Posted on 09/29/2014 12:53:07 PM PDT by mrsmith
It's about a 4 per cent increase between the benefit increase and the increased expense deduction.
Heard about this increase and searched 'Bing News' and Google News' and found nothing. Finally found this Pa. state welfare site that mentions it.
Yes, it is unforunate that people don’t realize that over half of those on welfare are people we would have sympathy for.
Though whether the government should be providing that welfare, especially the federal government, is another matter.
To your situation:
Disability usually starts at the time of application so the first check is usually a very large one including payments for many months while the application was awaiting approval.
In general buy storable food that you use in bulk on sale, go to food pantry, go to ‘salvage’ food stores, get cooling and heating assistance.
Hope I hear back from you.
Just curious, but I’m wondering what the average SNAP recipient receives in monthly benefits? Does anyone know?
I remember back in the 90s, they used to get free gov housing along with the food stamps. And if they weren’t in an area where there was gov housing, they received a voucher that covered most of their rent. And they usually qualified for help with utilities, etc.
The recipient has to apply for each program they would like to be considered for. For a person who’s rent includes the heating cost, they don’t qualify for heating assistance. Section 8 housing is another, separate benefit. The county I live in doesn’t have section 8...they have financial aid housing, but the cheapest housing is about 330, and they will straight up tell you that you do NOT qualify if you don’t have a large enough income to cover the rent, utilities and expected household expenses such as toiletries, cleaning supplies, phone etc... There is some who qualify for cash assistance...in the past there was a change to that program that you can only get a lifetime benefit of 5 years and then you were cut off...FOR LIFE. During that 5 years, they will put you through schooling to help you learn a new trade so you can find work. Once you find work, you are cut off all benefits, instantly...which I understand and agree with, but it makes it very hard to keep your head above water until you get your first check or the first couple checks so you can afford the things that you were receiving help with.
Also, the food benefit has been CUT, dramatically. It makes it very hard to afford natural foods, so most people who are on stamps have to buy things like hotdogs, ramen noodles, canned fruit and vegies as the fresh will spoil faster and is much more expensive.
In fact, my COLA went down about $100.00.
The worker who figured my onset date decided that my onset was after I ended up in the wheelchair. fully, 10 months after my application. Even though I was discharged from a temporary job because of the pain medication I was on following the back surgery that was failed and the diagnosis of permanent nerve damage and chronic pain. Then, their policy is that you must be unpaid disabled for 7 months before you can get your first payment. My attorney's office claimed my past due amount for the 25% common attorney fee and for the medical records and copy fees. My entire monthly check will go to my landlord for monthly rent and for the past due amount I owe for the last 4 years I have been unable to work and pay rent. I am blessed that he didn't put us out on the streets, and I owe him a lot for the past 4 years....but I still have to buy and cook meals separately for me and my son, and they are cutting my monthly benefit from 347 a month to less than 200 a month. You can't buy very much healthy, natural foods on that much :(
RE: the subject of the thread. The increase is a federal law and everyone gets it.
Your personal situation: (I’ve pinged someone who posts knowledgeably about the subject in hope they can provide you assistance,)
I assume the SNAP benefits decreased dramatically for you because you haave a $700/mo increase in your income, technically. But you don’t.
Were you able to input the back rent payments into your SNAP application?
Please understand that I am sympathetic to your situation and appreciate your response.
A healthy diet would require another 50 to 100 dollars/mo IMO.
” what the average SNAP recipient receives “
The full benefit is about $190/mo. The ‘average’ includes people who have significant income but still get some benefit; so it is misleading.
Qualifying for SNAP benefits qualifies one to apply for other programs. It’s the ‘gateway’ program for dependency.
All I know is that the combination of increased Federal SNAP baseline and the increased deduction for rent resulted in just over a 1% increase in benefits in my state this month on average. I don’t like to give advice to people in other states (although I wish I could sometimes) because state by state handling of SNAP varies greatly. In my state, for example, you have to take into consideration a separate state “Basic Food” program. I imagine procedures for deductions vary considerably as well.
“My entire monthly check will go to my landlord for monthly rent and for the past due amount I owe for the last 4 years I have been unable to work and pay rent.”
I’m sorry to hear this is still happening with your landlord, but it doesn’t have to be. You’ve mentioned in many posts in the past that you take care of his dog, you do his laundry, you cook his meals (which I remember he forced you to do even the day you were recovering from surgery), and you clean up after him, etc.
Those things add up to real work that people get paid real money for. Likely, if he were to hire it done, it would surpass whatever your half of the rent would be.
So if he balks and pushes you for the back rent, you should present him with a bill for back wages and see about calling it an even trade — chores in exchange for rent. That’s what I would do anyway.
“The county I live in doesn’t have section 8”
Are you positive? Who told you that? Maybe someone has advised you wrong.
“Also, the food benefit has been CUT, dramatically. It makes it very hard to afford natural foods, so most people who are on stamps have to buy things like hotdogs, ramen noodles, canned fruit and vegies as the fresh will spoil faster and is much more expensive.”
I hate it for you about your benefit being cut, but don’t feel too badly...all of the foods you mentioned are in my cupboard (except the ramen, I prefer angel hair spaghetti). So apparently we’re not eating healthy at my house either.
And some of the canned stuff is really good. The Allen canned green beans, to me, are THE best; although they can be a bit stringy. But they remind me of the kind from the garden that I used to help my grandma snap for supper :). Tip: Drain the water from the can and season with a bit of onion or garlic, add a bit of olive oil, and cook them fast (watch closely). Done this way, they are delicious.
Thank you. I did a search after posting here and found this:
“The average monthly SNAP benefit per person is $133.85, or less than $1.50 per person, per meal.”
That quote comes from a site that wants donations, so my first thought was agenda.
Wikipedia lists the average being $133.08.
I had the same thoughts about the use of the word “average” being misleading. I know of someone who receives much more than the $133, or even the $190 you mentioned (closer to $500) and thought if that’s average, we’re in trouble.
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