Food Stamps and You
And you know what? By and large, people get it. In all the years I used food stamps, the only time — and this was a long, long time ago — anyone tried (and unfortunately, succeeded) to embarrass me occurred at the Eureka Co-op. The since-departed cashier didn’t have the right change and spent the next five minutes hollering for “FOOD STAMPS, I’ve got someone here with FOOD STAMPS, yes, FOOD STAMPS, I need change for FOOD STAMPS.” Cringe-inducing in any case to be unwillingly thrown center ring in the grocery store circus, more so when you’re accompanied by a tired toddler and full cart.
Fortunately that moment of rudeness never repeated — in fact, recently, after 12 years in Humboldt County, I purchased a Co-op membership, seduced by membership appreciation day. If one remembers to save the shopping (and the shopping money!) for the second Wednesday of each month, the savings work out far greater than the $25 membership fee. Check it out before Dec. 9 for savings on holiday goodies — and you won’t be able to turn the food stamp application around as quickly, so start that one even sooner.
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on the cover
Railroad!
Proposed lines ‘set rich blood a-tingling’ in early 1900s
Some Other Proposed North Coast Railroads
Choo-choo Fantasies
Exposing this east-west rail nonsense
seven-o-heaven
Undeterred Will
Will chides Andrew for lack of attention to detail and makes plans for his inevitable victory.
Recent savage money
Jan. 20, 2011
Quit Your Whining
In this country, the destitute have never had it so good!
Dec. 23, 2010
Resolved: Solvency
After the Xmas deluge, put your financial house in order this January
Nov. 25, 2010
That Dreadful Time of Year
But if you keep your head about you, Christmas can actually be kinda fun
Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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FIVE Comments
Comment / By Doug Brunell / Nov. 28, 2009, 11:23 p.m.
Fact checking should be essential. There are a few wrong things, a few misleading ones, and a general air of “just not getting it.”
Just for the record, there are no “monthly reports,” car “types” don’t matter, nor does blood type. (I know that last one was for humor’s sake, but I thought I’d use it, too.)
There’s more I could say, but I’m tired and have other things to do.
Comment / By Jennifer Savage / Nov. 29, 2009, 8:22 p.m.
When I was on food stamps, monthly reports were the norm – as was inquiries into what you owned (car or anything else of value) – if that’s changed, glad to hear it.
Comment / By Dayna / Nov. 30, 2009, 12:58 a.m.
I am surprised that someone who wrote & got published in a widely read local publication a rather scathing piece on the Food Stamps program & process, who seemed to be by the end of the article advocating the utilization of this public assistance program, would not take the time to research the current process & criteria by which eligibility is determined. For members of the public whose first introduction to the existence of said program is this rather biased piece of journalism, I would like to clarify some things: 1. You will not spend hours in the Koster office if you are only applying for Food Stamps. In general, you probably can get thru the process in about 1.5 hrs from beginning to end. 2. FNS (Food & Nutrition Services) decided that you can molest a child, rape, murder, etc., but you CANNOT have a felony DRUG conviction & expect Food Stamp assistance. Don’t expect it to make sense. And by the way, even if you have a felony drug conviction, you may still be eligible.
You’d be wise to answer the question honestly, so as not to commit FRAUD. 3. There are forms, yes. It’s a bureaucracy. Mostly, you’re checking the occasional box, signing & dating. Veterans who have actually PROTECTED this country have to go thru the same process as the never employed 20-something who is passing thru town on his way to Reggae on the River (or whatever they’re calling it these days). An ex-con goes thru the same process as the 87 yr old woman who worked all her life, paid into the system & is now expected to live on $900/mo in Social Security (if she’s lucky).
4. Rest assured that the “nosy” questions being asked are all pertinent to establishing a case: proof of income, resources & identity of individuals requesting aid.
5. All vehicles are exempt, including those boats & off road bikes so popular here in Shangri La that, if sold, could be used to buy food.
Households with a child under the age of 18 MAY have the resource limit waived if there are excess resources & eligibility may still exist. 6. Food Stamps are a SUPPLEMENT meant to help you stay nourished…not feed your vehicle (which, contrary to popular belief, is NOT a necessity) or attend to your feminine needs. It sucks but anyone paying attention can figure out that this country isn’t concerned with truly caring for its citizens or the Deficit Reduction Act would have never happened.
I was relieved when towards the end of this article, it seemed that Mrs Savage was actually encouraging use of the program contrary to what the first half suggested. There is NO shame in doing what needs to be done to get one’s needs met. But if you’re holding your hand out to the government, expect certain aspects of your life to be a little less private. Lastly, don’t believe every negative & bitter story you hear or read about applying for public assistance. Take time to research it. A simple call can answer a lot of questions about the process anonymously.
Comment / By Doug Brunell / Nov. 30, 2009, 10:37 p.m.
Ms. Savage: Really, the more I think about it, the less happy I am. Again, fact check. Second: Do not encourage your readers to commit perjury. I’ve written for publications all over the world (including the one you wrote this piece for), and I always try to get my facts straight. If it’s been eight to ten years, you should check it out to see if it’s the same. What next? A piece on that new fangled Internet?
I, like the previous poster, was happy to see the encouragement, and you do bring up some valid points, but the lack of accuracy weakens the entire piece and some of what you wrote could actually cause people to get into hot water.
Food for thought, and no waiting in line for that one.
Comment / By Fred Mangels / Dec. 10, 2009, 7:56 a.m.
I’m not on food stamps now, but I was for a while starting around four or five years ago. She is correct, as best as I can recall, in regards reporting requirements. I’ll have to admit I don’t remember if you had to send in the eligibility report every month, or every three months. If you’re also receiving MediCal you file the same reports, too, so it’s hard to tell which is for which but the same application can be- or is- used for both MediCal and food stamps.
And, yes, they do want to know what property you own. I know we regularly have to report on what vehicles own although I’m not sure if that mattered with food stamps. I know it does for MediCal. If you have too many cars, or cars they don’t think you need, they can disqualify you. Either that, or sell the car(s).