Food Stamps and real estate

Yes, but was the bag real or a knock-off?

oh who knows if it was a knock-off. Even if it was, this woman was not poor. You can just tell by looking at their whole look and what food they are buying. This was a scam plain and simple. What I want to knwo is how she's getting away with it!!

She's getting away with it by lying, presumably. Next time, look at the name on the credit card. Then, stick the "Shame, shame, shame" news crew onto her. And report her to the food stamp admin.

See, nice & simple.

don't worry robot. undoubtedly she has all of her worldly goods listed on e-bay and is anticipating a fantastic number of "buy it now" offers to come in from the more solvent, who are so abundant these days. in the meantime she might as well use her possessions.

the make-up she likely can't sell. so she'll be tarted up until she runs out.

btw, was she buying shrimp? and you haven't encountered this since your last such post? that to me would indicate that you have had a couple of encounters, not uncovered an epidemic. do you want to know something? plenty of people used to have money who no longer do.

I know her. Don't confront her--you're asking for trouble.

rlm, did she hit you with the handbag?

LOL, spill the beans rlm.

you're completely missing the point. finally, clear evidence that shows once and for all that obama is a commie muslim.

Ok, I just saw this happen again in front of my eyes at the local supermarket on the UES. 50-ish white woman wearing Louis Vitton Bag,

This reminds me of that bad documentary a few months back.. in the hair salon

Okay, since you asked, she regularly comes to my place of business. Though there was no actual confrontation and no handbags being thrown, she did tell me to f- myself. She lives in an apartment paid for by her aging parents--who live as far away from her as possible (but still in the continental U.S.)--and resents that her Medicaid and other benefits won't cover certain purchases she wants. But I'm glad to hear she's getting her shrimp.

That's great. Why did whe tell you to f- yourself? Because you asked about the food stamps, or just general malcontentment?

Why not? If you don't get everything you want exactly when you want it, aren't you entitled to hurl profanities at others?

I'm just curious, why do you guys think the foodstamp lady is rich? Because she is white? If she was black or spanish, would this thread even be on Streeteasy?

alpie, really, no need for such discourse here.

rlmnyc, that bitch, eating is too good for her. but, on the other hand, as to the shrimp, it is indeed fabulous that she is getting some. an excellent source of protein is good fuel for feelings of self-entitlement.

I, for one, don't think the food stamp lady is rich. However, I've encountered on numerous occasions throughout my career in social services mentally ill or dually diagnosed adults who can "pass" as relatively mainstream on the street. They go to the same stores as you and me, they eat at the same restaurants as you and me, they wear the same clothes as you and me. It's not until you engage them in more than the most superficial conversation that you realize that they can't truly function in society. These folks are often propped up financially by parents who have intentionally kept their frequently substantial assets out of their grown child's hands, but nevertheless ensure that they are taken care of in a comfortable manner.

yes, on a more serious note, it is important not to judge people by outward appearances. we have zero information other than robot's rant. indeed, she also very easily could have been buying groceries with a parent's food stamp card on their behalf, and paying the difference for their groceries herself.

but of course that wouldn't enter robot's thought process.

sorry, alpie, i take it back. go for it.

True, aboutready. But it's such fun to judge.

Bingo rlmnyc, i call them W5D, whacky white women with white dogs - look fine on a quick glance, tho completely ginger snaps. one local came into the d'ags on 1st/56th like a human tsunami prior to one of our many faux blizzards this winter - she was yelling at everyone to get out of her way and on the best of days the place is a tight fit. I stay the heck out of her way along with the other wj's i've id'ed over the years. And, no offense to the well adjusted with white dogs.

I've done stories on this in the past, and in fact, thanks to the Obamaization of our economy, have had several friends try to apply for food stamps (one of whom was sleeping on my own couch).

Let me tell you, it's nearly impossible to "game" the food stamp system in New York City.

First of all, you have to apply IN PERSON. Not by mail, not by phone, not online. And the process can take upwards of five to eight hours, mostly waiting in a dingy waiting room (the one we shot was on 14th Street). You need to lay out your entire life to the caseworker assigned to you, including cancelled rent/mortgage checks, rent invoices or mortgage statements, every utility bill, credit card bills, and all current bank statements. And of course, your driver's license and Social Security card (for running a credit and IRS check). A full criminal background check is also done.

