Posted on 10/13/2013 12:37:42 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - A temporary increase in food stamps expires October 31, meaning for millions of Americans, the benefits that help put food on the table won't stretch as far as they have for the past four years.
Food stamps, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, go to 47 million Americans a month. Almost half of them children and teenagers.
The monthly benefits, which go to one in seven Americans, fluctuate based on factors including food prices, income and inflation.
Those could affect people right here in East Tennessee as 1.3 million Tennesseans receive food stamps at a cost of about $176 million every month. Money the state gets from the federal government.
Sevierville resident Michelle Bearden is a single mother to her 2 year old daughter.
Despite living with her sister and mother to help save mother, she still struggles making $8.25/hour as a full-time lifeguard at an indoor water park.
"Working 40 hours a week, and then trying to pay bills, trying to pay for a 2 year old and everything without government. I can't even make with the government for what they're paying me, much less take a cut," Bearden said.
Bearden is one of more than 400,000 East Tennesseans and millions of Americans relying on monthly food stamps that will see across the board cuts by the end of the month.
Bearden receives $195 each month, which would be reduced by 5 percent or $10 less from her monthly payout.
"Ten dollars does help, because I don't even have enough at the end of the month to gas. I used my last 20 dollars today to get gas and I don't get paid till next Friday," said Bearden.
Bearden says any reduction to her food stamps would take away the little money she has to pay for bills and other necessities.
"If it wasn't for the government, I would be stuck. So if they cut it, it will hurt me more," Bearden said.
The food stamp program is facing even more cuts.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted last month voted to cut $4 billion from the program each year, which doesn't give many options for someone like Michelle Bearden.
"It definitely worries me, because I don't have time to get a second job raising a 2 year old. There are so many hours in a day, so it does worry me quite a bit if I lose it all. I don't know what I'm going to do," Bearden said.
Tennessee's seven republican representatives voted in favor of more cuts to food stamps.
The program could face another shortfall if the government is shuttered past November 1.
I’m sure a lot of the people on food stamps would prefer not to be. There aren’t enough jobs to go around so many must stay on them.
That Hope and Change sure is working.
Right after Hurricane Katrina, when they would’ve REALLY come in handy, I was told in no uncertain terms by the bureaucrats that middle-aged white males are for paying for food stamps, not receiving them. F*** ‘em.
With all these suffering people out there, why do Liberals lock their Front doors?
Somehow, like a “temporary tax”, “temporary benefits” become permanent fixtures.
“Ay is INNN-titled” becomes an rallying cry.
But she can afford to have a photographer?
https://www.facebook.com/AshlynSocinskiPhotography
Michelle Bearden How much? What about mom/daughter(2 years old)
September 13 at 7:42pm via mobile
Michelle Bearden who can't do without her food stamps. Maybe she can get the sperm donor to pay for his child instead of asking strangers to pay for her food.
Rotten bastards.
It used to be true that moochers could get a job and that would take care of things, but these days, who's going to employ them? Companies are laying off rather than hiring people. (Thanks to the Usurper in Chief and his buddies and minions.)
The stimulus money has run out - in other words pay for play is now over. Obama’s supporters now have buyers remorse. Isn’t life grand when society starts to fall apart just because an elected moron of the personality cult has expended his capital and is in freefall. Obama demise is coming soon!
I hear there’s jobs picking grapes out in California if your Model T will get you there.
Hurry and send her some food, she’s starving!
The article says that Michelle Beardon is from Tennessee. Unless Tennessee has oceanfront property, what is a single mother on foodstamps doing travelling to Florida (?) on holiday?
I’m sure that’s a COMPLETELY different Michelle Bearden, since a person on food stamps wouldn’t have the extra money for a pricey photography session and wouldn’t want to splurge on one, anyhow, seeing as the taxpayers are feeding her and her child. Right?
You don’t know that that is Florida! Might be Mobile, Biloxi, Padre Island, Tahiti, Waikiki or Myrtle Beach!
True! That’s why I added the (?). But I figured it would somewhere on the “Redneck Riviera.” :)
our schools offer 3 meals all year long. Amazing....we had to work and feed our kids all their meals.
“Despite living with her sister and mother to help save mother...”
?????
Odd. That's precisely why I shop for fresh vegetables, fruits, name brand goods at 99-Cents Only stores.
There are stores like this all across the U.S. The Dollar Tree is similar but the ones I am familiar with have no fresh fruits and vegetables.
Isn't that just as good food stamps? Why not encourage free enterprise, Mr. President. Wot? Well of course not you.
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