# "We Accept Food Stamps" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 10, 2018, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936 "2018-05-10T20:20:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/1 "2018-05-10T20:20:12Z")
Leave it to the greedy, entitled rich in the U S of A. How about “We accept the proceeds of slave labor” - so that the owners of businesses that exploit Mexicans can go shopping without having to worry they’ll get caught and forced to pay each person a decent wage? Or “We accept cash” - because you never know who might not? When your country or state or area has a food stamps or similar program, there can be no question whether you accept that form of payment. If there’s a food-stamp-type program, and if you sell anything that could be covered by that program, then you accept that form of payment, by law, no options no questions no exceptions. It’s less than the least you can do. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/2 "2018-05-10T20:25:40Z")
I like chocolate chip cookies. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/3 "2018-05-10T20:32:37Z")
Not only are they not required to accept them, they have to apply: > **[Retailer's Guide to EBT/SNAP and Food Stamps](https://www.getvms.com/ebtupdate/guide-to-accept-ebt/)** > > Unlock new opportunities for your business by becoming an EBT retailer. Learn how to accept SNAP benefits and boost your customer base. > [@](#): > > How can I accept SNAP food stamps in my store? > > To accept SNAP food stamps in your store, you must get a SNAP permit. To get a permit, you must file an application with the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). The FNS is the government agency in charge of SNAP food stamps. The SNAP permit is free. > > You must have a permit for each store you own, and the permit must be in your name. You cannot take over someone else’s SNAP permit. > > You must sell certain types of food in your store to get a permit: > > ``` > You can get a permit if you sell a variety of staple foods in each of four food categories: (1) dairy products (2) breads, grains, and cereals (3) fruits and vegetables and (4) meat, fish, and poultry. Foods can be fresh, frozen, or canned. However, you must stock perishable foods in at least two of the food categories. > or, you can get a permit if more than 50% of your gross retail sales comes from the sale of one or more staple foods. > > ``` > > Note: Staple foods do not include coffee, tea, candy, soft drinks, snack foods, or certain other ready-to-eat items. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/4 "2018-05-10T20:34:23Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > When your country or state or area has a food stamps or similar program, there can be no question whether you accept that form of payment. If there’s a food-stamp-type program, and if you sell anything that could be covered by that program, then you accept that form of payment, by law, no options no questions no exceptions. Ummm…no. Businesses have to qualify to be allowed to accept food stamps, and some can and have been removed from the program for non-compliance with a variety of regulations. See [this page on the USDA website](https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/my-store-eligible). Ninja’d by **Doug K.** ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/5 "2018-05-10T20:37:27Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > Leave it to the greedy, entitled rich in the U S of A. > > How about “We accept the proceeds of slave labor” - so that the owners of businesses that exploit Mexicans can go shopping without having to worry they’ll get caught and forced to pay each person a decent wage? Or “We accept cash” - because you never know who might not? > > When your country or state or area has a food stamps or similar program, there can be no question whether you accept that form of payment. If there’s a food-stamp-type program, and if you sell anything that could be covered by that program, then you accept that form of payment, by law, no options no questions no exceptions. > > It’s less than the least you can do. Please cite that businesses are required to accept “food stamps”, EBT, SNAP, or any other form of payment that is not legal tender, for all debts, public and private. ETA: Ninja’d by everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/6 "2018-05-10T20:37:49Z")
Plus, with a few exceptions, they have to pay for the EBT terminals themselves. Which, depending on cost, may be a disincentive to accepting SNAP benefits. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/7 "2018-05-10T20:46:15Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > Leave it to the greedy, entitled rich in the U S of A. > > How about “We accept the proceeds of slave labor” - so that the owners of businesses that exploit Mexicans can go shopping without having to worry they’ll get caught and forced to pay each person a decent wage? Or “We accept cash” - because you never know who might not? > > When your country or state or area has a food stamps or similar program, there can be no question whether you accept that form of payment. If there’s a food-stamp-type program, and if you sell anything that could be covered by that program, then you accept that form of payment, by law, no options no questions no exceptions. > > It’s less than the least you can do. Slave labor? Aside from prisons and overseas where is slave labor in the US? And if you are against low valued “undocumented” laborers getting paid low wages feel free to tip them. Anyways, what’s the motivation for this food stamp acceptance PSA? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/8 "2018-05-10T20:48:30Z")
Trifling facts…but still, _should_ be true. So, not to turn an otherwise delightful rant into a GQ or anything but…Are there welfare programs that use something like prepaid debit cards that look & act like regular debit/credit cards? Seems like it would be a lot simpler for the merchants. And it would be a simple matter of the computer deciding what items are/are not allowed under the program. Scan $100 worth of goods–$60 worth of Cheerios are allowed and billed against the card, and the $40 in soda pop, candy, firecrackers, and birth control devices require cash payment. I really have no idea. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/9 "2018-05-10T20:53:03Z")
As others said, a store is not in any way, shape or form required to accept food stamps. The reason why it’s advertised is so that people know that your store takes them. As a store that takes them, we have to apply to accept them, stick to a bunch of rules, get reevaluated every few years etc. And just because I get the feeling you think this is the case, if you come in to my store, we’re not under any obligation to take cash either. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/10 "2018-05-10T20:53:33Z")
