People Who Have Recieved Foodstamps

Greetings,
I am so sick of our collective attitudes toward the poor, the sick, the incarcerated, and everyone else who's deemed "The Other" -- that monster we concoct so that we don't have to look at ourselves. Fuck that lot of you -- the fascists amongst us.

Some Folks Who Got Food Stamp

Huffington Post

Bruce Springsteen: The Boss was on food stamps once, at least according to former bandmate Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez, who told The New Yorker's David Remnick in 2012 about Springsteen's early days in Asbury Park. "In the late afternoon," Remnick wrote, "after lunch, Lopez and I were driving around Asbury Park and he started laughing and pointing. 'That's where we went to get food stamps -- all of us, Bruce, too,' he said."

Sen. Patty Murray: The four-term Democrat from Washington and first female chair of the Senate Budget Committee received food stamps as a teenager. Her father had gotten sick and couldn't run his five-and-dime store on Main Street in Bothell, Wash.

Ann Dunham: President Barack Obama's mother reportedly received food stamps when he was a baby. That would mean the man conservatives have derided as the "Food Stamp President" for overseeing rapid growth in SNAP enrollment was a food stamp recipient himself.

Rep. Barbara Lee: The California Democrat once received food stamps herself and has used that experience to help advocate against cuts to the program.

Moby: The musical artist hasn't hid his poor upbringing. "We were dirt-poor white trash in arguably the wealthiest white town in the country," Moby told The New York Times. I was on food stamps until I was 18 and became an adult."

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Finally, while I certainly don't compare to the above people, I was also once on food stamps as I struggled to put the pieces of my life together after being released from prison and couldn't find employment due to my criminal record.

So yeah, fuck you if you're against helping those who need the help the most. In fact, it is mostly children you're railing against, you asshole.

My name is Eddie and I'm in recovery from civilization...

Demonizing the Poor: Welfare Myths (and Facts)

¡Hola! Everybody…
Note: I got this from a new friend, Jamie Roads (click here). I definitely appreciate her efforts, especially now, as the right wing sets to reply the same crap they put out there in the 80s and 90s. I haven’t done the research since before Clinton’s Welfare Deform, so I’m grateful for the updates.

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-=[ Don't Believe the Hype ]=-

Or: Beating Up On The Poor

TANF: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Average Payment/Benefit: Poverty Guidelines for most of the U.S. (-Alaska, Hawaii) is for 1, $10,830; for 2, $14,570; and for 3, $18,310. The average payment or benefit for Welfare Recipients averages NO MORE THAN 25% of poverty guidelines for a family of 3... That is $4577.50 (Per Year for a family of 3!!!) or approximately $381.46 per month (again, for 3 people!). One state (CA) does better by just under 50% of poverty levels (click here: pgs 9-11 ~ Map on page 11 is best breakdown!).

So this is an attractive, alluring way to survive how? Who is being lazy on this per month?

Can you collect forever? No (45/50 states). There is a 60 month lifetime limitation. Very few exceptions. Some states (8), like Connecticut have set their limitations lower (in their case, 21 months). This is regardless of the dollar amount you received (for example, if you collect $1.00, then that is 1/60 months). Some (12) are intermittent (i.e. 24 months on, then time required before can utilize again). Some states (only 5 -- Massachusetts, Michigan, NY, Oregon, Vermont) have no lifetime limits and move to state plans after federal has ended. Only 12 allow for assistance to children after that 5 year period (after adult has reached 5 year limits)

Would someone CHOOSE to be on welfare: Likely not, when you consider the average monthly payment for a family of 3 is under $400.00 and the average monthly cost of living is $1050.00 For the simple essentials (Based pretty low on $400.00 Rent, $147.00 Utilities, $249.00 Food, and $254.00 Transportation... per link above, pg 15). Most people WITH jobs struggle to maintain expenses month to month.

Qualifications: Must be a citizen and in most states, a resident. SS# must be provided, Proof of ages of ALL people in home, Income is based on state and specifics. In general if net income - expenses is less than Local Min. Income Figure in your area you may qualify. (I know locally, it doesn't take very much money at all to lose these benefits... unemployment will do it!

Additional Requirements on TANF: Depending on the age of the child, Recipients are required to attend classes, job seek, etc. 20-40 hours each week. They are required to show proof of job search (etc) and this is also followed up on (workers call and verify they are doing this, or expect documentation!)

Makes sitting 'on your butt' kinda difficult right?!

Who deserves Credit for much of these time limitations and added requirements: Bill Clinton.

Resources

Don’t Trash Talk the Poor: Clearing Up Misconceptions About “Welfare” (click here)

Policy (click here)

The Misconception About Welfare (click here )

TANF: Failing America's Poorest Children (click here)

THE HHS POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2010 (click here )

Consumer Expenditures 2007 (click here)

Cash Assistance from TANF (click here)