Idaho Food Stamp Recipients Are Running Out of Food Too Fast

Lawmakers suggest spreading food stamp distribution across days, not day

Some food stamp recipients in Idaho are apparently blowing their wad come the first of the month, consuming their purchases too quickly, and finding themselves belly up before the next allotment of state aid, reports Boise's KTVB.

A proposal being floated by lawmakers in the Gem State would spread food stamp distribution across ten days in a given month, rather than the first day of that month. Following complaints by grocery stores that too many folks are buying up stock all at once, and by food stamp users themselves who say they're plum out of stuff to eat before the next installment of stamps, the move is designed to help folks eat in a more sustainable way.

It's a plan that comes with a hefty price tag, however: $700,000 initially, and more than $200,000 on an ongoing basis. Much of that cost would come from embossing recipients' names onto food cards to help reduce fraud. The plan means that many more cards will need to be issued each month.

The program will also involve an educational component. "I would like to use this money to educate people on how they can use their food stamps more efficiently and stretch them over the month," said Republican State Senator Pattie Anne Lodge.

But Democratic State Senator Les Bock disagrees with the idea: "I have trouble seeing any benefit to the state, or for that matter, benefit to the recipients."

Via KTVB.

Posted 1:30pm PST.

Should each month's food stamps be distributed in multiple installments, rather than all at once?

[Zazziness]

And they should also take Senator Lodge's suggestion and give classes on how to budget.

[Denizen_Kate]

They don't teach budgeting on any sort of a practical level in public schools, do they? "Story problems" in arithmetic classes don't get the job done.

[AnnieO]

@Denizen_Kate I agree. They need to teach these high school kids how to manage a bank account, make a budget and put back savings for emergencies. I would have loved to have had a class like that, especially as a senior. Some parents aren't the best role models for management of money so kids would benefit from something like that, I think.

[fistv]

They should require that 'budget training' for any and all elected officials on both the state and federal levels and force them remain within their budget.

[SavageMazx]

S@Denizen_Kate actually the school my son attends teaches a "consumer science class" that teaches them life skills like budgeting and balancing check book, what the difference between 401k plans are and even how to invest in stocks and bonds....I was pleasantly surprised, now if the will only teach him to make his bed and pick up his laundry.....

[culinary]

They should teach them to get a JOB.

[Knightkore]

Well there could be some merit to the idea but the fact that a congress person is wanting to teach people how NOT to spend is ironically sad and laughable all at the same time....

[Medicinebow]

Come on now, they'll tell you it's "their" money :)

[Food4thoughts]

Hehe "blowing their wad" hehe

[Rocker]

Watch it. They lay it out there for entrapment purposes on comments. On the other hand that may be the root cause for the need for extra food.

[Rocker]

Does that state have legal med pot?? Could be a munchie side effect.

[Food4thoughts]

@Rocker
They'll get me every time ;-)

[Libertyiskey]

Although itd cost money to get their names on the card I think if it could be effective at deterring and stopping fraud it'd be worth it and ultimately cost effective.

[Food4thoughts]

Only if the vendors check ID...they never do with my CC or Bank Card :-/

[Libertyiskey]

@Food4thoughts Id have no problems with them requiring vendors to check ID for stuff like this, but I agree it would be a problem with people not checking ID.

[Food4thoughts]

@Libertyiskey
The back of my card specifically states "Check ID"...and it never happens :-/

[Food4thoughts]

@Food4thoughts
Until the day I don't have my DL...that'll be the day that I'm asked for ID

[Malitia_Man]

Hey!!! I've got an idea!!! Why don't they grow their own food!!! My grandparents grew their own food up till in their 80's!!! Grow and can!!! SAVE MONEY!!!

Oh!!! I forgot!!! We are living in the sheeple age were we depend on the government to feed & cloth us!!! Where people would rather feed themselves and their children JUNK food and GMO's!!! No wonder our life expectancy is steadily declining!!! Unlike like my grand parents, this generation would be happy to see 65!!!

[Food4thoughts]

Takes land to grow anything... or an expensive growing operation...

