# "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:** 3
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/41 "2018-05-11T19:15:02Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > We’ve been through this almost as often as circumcision. The [Federal Reserve Bank](https://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/currency_12772.htm)site says this: > > > [@](#): > > > > This statute means that all United States money as identified above is a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor. There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person, or an organization must accept currency or coins as payment for goods or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether to accept cash unless there is a state law which says otherwise. (Quote from original post re-added for clarity.) This is why businesses can refuse to accept large bills. I’ve had people attempting to make a purchase with a $100 bill point out, “But you have to take it. It’s legal tender.” To which I would reply: “You’re not settling a debt. A purchase of goods for sale is a completely different transaction. We’re free to refuse currency over $20.” ---
**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 12, 2018, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/42 "2018-05-12T01:56:00Z")
Yeah, but did that shut them up? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2018, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/43 "2018-05-12T03:15:29Z")
My brother used to take rolls of pennies in a store and see if he could get cashier to accept it. Like $20 bucks worth. It was a game. He had mixed results. Some cursing. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2018, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/44 "2018-05-12T03:44:29Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > This is why businesses can refuse to accept large bills. I’ve had people attempting to make a purchase with a $100 bill point out, “But you have to take it. It’s legal tender.” I’ve been told that there are so many counterfeit $50 and $100 bills out there that for many businesses, not taking them makes life a lot less complicated. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2018, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/45 "2018-05-12T04:58:25Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > I’ve been told that there are so many counterfeit $50 and $100 bills out there that for many businesses, not taking them makes life a lot less complicated. You were told wrong. #1, The twenty is the most-counterfeited bill. #2, There aren’t nearly as many counterfeits in existence as many people assume. The grand total is a minuscule percentage–from memory, something like 1/5000–of all cash in existence. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2018, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/46 "2018-05-12T05:46:03Z")
Someday I hope to be able to afford a new smartphone, like the girl with the food stamps in front of me today in the supermarket line. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2018, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/47 "2018-05-12T06:22:05Z")
We had a rash of $10 counterfeit bills around Christmas last year. No one would take a $10 without the marker thing happening. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2018, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/48 "2018-05-12T06:26:19Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Someday I hope to be able to afford a new smartphone, like the girl with the food stamps in front of me today in the supermarket line. How did you know hers was new? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2018, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/49 "2018-05-12T11:46:52Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Someday I hope to be able to afford a new smartphone, like the girl with the food stamps in front of me today in the supermarket line. Don’t be so fucking judgmental. People who are eligible for food stamp benefits can apply for a free smartphone from the government Lifeline program. You can also buy a smartphone from Wal-Mart for around $19.99, although they occasionally have phones in stock for around $9.99. Granted, the quality is as cheap as the price, but you no longer have to be well-off to own a smartphone these days. ---
**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 12, 2018, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/50 "2018-05-12T12:37:24Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Someday I hope to be able to afford a new smartphone, like the girl with the food stamps in front of me today in the supermarket line. Like I said, there’s always the person behind them throwing a hissy fit. I have a friend that was making decent amount of money, but due to being on the wrong side of a car vs pedestrian accident her neck was broken. During the few months that she was off of work she received Snap benefits\*. She said during that time she’d get a lot of under the breath comments from people in line behind her and in one case the cashier at a higher end (whole foods maybe) store even gave her some problems. Everyone that made comments towards her knew only what they saw. A 30ish year old, driving a car that’s not falling apart, dressed well, hair nicely done etc… They had no idea that she hasn’t had any income for weeks or months, had multiple back and neck surgeries and been in physical therapy. Similarly, when you use your EBT card, for whatever reason, it prints out the remaining balance. I’ve had to tell my cashiers to ignore that. Often, the first few times they see it they’ll be surprised that the person may have 800 or 900 or 2500 dollars on their card. But, as I’ve said many times, you don’t know what’s going on with them. Maybe they have 4 kids and do a good job of budgeting their money so it’s been adding up for a while. Maybe they’ve been living with family and friends or for any other reason haven’t been using it in a while. Maybe there’s a million other reasons that they have a thousand dollars and you’re bouncing checks…maybe it’s because you call in ‘sick’ to work 3 times a week. \*For the record, I don’t know the ins and outs of applying for and receiving Snap benefits. I learned about this when I first met her, she was asking me if she’s allowed to use it at places like Whole Foods and if the cashier can make judgement calls about what can and can’t be purchased with it. PS, maybe someone gave her the phone, maybe it was a used or free phone, maybe it wasn’t even her phone. Like I said in my other post, I understand the comments, but unless you know what’s actually going on, you’re just being judgemental. