# Food stamps; do you think one's purchases/taxes should be looked into? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 9, 2012, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625 "2012-06-09T15:30:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![the\_apples\_fell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@the\_apples\_fell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_apples_fell)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/1 "2012-06-09T15:30:58Z")
I think the system is too unchecked and allows people to mooch and scam. I think people’s taxes should be looked into as well as their financial transactions before they should be given food stamps. If you spend your money on a plasma TV, a Mercedes-Benz, and a nice house and then you have no money for food, you should not be entitled to food stamps… the money that should buy your food bought leisure items instead. Same thing for drug addicts. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/2 "2012-06-09T15:33:04Z")
So…exactly how easy do you think it is to get food stamps? Have you ever tried? ---
**Author:** ![the\_apples\_fell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@the\_apples\_fell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_apples_fell)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/3 "2012-06-09T15:35:36Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > So…exactly how easy do you think it is to get food stamps? > Have you ever tried? No, but I know someone with them who drives a Mercedes-Benz, has a giant TV, and wears very expensive jewelry. I’d bet you if she didn’t buy all of those things, she would not need food stamps. I’ve seen women come through my register at work with expensive purses (not knock-offs, I know the difference) and food stamps. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/4 "2012-06-09T15:43:32Z")
I don’t think you know the difference between a knock off and the genuine article on designer bags. There are ways to know the difference, but I challenge you to tell me. I don’t care what people do with their food stamps. Just make sure the kids eat, and I won’t judge you for whatever hustle you have set up to get yourself some non essentials. ---
**Author:** ![the\_apples\_fell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@the\_apples\_fell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_apples_fell)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/5 "2012-06-09T15:46:04Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > I don’t care what people do with their food stamps. Just make sure the kids eat, and I won’t judge you for whatever hustle you have set up to get yourself some non essentials. I don’t agree with this, because what it comes down to is, “You buy whatever the hell you want, in luxury items, and when you cannot buy your essentials, everyone else will do it for you.” Which is what happens. How do you think food stamps are formed? ---
**Author:** ![Tarwater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de0a6/32.png) [@Tarwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarwater)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/6 "2012-06-09T15:46:38Z")
So you don’t know how the application process works, yet you think it’s too unchecked? ---
**Author:** ![the\_apples\_fell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@the\_apples\_fell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_apples_fell)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/7 "2012-06-09T15:48:10Z")
I don’t know how it works, but I know I have personally seen people with food stamps who very clearly have indulgent spending habits and are draped in luxury items that likely further hinder their ability to pay for their food. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/8 "2012-06-09T15:56:32Z")
How’s about you spend 20 minutes doing a little research first, and come back to us. ---
**Author:** ![Tarwater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de0a6/32.png) [@Tarwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarwater)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/9 "2012-06-09T15:57:37Z")
> [@the\_apples\_fell](#): > > I don’t know how it works, but I know I have personally seen people with food stamps who very clearly have indulgent spending habits and are draped in luxury items that likely further hinder their ability to pay for their food. Well, let me tell you how it works, then. They check your taxes, of course. That much is obvious. They also check your pay stubs and earning statements. They check the balance of your checking and savings accounts. They check child support and alimony. They check any investments. They investigate any trusts that are being held for you. They check loans, gifts and other contributions you’ve been given. They check any properties you may own. They check any other source of government assistance you may be receiving. I don’t want to belabor the point or anything. I hope you understand now that they check basically everything. And after that, they check your expenses. Rent or mortgage and utilities. Car loans. Insurance, if you have it. Using all this, they calculate how much assistance you need and give you as much as you’re allowed. So I’m skeptical that you’ve seen people who have ‘indulgent’ spending habits or drape themselves in authentic luxury items. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/10 "2012-06-09T16:04:42Z")
> [@the\_apples\_fell](#): > > No, but I know someone with them who drives a Mercedes-Benz, has a giant TV, and wears very expensive jewelry. I’d bet you if she didn’t buy all of those things, she would not need food stamps. > > I’ve seen women come through my register at work with expensive purses (not knock-offs, I know the difference) and food stamps. Or she may have bought all those things when she could afford them, and has now lost her source of income and needs food stamps. ---
**Author:** ![artemis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/11 "2012-06-09T16:13:21Z")
> [@the\_apples\_fell](#): > > No, but I know someone with them who drives a Mercedes-Benz, has a giant TV, and wears very expensive jewelry. I’d bet you if she didn’t buy all of those things, she would not need food stamps. And you know for a fact that she bought those things WHILE she was on food stamps (as opposed to buying those things while she was still earning a good income, then qualifying later for food stamps when her financial circumstances suddenly deteriorated)? ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/12 "2012-06-09T16:14:33Z")
> [@Tarwater](#): > > …So I’m skeptical that you’ve seen people who have ‘indulgent’ spending habits or drape themselves in authentic luxury items. No, she meant to say she really coveted the nice Louis knock-off TaQuanda’s drug dealer boyfriend bought her. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/13 "2012-06-09T16:48:12Z")