[WilliamWallace]

I say make the food stamps only pay for bread, bologna, and ramen.

[Food4thoughts]

@WilliamWallace
I could agree with the Food Stamp program adopting a WIC like stance.

[Malitia_Man]

@Food4thoughts

You must be blind!!! We have land that should be used exactly for 'welfare dependent' to grow their food!!!! This land is bought and paid for by the tax payer!!! And millions are spent every year keeping this land "presentable"!!! Does tax payer funded "parks" ring a bell? Why don't we turn these money pits into something that would actually benefit somebody!!!

Fixed!!!

[Waynestew]

@Malitia_Man I have been saying this for a while. I couldn't agree more people in low income areas need a place to be able to grow their own food to reduce the cost that taxpayers have to pay,

[AnnieO]

I think it would be helpful to teach people how to budget their food stamps. I know in my town, people use them to buy a bunch of name brand junk food and soda. I don't even see how they make actual meals from those buggies full of junk.

[PoliticalSpice]

Agree. Educating people on how to make food last longer by buying staples like pasta, rice, potatoes, onions, and protiens like bean, eggs, tuna and chicken. Impressing the need to buy veggies and fruit and teaching simple recipes/cooking skills, would make stamps go further then filling up the food cart with soda, chips, candy.

Beyond that there is only so
much govt can do. Its stupid to waste money to spread out food stamp distribution because people don't know how to care for and budget themselves. Teach em the skills, something that need not be a seperate program. Maybe just let em sit in on classes. Learning stuff like this should be taught to teens graduating high school. That and basic economic literacy are essential skills in contemporary soceity.

[culinary]

In my town nobody cares about food. They sell them to buy pills.

[AnnieO]

@culinary People do that in my town too. Or they buy buggies full of soda and sell it for cash. They can get creative.

[Canoochee]

Crass as it may sound I say let em do without. Except if they have small children. Being a little hungry for a couple of days can sure motivate one to make the food stamps last the next time.

If this were a city my opinion might be different.

[Zazziness]

Er... Boise is a city.

[MadAmerican]

I say limit food stamps to 1 year. If you blow your wad at the first of the month then starve or get a job!

[Zazziness]

And their children?(And don't say they shouldn't have had kids. Let's deal with reality.)

[MadAmerican]

@Zazziness Give them up! They deserve better than dead beat parents who year after year manipulate the system.

[mimi57]

@MadAmerican The reality is many of these people have children to get more food stamps and benefits. The kids do deserve better, some are even homeless.
If I could not afford to give my children a half way decent life, I would put them up
for adoption, to someone who could give them a decent home, and an opportunity to know the difference between a life of poverty and misery, and one
of a sense of stability and personal responsibility, not to mention an education so
they will not be the next ones standing in the welfare lines. If you *really* love your
child , you do what is best for them, and not what will get you a couple more hundred dollars in food stamps and an apt. w/ more bedrooms, etc..

[stepped_in_it]

HMMM.....Irresponsible with their budget......irresponsible with their life. Is there a connection here? Nah, I just being a typical conservative (even though I'm INDEPENDENT). Oh, the joys to be able to pick and choose your battle lines!

[mudpike]

Waste of money because these people spend more time & effort working to beat the system than they would expend holding a job . PROBLEM IS - our politicians & the tens of thousands of social(ist) agency workers care less. The more people they have on welfare , the more they can give free housing or medical or even free cell phones to , the more secure they become in their jobs . And they too are supported by our tax dollars.

[DARSB]

Or maybe the amount is just too little? I found a benefit calculator. Assuming the assistance is for a senior on Social Security with $950 in monthly income and $200 in monthly medical expenses the total for stamp benefit is $19. http://goo.gl/Oz7oS

[stepped_in_it]

Very good info.....as always! TY

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

Why not just eliminate the program altogether? I don't see how it's useful.

[DARSB]

Is that a vote in favor of hungry children?

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

@DARSB - According to your favorite politician Cory Booker, there isn't enough money on food stamps to feed a person a decent diet. So if the money we already don't have to spend isn't getting the job done then why don't we just stop throwing money away? I'd like to take the food stamp budget out of your paycheck and see how much you'd be willing to sacrifice to take care of the lazy and unproductive.