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2018, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/51 "2018-05-12T12:43:48Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > People who are eligible for food stamp benefits can apply for a free smartphone from the government Lifeline program. So we are paying for her food and her phone, and probably her healthcare and maybe her housing as well. What else should we be on the hook for? Makeovers, spa days, and vacations? ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2018, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/52 "2018-05-12T12:50:15Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > So we are paying for her food and her phone, and probably her healthcare and maybe her housing as well. What else should we be on the hook for? Makeovers, spa days, and vacations? I expect that you will refuse to collect your Medicare and Social Security benefits when you become eligible, lest you become a hypocrite for relying on the rest of us to pay for your healthcare and (all or part) income. ---
**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 12, 2018, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/53 "2018-05-12T12:51:49Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > So **we are paying for her food and her phone, and probably her healthcare and maybe her housing as well**. What else should we be on the hook for? Makeovers, spa days, and vacations? If it pisses _you_ off, gladly. If you have any form of insurance, _you’re_ leeching off others. either now or sometime in the future. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2018, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/54 "2018-05-12T12:56:01Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > If it pisses _you_ off, gladly. > If you have any form of insurance, _you’re_ leeching off others. either now or sometime in the future. shhh… he probably thinks his out of pocket contribution towards his premiums is paying for his entire cost of care. ---
**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 12, 2018, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/55 "2018-05-12T13:01:24Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > shhh… he probably thinks his out of pocket contribution towards his premiums is paying for his entire cost of care. What, and deny him the agony of the knowledge? ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2018, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/56 "2018-05-12T13:05:04Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I like chocolate chip cookies. [Enjoy](http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/nestle-toll-house-chocolate-chip-pan-cookie-108248)! 2 1⁄4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup butter, softened 3⁄4 cup granulated sugar 3⁄4 cup packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 eggs 1 (12 ounce) package semi-sweet chocolate chips Preheat oven to 375\* Grease a 15x10-inch jelly roll pan. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, both sugars and vanilla in large mixer bowl. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Gradually beat flour mixture into butter mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Spread into prepared pan. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2018, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/57 "2018-05-12T13:15:28Z")
**Siam Sam** , you _can_ afford a new smartphone. You can afford an iPhone 10, if you want. You have enough disposable income that you could buy one. Now, maybe you’ve decided that there are other ways that you’d rather spend that disposable income. I can’t blame you for that; I’ve decided the same thing. But maybe that girl in front of you in the checkout line made a different decision on what to do with her money. ---
**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 12, 2018, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/58 "2018-05-12T15:30:46Z")
Welp, this was actually an interesting discussion. It took a good turn after the OP. But it looks like that’s over now. Get an instant pot, toss in some chicken breasts and a little bit of [turkey] broth. Run it for like 20 minutes, shred the chicken and toss it back into the pot with some store bought [turkey] gravy. Make instant potatoes. It’s not the best, but it’s really good and I love leaving work deciding that maybe I want some turkey and gravy tonight and then I have it 30 minutes later. It’s almost easier than my crock pot. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2018, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/59 "2018-05-12T15:59:25Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > **Siam Sam** , you _can_ afford a new smartphone. You can afford an iPhone 10, if you want. You have enough disposable income that you could buy one. Now, maybe you’ve decided that there are other ways that you’d rather spend that disposable income. I can’t blame you for that; I’ve decided the same thing. But maybe that girl in front of you in the checkout line made a different decision on what to do with her money. Hmm. I guess I’m the only one who thought **Sam from Siam** was joking. I certainly hope he was, but maybe the joke’s on me! ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2018, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936/60 "2018-05-12T16:18:32Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > So we are paying for her food and her phone, and probably her healthcare and maybe her housing as well. What else should we be on the hook for? Makeovers, spa days, and vacations? The phone program has been in place for decades, with the idea that the homeless or poor cannot help themselves or get jobs if they can’t pay for a phone. How will a potential employer reach them to hire them? Seriously, with all the corporate welfare and egregious waste that goes on in government spending, I will never understand the short sighted thinking that thinks we’ll all be better off if we help the poor less. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-accept-food-stamps/813936.md?page=4)