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Food Stamps Restriction

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  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    edited August 2017
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    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Here's an analysis of what is bought with SNAP: https://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ops/SNAPFoodsTypicallyPurchased.pdf

    How do gov't provided food subsidies (or more general welfare programs for the poor if it's encompassed within) work in Australia, Christine? (or others)

    @Lemurcat12 They have foodbarns here where our grocery stores donate near expired fruit/veg, meat, bread/packet food, pretty much anything/everything you'd find at a regular store where people can get food for free. They can't go every week though, maybe 2-3 times a month.
    We also have welfare agencies where they write a cheque to be used at your local grocery store, and in big bold writing on the front of the cheque there is a list of foods you are not allowed to buy.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    edited August 2017
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    Christine_72 wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Christine_72 wrote: »
    jkddavis4 wrote: »
    where we live people will use there food card to buy 50 liters of pop, 12 packs, etc, they then sell the pop to small country stores for money,ive seen them pulling 3 wallmart carts full of pop before, so that means the children go without food, im sure the goverment knows what they buy with there food cards they should put a limit on how much pop they can get, they wipe out the pop shelves every month so apparently they dont need food.the kids are the ones who suffer.

    That is just disgustingly shameful :rage:

    Yes, why would the small country store do that? It doesn't seem to make a lot of economic sense, and thus I'd be ashamed to call myself a merchant!

    Both the store and the people doing this should be penalised IMO.

    If it happened, of course they should. It's illegal. Also seems illogical, however.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
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    Chef_Barbell wrote: »
    Christine_72 wrote: »
    Chef_Barbell wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Chef_Barbell wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Here's an analysis of what is bought with SNAP: https://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ops/SNAPFoodsTypicallyPurchased.pdf

    How do gov't provided food subsidies (or more general welfare programs for the poor if it's encompassed within) work in Australia, Christine? (or others)

    That link doesn't seem to work for me. What's the main idea?

    It's a detailed report/analysis, so hard to summarize, but basically SNAP and non SNAP households have similar buying patterns.

    This is what I thought... But let's restrict people already going through so much.

    I dont think telling people they can't use food stamps on soda et al is going to cause anyone hardship. Hopefully they would spend the money they save on soda on something with a little more nutritional substance.

    I asked upthread where does it end then?

    Here it is stated:

    NO:

    Chips
    Chocolate
    Soda
    Biscuits (cookies)
    Cigarettes

    There's probably a few more I've forgotten about. It's a simple and clear instruction.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
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    Alatariel75 wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Here's an analysis of what is bought with SNAP: https://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ops/SNAPFoodsTypicallyPurchased.pdf

    How do gov't provided food subsidies (or more general welfare programs for the poor if it's encompassed within) work in Australia, Christine? (or others)

    Our government doesn't provide food subsidies, the only places that will give food or vouchers for it are independent (usually religious) charities.

    Government welfare is a cash based system - jobseekers get $535.60 a fortnight, and can also be eligible for rent assistance and other assistance. They also get a healthcare card, meaning most doctors visits are free, including a range of specialists, and prescriptions are $4 or so.

    There is currently a trial of a cashless welfare card happening in certain areas, where 80% of the fortnightly payment is given by way of a keycard which cannot be used to be alcohol, cigarettes, gambling products (lotto and scratch tickets) etc and cannot be used to withdraw cash. Other than that thought, it can be used for anything - not just food. You can use it anywhere you can pay by EFTPOS.

    It's receiving mixed reviews on its effectiveness.

    So the cash system would/could be used to supplement all expenses, including food?

    That's a less restrictive system. How available is it, and is there a time limit?
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
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    Alatariel75 wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Here's an analysis of what is bought with SNAP: https://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ops/SNAPFoodsTypicallyPurchased.pdf

    How do gov't provided food subsidies (or more general welfare programs for the poor if it's encompassed within) work in Australia, Christine? (or others)

    Our government doesn't provide food subsidies, the only places that will give food or vouchers for it are independent (usually religious) charities.

    Government welfare is a cash based system - jobseekers get $535.60 a fortnight, and can also be eligible for rent assistance and other assistance. They also get a healthcare card, meaning most doctors visits are free, including a range of specialists, and prescriptions are $4 or so.

    There is currently a trial of a cashless welfare card happening in certain areas, where 80% of the fortnightly payment is given by way of a keycard which cannot be used to be alcohol, cigarettes, gambling products (lotto and scratch tickets) etc and cannot be used to withdraw cash. Other than that thought, it can be used for anything - not just food. You can use it anywhere you can pay by EFTPOS.