[DapperDave]

@Neo_NtheMatrix You didn't answer the question, opting instead to launch into a diatribe about lazy, unproductive adults. I agree that freeloading adults should be denied public assistance. So, tell me/us what you think should be done with/for the innocent children in impoverished households. I can hardly wait to read your response.

[harold_lloyd]

It's the states task to get the most out of every taxpayer dollar.

If an educational program along with adjustments in the disbursement system will make things more efficient, and serve the greater purpose of developing peoples' ability to be independent, then I'm all for it, and you should be too.

[SmedleyButler]

All the food these folks buy is the cheapest to make it go along way. Which means they are most likely buying and eating food loaded with simple carbs i.e corn syrup, starch. potatoes and bleached white flour that will make them hungry all the time.

[Sassychick]

There are plenty of other places besides Idaho where people are blowing their food stamps as fast as they get them. If you watch these people and what they get you will see what they load their carts up on. JUNK FOOD(soda, chips, little debbies(cant say ho ho's and twinkies now), pre made meals. That is a huge reason why they are running out of food along with careless spending and not budgeting. Maybe if the government would put a limit to what kind of food these people can buy that would require people to actually cook food it would help.
An BTW I do get 285.00 a month in FS bnefits for 4 people(myself and my 3 kids) and I have no problems making them last all month and I do not buy junk food and actually cook food and budget. so if these idiots are blowing their wads on crap and running out of food before the end of the month then it should be TS for them.

[mimi57]

Sorry, in no way was I implying I meant you. I just have seen so much abuse of the
system...I guess I may be getting cynical.

[Sassychick]

@mimi57
its cool but i will say i know the type of people you are talking about, the ones who are total leeches sucking the system dry, the ones who can work but wont, the ones who have kid after kid just to get more money and then sit and complain just days into the month after they get their stamps and have them blown they dont know what they will do the rest of the month for food, the ones who think everything should be handed to them on a silver platter, and I will say its a crock of crap how they are.
I work and am a single mother who applied for that little bit of help for my family and am very grateful for what I do get. I know a girl who is on full welfare gets all her bills paid over 1200 a month in food stamps and is one of these abusers she just had another baby(making 5) at 23 and thinks she should have everything given to her and doesnt even take care of those kids, its all they are to her is a pay day. Now in my opinion people like that should have their kids taken from them and also be court ordered to have tubals and vasectomies and made to fend for themselves.

[mimi57]

@Sassychick I agree, and commend you for stepping up and trying to make it.
I know it's difficult, as I was a young mom and raising kids alone is no picnic. At
least you appreciate what you have and I'm sure will not make a 'career' out of
the assistance you are getting. I never begrudge people of a 'hand up', my problem is with the type you have described. I've seen it all too many times.
My best to you and your kids and I know you will make a better life for them and
yourself. Good Luck (:

[Dan_Tien]

Spending more money distributing food stamps will not teach recipients the discipline needed to manage their resources.

[Waynestew]

This seems as a very good idea especially the part of teaching people how to stretch a dollar. Maybe since a Republican is behind it there won't be a lot of opposition to it. You know how the right loves to call people on welfare "takers" Furthermore people in low income areas meeting place to be able to grow food to supplement the cost.

[whataGOVwehave]

Stop spending it on meth and its big brother....weed

[DomesticG]

There are many good, practical solutions out there. Aside from teaching budgeting and how to make the most of their food stamp allotment,IMO junk foods need to be disallowed--soda, candy, chips, cookies, snack-cakes, as well as cookies, cakes and pies from the bakery.

[bsking]

This is too funny. the base line of the story goes... these moochers are getting their food stamps on the first of the month and eating all the food up ( or more likely selling their stamps for cigarettes in beer money)... so the government answer is to just give them a few stamps here and there to get them through the month.....

Here's my plan:

day 1 I would tell them you have 90 days of food stamps left. after that you will either get a job or you will be hungry.

Now if you enforce that, every 1 of those people would get a job.

[whataGOVwehave]

So sadly true.