Bullshit, Oper. Lemme tell you about how I qualified for WIC when my twins were born. My husband had a job that paid $14,000 a year. I, before I gave birth, had a job that paid me $9000 a year. In New York City. When I gave birth to twins my job offered me a whole $10,000 a year to keep me. This was not enough to pay for yearly transportation and child care. It was economically prudent for me to stay home with my children. So, there we were a family of four living on $14,000 a year in New York City. I went to the local WIC office because I had two infants that needed food-- and I breast fed because titty milk was free! I was turned down for WIC. Because $23,000 a year was too much money for a family of 4 to qualify. Forget the fact that I was no longer working. Despondent, I walked out of the WIC office-- and was stopped by the director of the public health office. My children where high risk children. They were born under weight-- common for twins. They lived in a high risk area-- not public housing but section 8 qualified (we did not qualify for section 8. At $14,000 a year, we made too much money) and they were _tiny_. The director was outraged and sent me back into the office. I do not know what strings she pulled but I walked out of that office WIC qualifed. And let me tell you-- I do not know what the women who had to depend solely on WIC did to feed their children. Me and my husband spent an extra $200 a month keeping our children well fed-- something that would have been impossible had he not had a job. IMHO is not the forum for me to express how much your OP has upset me. Suffice it to say-- you are talking directly out of the region dominated by your gluteous maximus. [Me, my husband and our two month old little fuckers!](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v19/Biggirl/scanner032.jpg) Just to show I’m not making this shit up. Plus-- look how cute they were! ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/14 "2012-06-09T16:54:08Z")
I think the poll question is a little vague. Obviously there should be requirements that have to be met before one can get food stamps, but “transactions and taxes” is a bit broad. What kinds of transactions? For how far back? How high should we set the hurdles? Should they be so high that we risk excluding people who really are deserving? Or should we lower them somewhat, accepting the risk that there will be cheaters (as _always_ happens with anything in the real world) then set the penalties for those who are caught high enough to deter most. I agree that the thought of cheaters is infuriating, but some low level of cheating is unfortunately one of the costs of trying to be a humane society that doesn’t want people to starve due to economic misfortune. As for the Mercedes; how old was it? Maybe they bought it when they were more affluent and it’s paid off now and they need it to get to their minimum wage job. Or maybe they borrowed it from a friend or family member in order to go grocery shopping. It’s interesting how many people know someone or have seen someone who drives a Mercedes-Benz and gets food stamps. I’ve seen and heard this story (nearly always with a Mercedes-Benz) repeatedly from many different sources and people. They must all know the same welfare cheat, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/15 "2012-06-09T17:01:50Z")
I know some people who bought a Jaguar for some crazy low amount of money, like $1100. Had some bad engine trouble they fixed, and I guess it ran great. So even assuming they bought the Benz while on food stamps, with a little know how and elbow grease, it is possible to legitimately get a high end car on a crappy car budget. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/16 "2012-06-09T17:06:23Z")
Seriously, a poll with just 2 options on the SDMB? :rolleyes: (See, there is where the rolleyes smiley comes in handy.) As to the alleged content of the OP, I’d have to see some evidence that food stamp recipients _aren’t_ subjected to rigorous financial scrutiny before I can be bothered to express an opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/17 "2012-06-09T17:07:51Z")
But don’t you people understand? The OP is outraged NOW! There’s no time to waste learning the facts! ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/18 "2012-06-09T17:26:43Z")
It’s fascinating how often that particular model of car is mentioned in rants about “food stamps” (they’re not stamps, they’re debit cards). Google shows numerous examples. > **[hautepinkbham.com - This website is for...](http://ww16.hautepinkbham.com/Columns/from-royalty-to-food-stamps?sub1=20230716-2358-596f-808e-603aa7514799)** > > This website is for sale! hautepinkbham.com is your first and best source for all of the information you’re looking for. From general topics to more of what you would expect to find here, hautepinkbham.com has it all. We hope you find what you are... > **[The Food Stamp Challenge](http://kristasdollarmenu.blogspot.com/2012/04/food-stamp-challenge.html)** > >                 Welcome to my blog!   This coming week April 23-April 29 I will be partaking in the Food Stamp Challenge and blogging abou... > **[Food stamps: a great conundrum.](http://michaelpiccione.blogspot.com/2012/05/food-stamps-great-conundrum.html)** > > What comes to mind when you hear the word "food stamps"? Some of you will say a necessity. Others a burden. Many consider welfare in gener... [http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2209037/posts](http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2209037/posts) You’d almost think that people are just repeating a story they heard elsewhere and only claiming to know the person or to have seen it themselves. Of course the OP wouldn’t do that, would they? ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/19 "2012-06-09T17:32:24Z")
> [@the\_apples\_fell](#): > > I’ve seen women come through my register at work with expensive purses (not knock-offs, I know the difference) No, darling, I’m sure you don’t. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Biggirl_ > > [Me, my husband and our two month old little fuckers!](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v19/Biggirl/scanner032.jpg) Just to show I’m not making this shit up. Plus-- look how cute they were! This is one of the cutest pics I’ve ever seen. 🙂 Also, your husband looks about 12 and totally scared shitless. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/20 "2012-06-09T17:34:20Z")
I would like to change my poll answer. The OP’s charged rhetoric got my dander up and voted ‘NO’, which is ridiculous. These government programs are needs based and as such you must show ‘need’. Of course your tax returns should be looked at. Sorry for the knee-jerk. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625.md?page=2)