Life's Good On EBT Street (Welfare money for trips to Hawaii)

Boston Herald ^ | September 22, 2011 | Michael Graham

[suspects]

“I just swipe my EBT .. . Every day I get my ‘swipe’ on . . . I mean who cares? It’s the EBT it’s not food stamps.”

— YouTube rap song, “My EBT.”

Welcome to EBT Nation!

Gone are the days of food stamps and social embarrassment. Forget using taxpayer benefits for government cheese and day-old bread. When you’re “EBT’n’ ” (like the cool kids call it), you’re livin’ large!

Walk through Downtown Crossing, for example, and you’ll see signs at Tello’s for hip jeans, tops and lingerie. You’ll also see another sign: “We Accept EBT!”

Now nobody’s going to confuse Tello’s with Barney’s, but are Massachusetts workers really paying $400 million a year so folks on the dole can buy (to quote Tello’s catalog) “sexy chemises” and “designer denim?”

Apparently we have to. Otherwise, what are EBTistas going to wear on their next vacation to, say, Hawaii?

Yes, Hawaii! Channel 5 reports that “more than $2.3 million in Massachusetts welfare money” has been spent in locales outside the state in a three-month period, including Hawaii, Las Vegas, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

So grab your “free” SafeLink cellphone, hop in your government-subsidized Deval-mobile, grab a burger at one of the restaurants taking Electronic Benefit Transfer cards and head to the airport. The isles are waiting!

And if you’re short on walkin’ around money, no worries: The Patrick administration offers online “Tips On How To Use Your MA EBT Card To Get Cash Benefits.”

We have no way of knowing if that particular three-month period examined by Channel 5 was the norm because, as the station discovered, the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance has never

[corlorde]

Sickening.

[from occupied ga]

link come up with a header and no text for me

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Damn, I’m still working (stupid me) and I ain’t never been to Hawaii in my life.

[concerned about politics]

Obviously, it's time to put an end to social programs. The war on poverty didn't work. Time to go back to square one - tell them to get a friggen job of their own.

In a way, an economic collapse may be exactly what this country needs. If there's no money for welfare, these people would either find work or get their butts shot off during a robbery. Either way, it's their choice.

[camle]

there are restrictions on what EBT canbe used for, and they show up at the register, therefore they’re programmed in. just because a store accepts, doesn’t mean that the EBT can can beused on every item in the store. I know people who have EBT, and it isnt’ what it is being presented inthe article as.
there are enough problems with EBT without making more.

[Graybeard58]

My ex s-i-l, found it profitable to fly to Massachusetts from Arizona to apply for and receive unemployment checks, which were mailed to him in Arizona and later to Missouri.

He had never before even visited Massachusetts. I don’t know how he qualified for it but do know that he did. Are Massachusetts benefits that much better than Arizona or Missouri?

[Will88]

Does anyone know how much the monthly “allowance” on these cards would be, some range from the lowest to the highest dollar amount someone might receive?

[preamble]

Yes, Massachusetts has the highest weekly unemployment benefits

$600 or more per week.

[randita]

Then how do you explain the MA EBT money showing up in HI and other exotic locales? I doubt they’re traveling to these places to do their weekly grocery shopping. And if they can’t afford to buy food, how is it they can afford airfare to resort islands?

[Trinity5]

"I know people who have EBT"

Maybe this is part of the problem. I don't personally know anyone on public assistance. There was a time in America where the public aid was limited and shortterm. Now it's commonplace.

[concerned about politics]

"An on-going 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS investigation into Welfare Waste, led by reporter Mark Albert, examines how taxpayer money is being spent on public assistance programs.

Beginning in November 2010, our stories found a benefits bonanza that might leave you shaking your head: cigarettes, alcohol, lottery tickets - even tattoos - can be bought with your money. We found welfare cash can be used for all sorts of things never intended, from the Twin Cities to the U-S Virgin Islands. And it's all legal. After our reports, lawmakers demanded action and the state began to reform the system.

In May 2011, our investigation found millions of dollars are being spent on childcare that doesn't exist, for families and providers that don't qualify. At the same time, thousands of families are placed on a waiting list for childcare, told there isn't enough money left to help them."

[MrB]

There’s a church within walking distance of every one of these people.

Let them go there if they need some temporary assistance.

[Molon Labbie]

It’s a common experience with LE in the St. Louis area that if you lock someone up who has gubermint bennie card, there is one or more casino cards right behind it in their wallet or purse.

The people who are completely reliant on the fed for these “entitlements/reparations” are also very good at living on a shoe string, as well as supplementing their income through other means of fraud, tax evasion, petty dope dealing, theft, prostitution, etc.

This problem is multigenerational and the recipients have no intention in earning their keep.

They are going to be particularly outraged when the collapse comes and it all stops coming in. Then they get hungry, murderous and mobile.

[concerned about politics]

They are going to be particularly outraged when the collapse comes and it all stops coming in.

Yep. I think that's why gun sales are skyrocketing. People know the welfare dependents are going to start to steal for themselves once their politicians can't do it for them anymore.
I think people are preparing to defend themselves, their businesses, and their families. I think they're wise to do so.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

there are enough problems with EBT without making more.

If you bury your head in the sand, you do know what part you're leaving exposed?

[massgopguy]

Listeners to the Howie Carr Show call them “Aunt Zetuni Cards”.

[skeeter]

Obviously, it's time to put an end to social programs.

I can only imagine the frothing at the mouth, shrieking, kicking & scratching response were their free cell phones and beer money taken away.

Its gonna be quite a scene.

[WOBBLY BOB]

YOUTUBE HIT: SONG CELEBRATES WELFARE CARD!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2780751/posts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o64Fz-KW1Dk

[camle]

i explain it thus (mind you, I am NTO defenging MA EBT) - some relative pays them to come out and visit. they retaliate by buying the barbecue food.