Dear All, The STRANGEST thing happened with my SNAP Food Stamps this month (May).  I was eating (& purchasing) an invalid's diet -- lots of frozen entrees, bakery-dept goodies, expensive produce.  The first few transactions went through SNAP without a hitch.  But THEN (very early in the month), teh cashier (thsi was all at Whole FOods) got a message back on her SNAP screen, "Luxury goods not covered," or something to that effect.  After that, I just used my VISA card for groceries, the path of least resistance.  I have to buy electrolyte drink ($1.79 for 2 servings -- a quart total), & that POSSIBLY fed into the problem.  I ordered 3 cases [discounted -- I've ordered by the case before bugt didn't try to use SNAP, as it wsa after the "luxury goods" message] of the drink (store-brand) to pick up later this week, & I'm going to see what happens if I try to use my SNAP for it. 

Isn't this the weirdest thing you ever heard?

Yours in Him, Deb

PS We cooked normal cheap East Indian vegetarian -- egg curry -- today, & (otehr than the electrolyte drink), will not be buying any more "luxury goods!"

 

 That is odd, Deb. Do you know if there are new changes to foods that are excluded?

 

Hi Deb, Now I wonder what will happen if I try to get any goodies at my Whole Foods! I haven't so far, just fish and groceries but I have my eye on the carrot cake :-) Was the cashier able to tell you exactly which item caused it to say that? I can't imagine the produce being classified as a luxury item so maybe the cake or frozen food? Did you ask her or the manager? I'd love to know if you find out. I will also ask my branch here in NY. It sounds kind of unfair to me, that we are supposed to deny ourselves a treat? That they are policing us this way, hmm, sounds kind of punitive to me.

Believe me, Brandy, the lawyer in me is furious!  Once I have the necessary fortitude harnessed, I am indeed going to look into it, AND complain officially!  Love in Him, Deb

Dear Susie, The cashier offered to let me return the entire order, but there was nothing in the order that I wanted to do without, nor did I want to do without the food order as a whole, so I demurred.  I suspect that it works like credit card policing, that if you try to purchase several things strange to your normal buying habits, a red flag goes up.  For me, buying limited produce (I purchase on sale, put the bulllk of the produce chopped in teh freezer, & do not buy produce not on sale), bulk goods, yoghurt, & eggs as my staples, the change in my purchasing habits was extreme.  Yours in Him, Deb

Hi again. Well, it seems like the red flag should only go up if they suspect that someone else might be using your card...and how could that be when they have our picture on our cards? Does the computer really know that let's say, carrot cake is a deviation of my usual fruit, fish, vegetables? And if it knows this and is in fact programmed to let Whole Foods know that, then it seems discriminatory and demeaning. Yes, unleash the lawyer in you, LOL!! I know you're not feeling up to par now and I don't want you to have to reply to my post if you're tired but I wanted to voice my opinion. It sounds so unjust and weird...like Big Brother says you can have this but not that..creepy!

 Deb,You might try contacting your social worker (or whoever handles your benefits) and explaining. A letter from your doctor saying that these things are right now a medical necessity would likely convince them to fund you to them.

I've had similar situations where I haven't been able to eat normal things, and with medical approval, I have gotten them.

Another resource is Meals On Wheels. I am on that program, but since I cannot eat regular food, they instead get me a supplement powder and milk, in the equivalent amount of what the meals would cost. These supplements are the major part of my nutrition, and I did have to submit medical information. Are you eligible for MOW?

I would think it would, in your case, indeed be illegal for them to do this.

I hope you are soon well enough to get that lawyer out after them.Your case would be of so much help to others in your position who do not have the knowledge you do.

Fight it!

That's ridiculous, I have never heard of such a thing!  I know you can't get hot deli food in most places, but thought the idea was you could buy the food you want-

The item I have run into trouble with is Clif bars, sometimes they have to take them off and them hand punch them in.  I take them to school for lunch.  $1 for lunch isn't bad, there is free ice water and cups at school.

Could you go to Whole Foods when you are feeling better and ask what items tripped the code? They could maybe re-ring your reciept, and see where the problem is.  

We've been buying luxury items this week, frozen pizza, nature burgers, tortilla chips, water bottles for summer and lunches, antioxident vitamin water as half of us are sick, whipping cream in a can for pie.  No problem.  

As far as I know hot food from the deli is the only food you are not allowed to get on food stamps. check with your case worker and tell her what happen. It could be a store thing.

Dear Susie, Unfortunately, here in Northern CA, we don't have picture ID's on our SNAP EBT cards, more's the pity.  It would be a great idea!  Yours in Him, Deb