    It's receiving mixed reviews on its effectiveness.

    The welfare system is pretty good here.

    The elderly pension and disability pension (including rent assistance which is i think $90 fn) is around $930 per fortnight.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 17,959 Member
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    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Alatariel75 wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Here's an analysis of what is bought with SNAP: https://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ops/SNAPFoodsTypicallyPurchased.pdf

    How do gov't provided food subsidies (or more general welfare programs for the poor if it's encompassed within) work in Australia, Christine? (or others)

    Our government doesn't provide food subsidies, the only places that will give food or vouchers for it are independent (usually religious) charities.

    Government welfare is a cash based system - jobseekers get $535.60 a fortnight, and can also be eligible for rent assistance and other assistance. They also get a healthcare card, meaning most doctors visits are free, including a range of specialists, and prescriptions are $4 or so.

    There is currently a trial of a cashless welfare card happening in certain areas, where 80% of the fortnightly payment is given by way of a keycard which cannot be used to be alcohol, cigarettes, gambling products (lotto and scratch tickets) etc and cannot be used to withdraw cash. Other than that thought, it can be used for anything - not just food. You can use it anywhere you can pay by EFTPOS.

    It's receiving mixed reviews on its effectiveness.

    So the cash system would/could be used to supplement all expenses, including food?

    That's a less restrictive system. How available is it, and is there a time limit?

    Yup, it's all living expenses. It's pretty available, if you've quit your job there is a 12 week wait, but if you're fired its instant. They look at your assets first - you can't get it if you have a nest egg, for example, you have to need it.

    No time limit, so long as you comply with conditions, including proving that you have been applying for jobs, showing up to meetings/appointments, and in some cases completing compulsory training or work placements.

    They also have similar systems for students, who get $437.50 a fortnight while they are studying, and then there are sickness benefits ($535.60 a fortnight) for when you can't work but can consistently prove you're too ill to look for work (you can only collect this for a maximum of 2 years before you have to move onto a disability support pension)
  • VintageFeline
    VintageFeline Posts: 6,771 Member
    edited August 2017
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    This is enlightening re. the amounts people get. It's repeated loudly and often that our welfare system is too generous. Jobseekers (unemployed) get £73 ($93 USD) per week, under 21 less. There's a stop gap statutory sick pay if you don't get it from your job for up to 6 months and that's £89 ($113 USD) per week. Disability/long term welfare is £73 assessment phase and if you are placed in the less severe group (they think you will be capable of returning to work at some point), support group (assessed as probably not returning to work ever or any time soon) is £102 pw ($130 USD). Disability benefits are reviewed at various intervals as dictated by the hand of god (Department for Work and Pensions). The £73 per week lowest disability benefit was recently reduced by £30 per week to "incentivise" people back to work sooner. Because there's nothing like abject poverty and inability to even get to an interview to help people into work.......

    The there's rent assistance but that also has caps that are too complicated to explain. And for more disabled people there are other benefits to cover the costs of having that disability and they range from £20 - £130 pw or there abouts.

    But to live on if you are out of work or assessed as being fit for something even if it's 5 years down the road it's £73 per week. And that's for everything outside of rent and some/all of council tax (again varies). So food, water bill, internet, phone, gas, electric, travel expenses, food etc etc etc.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
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    Christine_72 wrote: »
    Chef_Barbell wrote: »
    Christine_72 wrote: »
    Chef_Barbell wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Chef_Barbell wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Here's an analysis of what is bought with SNAP: https://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ops/SNAPFoodsTypicallyPurchased.pdf

    How do gov't provided food subsidies (or more general welfare programs for the poor if it's encompassed within) work in Australia, Christine? (or others)

    That link doesn't seem to work for me. What's the main idea?

    It's a detailed report/analysis, so hard to summarize, but basically SNAP and non SNAP households have similar buying patterns.

    This is what I thought... But let's restrict people already going through so much.

    I dont think telling people they can't use food stamps on soda et al is going to cause anyone hardship. Hopefully they would spend the money they save on soda on something with a little more nutritional substance.

    I asked upthread where does it end then?

    Here it is stated:

    NO:

    Chips
    Chocolate
    Soda
    Biscuits (cookies)
    Cigarettes

    There's probably a few more I've forgotten about. It's a simple and clear instruction.

    Is this what you are talking about? https://www.dss.gov.au/families-and-children/programmes-services/welfare-conditionality/cashless-debit-card-overview

    Or something else? I'm trying to understand how it works, and don't see those restrictions (just some others).

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