SNAP benefits (Food Stamps) are currently given on an EBT card which acts much like a debit card. The tills at the grocery store I currently work part time at do separate out not only the amount eligible for SNAP but also for WIC. The only problem is that somehow it screws up the sales tax on the non-SNAP and non-WIC items (SNAP and WIC items aren’t taxed). Edit to add: Candy and pop are allowed on SNAP. Basically anything you can stick in your mouth, with a few obvious exceptions, is allowed on SNAP. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/11 "2018-05-10T21:28:17Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Please cite that businesses are required to accept “food stamps”, EBT, SNAP, or any other form of payment that is not legal tender, for all debts, public and private. And just to clarify, no business is _required_ to accept cash. Cash is legal for all debts, but required for none. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/12 "2018-05-10T21:30:32Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > Trifling facts…but still, _should_ be true. > > So, not to turn an otherwise delightful rant into a GQ or anything but…Are there welfare programs that use something like prepaid debit cards that look & act like regular debit/credit cards? Seems like it would be a lot simpler for the merchants. And it would be a simple matter of the computer deciding what items are/are not allowed under the program. Scan $100 worth of goods–$60 worth of Cheerios are allowed and billed against the card, and the $40 in soda pop, candy, firecrackers, and birth control devices require cash payment. I really have no idea. That’s basically how it works now. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/13 "2018-05-10T21:32:56Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > Leave it to the greedy, entitled rich in the U S of A. > > How about “We accept the proceeds of slave labor” - so that the owners of businesses that exploit Mexicans can go shopping without having to worry they’ll get caught and forced to pay each person a decent wage? Or “We accept cash” - because you never know who might not? > > When your country or state or area has a food stamps or similar program, there can be no question whether you accept that form of payment. If there’s a food-stamp-type program, and if you sell anything that could be covered by that program, then you accept that form of payment, by law, no options no questions no exceptions. > > It’s less than the least you can do. Is this that recreational outrage I’ve heard so much about or are you a SJW making shit up so you can be offended? ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/14 "2018-05-10T21:41:24Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > And just to clarify, no business is _required_ to accept cash. Cash is legal for all debts, but required for none. Not to hijack this excellent thread and OP, but how’s that work? My understanding is that you are required to accept cash for payment of a debt. That does not mean that you have to accept cash for goods or services, however. You can arrange things in advance. But, once I’ve told you that you owe me $76.45, if you offer me that in cash, I have to accept it, and cannot at that time, demand that you settle your debts in a different manner. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/15 "2018-05-10T21:45:40Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Not to hijack this excellent thread and OP, but how’s that work? > > My understanding is that you are required to accept cash for payment of a debt. That does not mean that you have to accept cash for goods or services, however. You can arrange things in advance. But, once I’ve told you that you owe me $76.45, if you offer me that in cash, I have to accept it, and cannot at that time, demand that you settle your debts in a different manner. If you’re in a store, you don’t own the items yet. You are making an offer of payment. The store doesn’t have to accept. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/16 "2018-05-10T21:49:54Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > If you’re in a store, you don’t own the items yet. You are making an offer of payment. The store doesn’t have to accept. And that is a different case that I mentioned when I said that you can make other arrangements before the debt is incurred, but what about in the case of a service? If I have already groomed a client’s dog, could I refuse to take payment in cash? And as far as in a store, I would consider being rung up to be accepting the goods, on the condition that you settle your debts. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/17 "2018-05-10T22:01:48Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > …Are there welfare programs that use something like prepaid debit cards that look & act like regular debit/credit cards? … CA unemployment payments work like that. They set you up a Bank of America acct with a debit card and your UE check is dopsited directly into the account. mc ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/18 "2018-05-10T22:29:40Z")
Two independent groceries have recently opened in my area, and social media gave updates on their EBT and WIC status. At first, it said, “We have applied for it” and then later “We now take it.” Apparently, it’s a long, complicated process, and one where they’re not guaranteed to be accepted. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/19 "2018-05-10T22:34:28Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > And that is a different case that I mentioned when I said that you can make other arrangements before the debt is incurred, but what about in the case of a service? If I have already groomed a client’s dog, could I refuse to take payment in cash? You could, but if you refuse to accept it, I don’t think you’ll have a good chance of collecting it. > [@](#): > > And as far as in a store, I would consider being rung up to be accepting the goods, on the condition that you settle your debts. The debt isn’t legally incurred until you reach an agreement stating that you’ll pay for them in the future. The cashier at a random store likely can’t authorize that. If you were to steal the items, you’d have a debt with the business and I’d think you could settle that in cash. You’re not indebted to the store for that few seconds between them telling you how much to pay and you paying it. If you only had cash and they don’t take cash, they could turn you away, you don’t own the items yet. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/20 "2018-05-10T22:38:59Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Two independent groceries have recently opened in my area, and social media gave updates on their EBT and WIC status. At first, it said, “We have applied for it” and then later “We now take it.” > > Apparently, it’s a long, complicated process, and one where they’re not guaranteed to be accepted. I’m sure all the requirements are online, EBT isn’t that big of a deal, WIC is more difficult. The requirements are, more or less, to make sure stores that shouldn’t be accepting them, can’t. For example, you couldn’t accept either of those at your vape shop. More realistically, they don’t want a little gas station accepting them if they only sell gas, candy and beer. They require that you have actual food (produce, dairy, bread, cereal etc). Partially so someone doesn’t begin accepting them for the sole purpose of turning them into cash (which is very common, regardless) and partially so that you can look up who takes them and go to that store knowing they’ll have food. If you go to a gas station and see baby formula locked up behind the counter, it’s because it’s an expensive item, but required to be in the store in order to accept WIC. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936.md?page=2)