well-temperedforum.groupee.net The Well-Tempered Forum Off Key The Disgrace known as Food Stamps aka SNAPPage 1 2
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Minor Deity |
What a holy **** show of a system... I spent all day delivering to seniors on SNAP. (a bit of a blessing as I have not been out of my house all day for 2 months now!) SNAP customers are not permitted to order online (a few weeks ago, there was change..they can order from Walmart or Amazon but no delivery). So my deliveries are to seniors at risk...many with walkers, living several floors up, have to come to see me in person..as SNAP purchases are required to be in person with a card. Some can barely walk, some send their aides down with their cards. The ideal would be if they could call in their order, with their number, we charge it and then deliver with no contact..but Nooooo Folks at risk with disabilities have to come to me and hand me a card AND type their PIN in on my iPad I then wipe down for the next client...All done in my car, stop by stop. I am so happy to meet my new clients..I will be seeing them every week going forward...But my org's philosophy is that if there is any obstacle, just give them the food... I gave away all but two deliveries today out of 16. People need fresh food to stay healthy...period. What an ass backward system..I am learning so much more as I work for my new org.. We were thrilled this week that NPR covered this issue.. SNAP Complications
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Minor Deity |
You are a saint! I suppose all that bureaucracy surrounding SNAP was put there in the name of preventing “fraud and abuse.” Safety and security measures become obstacles to helping people fast in an emergency.
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Minor Deity |
Those requirements need to be suspended at this time. The resulting fraud cannot begin to compare with the benefit nor the amount of money thrown to the wind by CARES. Seniors are going to need contactless groceries for at least a year. Even one resultant hospitalization could wipe out the savings from fraud prevention in any given town.
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| Minor Deity |
Looks like there is at least some movement on this for online ordering. https://www.cbpp.org/research/...-respond-to-covid-19
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Minor Deity |
I don't know how this might or might not apply to SNAP purchases, but I have another concern. The cost of food as ordered is at least 20% (often far more) online, besides which there's the tacked on delivery cost and the expectation of a heft tip. That makes online ordering quite a luxury and you can't even choose your produce and other special items. I LIKE to food shop, though of course I'm curtailing it these days plus exercising due caution. Apart from the recreational angle, however, I can't justify the expense. Doesn't this factor into anybody else's food budgeting calculations?
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| Minor Deity |
Nope. Money well spent.
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| Minor Deity |
“Not eating out” still saves more money than the added costs from higher grocery prices and delivery charges plus tips, I figure. 
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| Minor Deity |
Hadn't factored that in, but it is very true, especially in our case. I miss going out to eat, but we usually do lunches out. Less crowded, no alcohol same great food, no larger meals at night. No matter, summer's coming so dinner on the deck will do.
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| Minor Deity |
The new "online option" only applies to Walmart and Amazon here..not local farmers and markets where our SNAP customers get $40 of fresh produce for free (call Healthy Incentives Program aka HIP). Otherwise all SNAP/HIP transactions must be in person with their card, no phone orders. And the online ordering requires they pick it up. Most of the folks I visited had much difficulty coming to the door of their apartment buildings...There is no way they drive and taking the bus is just not a good option for them. 
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| Pinta & the Santa Maria Has Achieved Nirvana  |
Has it always been like this, or is this an "enhancement" that is fairly recent? This clearly seems like a situation that warrants one of two things--either a temporary lifting of the requirement to be in person, or removal altogether. The cure is worse than the illness in this case. My 2c! | |||
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| Minor Deity |
Nina, a recent "enhancement" in just the last few weeks. We had a meeting this morning with the agency who is overwhelmed themselves...It is apparent that the seniors, most not English speakers, do not understand the system (not their fault, the agency doesn't either so was unable to educate them). We have decided we are going to just give them the food and forgo the state reimbursement. We spend more money trying to get reimbursed. I will try again this week and see if it is doable for me alone, if not I have part of the route earmarked for someone else to do. I would not want to stop now that I have met everyone and it seems that they understand my Spanish.  I would rather spend my time chatting with them to check in..most live alone, one is 92 years old, than rangle card swiping, hot spots etc..in the street. If you are inclined to help offset the cost of $640/month for them, you can visit www.millcitygrows.org to donate to cover the costs. I am going to sew masks for each of the 16 clients..Just in my first visit to each, I am attached...they are so sweet and so vulnerable. I look forward to seeing them each Friday. 
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Has Achieved Nirvana |
BeeLady, I'm curious how the $640 is itemed according to costs. I do know that SNAP benefits are about 1/3 of that (and sometimes much less). | |||
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| Minor Deity |
Daniel, this figure is for all 16 clients for a month, not per person. We have a program in Mass called HIP (Healthy Incentives Program). SNAP users are given an additional $40 credit each month for the purchase of fresh produce from local producers. We are an urban farm that provides HIP qualified produce. $40 x 16 clients gets me to that figure...It is not necessarily our costs, but what we would have gotten from the state reimbursement. Note that if a person has no SNAP balance on their EBT card, they cannot take advantage of HIP. Most of the folks I visited this week, had little ($1 or less) or no balance left on their cards...I asked a few when their 'reup' date was...some were nearly a week later..Not sure what they were doing about getting food till then..most cannot drive or leave their homes. We have made the decision that fresh food is more important...period.
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| Minor Deity |
BeeLady: 
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| Minor Deity |
There is a special place in heaven for you.
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well-temperedforum.groupee.net The Well-Tempered Forum Off Key The Disgrace known as Food Stamps aka SNAP