.

The likelihood that these customers are purchasing abnormaly large amounts of alchohol and ciggaretts is pretty low, if any are then one of two things is happening here, either the person recieves a very low sum say $40.00 in food stamps, and choses to buy their pizza and chicken patties with it then, decides to take their hard earned money and buy a carton of ciggarettes and a case of beer or they are making money under the table and are lying about their food stamps and actually have $70.00 to spend on booze and smokes. I find it hard to believe.

i totally agree with this if you can buy cigs and beer after you use food stamps you really dont need food stamps. people need to learn the government doesn't owe anyone anything but they help out people in need but s[BLEEP]bags abuse that and take away money that could go to a family in need. ciara trying to attack bjangles31 says alot about you. i'm sure you fit in the food stamp abuser category and who are you to comment on his job atleast he has one and isn't living off welfare like alot of people do by choice.

Abusing food stamps is as American as baseball, apple pie and jesus. Using food stamps mean you can buy more beer. It's simple economics. Who wants to be poor and sober.

dude, you've been working at a grocery store for how many years?? you are one to talk. why dont you have a better paying job, are you in school. you are in other folks business, im bout to be in yours... NOW WHAT?

If someone is abusing food stamps it IS the business of every US taxpayer. Tax dollars are used to pay for the food stamp program.

One thing though, it's not the government buying their food. It's you buying it for them every paycheck. The governmment just takes care of all that paper work. Be careful too white boy you are coming dangerously close to being a racist. (the last statement was an attempt at sarcasm anyone who has made any kind of observation about social program abuses surely knows what I mean). You are automatically labeled racist. But I'm sure you can tell us that these people you are talking about come from all corners of the trailer park. If you want to look on the brighter side of this. That cash they buy the smokes and beer with is the only way that they get to contribute just as if they where normal tax paying people. Also they will not be getting a tax cut like you because they can't cut what isn't there.

I Agree with you. I went to the store once and Saw a persion Buy Steaks and Seafood and alchol and the Bill was 250.00 I think if they can afford that then they shouldn't need food stamps.

You are ssooo right, I have seen people pay for there $600.00 or more Wedding Cake with FOOD STAMPS!!

KV, did you even watch the video?

Hey, bjangles31, your argument is dumb. First of all, FOOD stamps can only buy FOOD!!!! NO one can use it for cigarettes or booze! It automatically removes the charge for these items from the bill when rung up at the cash register. DUH!

You probably have never struggled a day in ur life and when did u actually find out about food stamps...oh let me guess....when u started working at the grocery store, right? Well let me give u a word of advice that might even save u from a lot of drama in the future....MIND UR BUSINESS!!!!