Additionally, Matt, to take some of the strain off your friend's budget, tell him to apply for his kids to get Medicaid & for him as well.  Yours in Him, Deb (The Medicaid office will be able to tell him, if his income is too high for Medicaid, whether your state participates in a low-premium childrn's medical insurnce program that begins with the letter "C" -- I can't think of its name, sorry.  Yours in Him, Deb

Our family did use food stamps and the WIC program years ago, when DH lost his job. I sympathize with all that do not have the means to feed themselves and their children.

 I was wondering if the food stamp program has changed. When we received the monthly allotment, we could buy  almost any type of "food" item. It was disheartening to see some folks buy so much unhealthy food.  Occasionally I'd see people using a "$20.00" dollar "stamp" to buy a few items. Then with the cash back, they would purchase items that were non food like alcohol, or cigarettes. Are the stamps monitored now? Perhaps I was sensitive to this b/c we also were strapped for funds, and I was trying so hard to pay bills and everything else.

Most food stamps are now on a debit-type card so it's harder to defraud the system. I have told my case worker of the store that doesn't credit back to the card if an item is returned (I get cash). The only thing that they should get back in cash is if they are using paper stamps still where you are, and the change is LESS than $1.  

Dear Darlene, You make a very important point.  The system has been reformed, though.

Food Stamps are now adminisgterd on a debit card basis.  You cannot get change.  Only food items can be paid with Food Stamps -- teh cash register automatically sorts out food from other items like aluminum foil.  There si still the possibility of pruchasing unwisely, with all junk foods, check out the June Food Stamps, May Food Stamps etc threads to see how I spend, which I believe will give you a perspective on how it's possible to minimize buyign processed & junk foods.Yours in Him, Deb

As I I read this Food Stamps thread I am just so taken aback as to the wealth of information, knowledge and willingness to help each other I have noticed even in the past week or so when I joined officially from all of you.

 You all have to be some of the most caring, wonderful people out there and the world would be such a better place if there were clones of all of you!

The food stamps being put in card form II thought was ingenious in a way, as in grocery store lines back in the day you would see people with thie literal stamps, etc. and were more pronounced.

Back then too it seemed like there would be arguments about if things should be covered.   As I dont get Food Stamps (yet!) I don't know how to phrase this, but in some ways I would feel like I was drawing attention to my short-comings if I had it under the "old ways".

Anymore everyone uses Credits Cards/Debit cards and people I doubt would even blink an eye.   Sad though still that people are hungry when there is so much to go around.  I watch those "Feed the Children" infomercials a lot and want to cry.

Even when times are real bad and real low I should be so thankful I have what I do!!

Aw, shucks, Matt!  I speak for all of yoru new friends on the Forum in welcoming you.  Soon enough, you, too, will be an old hand on the Forum, & newbies will be appreciating you!  Gratitude is the centerpiece of a good character, & we can see that yours is fine indeed.  Yours in Him , Deb