My friend -- who had LOST HIS HOME (and was essentially HOMELESS) -- was neck-high in debt, and had virtually exhausted his savings -- was rejected.

Apparently, if you have more than -- get this -- $100 in the bank -- you are immediately disqualified.

Trust me, in New York City you have to be absolutely DIRT POOR to get food stamps.

So the next time a Puerto Rican woman uses food stamps, will we see a thread about it?

Watc out for he rich looking old ladies. They always steal the expensive sardines and then go full retard when caught.

Let's face it. NYCROBOT saw a white person using food stamps for the first time, couldnt contain his shock, so he started a thread bout it on SE.

come on....last year she was making $250k this year she's out of a job, her husband left her for a younger woman and you're complaining about food stamps...maybe she's dressing in what's left of her clothes that haven't been sold. Show some kindness.

The foodstamp lady wasn't Ruth Madoff by any chance?

NYCROBOT, rlmnyc is correct. A lot of "presentable" people are actually mentally/psychologically ill. They don't have to be dressed in trash bags or eat soap to manifest their condition.
And yes, if you, for no apparent reason, challenge them, they'll kick the shit out of you.

some of them are newly poor. and they are likely pissed. they might also own concealed weapons that they haven't yet pawned. I'd be careful how you look at these people robot. make surevyour disdain doesn't show.

This lady wasn't buying shrimp. That was several months ago in the same supermarket when I saw a well-dressed hispanic lady who couldn't speak a lick of English buy steak and shrimp on her food stamps card. Listen, you guys may be right, she may actually be mentally ill and on disability. Or she may be buying food for her elderly parents and putting the difference on her own credit card. I dont' know the truth here. I was just upset by the fact that I thought it was her food stamp card that she was using and she certainly didn't APPEAR to need food stamps given the fact that she dressed nicely, sounded normal when talking to the checkout girl and the fact that she had 5 or 6 credit cards in her wallet, as well as a full wad of cash.

I certainly hope it is very hard to get food stamps, though I highly doubt it is as hard as nycmatt thinks.

robot, i agree that it is unlikely to be quite as hard as matt says. although i suspect it is not a lovely experience in the slightest. and it is probably getting to be a little bit easier because of the total need, but not substantially yet.

and good on you for admitting that appearances can be just appearances.

we won't know the total statistical ramifications (in terms of poverty, overcrowding, hunger, etc.) of this downturn until long after the fact. the system can't measure real time a lot of what is happening.

NYCMatt, good to hear that they actually check on the foodstamps program. I think the maximum is $2-3K in assets, and I have no doubts some people abuse that by lying, but your friend is clearly above that.

"Watc out for he rich looking old ladies. They always steal the expensive sardines and then go full retard when caught."

Classic, w67th. However, everybody knows you never go full retard. (For those of you who think that's offensive, I'm sorry, I've watched Tropic Thunder, and it's now etched into my psyche forever. I apologize profusely, but Hollywood made me do it. And w67th.)

i don't know, nada. shirking personal culpability?

although blaming w67th seems like a decent personal policy directive.

Hey, anybody else out shop at this place downtown called Japanese Premium Beef? Insanely expensive meat, insanely delicious. I wonder what'd happen if I showed up with a knock-off Louis Vuitton, food stamps, and handy-wipes. You know, wipe the glass incessantly as I'm being helped to throw off any suspicion...

Why are you so concerned with what other shoppers are pulling out of their wallets? Can't you just skim the "Enquirer" like everybody else. You're like those people who feel entitled to run up on, and berate, people who park in the handicapped space; just because you can't see what their disability is. Meanwhile, the person may have a heart condition, etc., etc... I have actually had a subletter forge a letter in my name, in order to acquire a "Benefits" card. I did press charges on that individual. I did not deputize myself as a member of the fraud control unit. Mind your beeswax. None of us ever really knows the stranger's story.

AR, if I've learned anything in my life, it's that you can always say "I know it's wrong, but society made me do it". Why did I finance crap mortgages? Because on the one hand, I had shareholders. On the other hand, I had Barney Frank yelling in my ears to make homes affordable. I had to do it. What, my bonus? That was secondary. If I didn't do it, they would've brought in someone else, you know, someone irresponsible.

Truth be told, w67th fed me Jesus juice (personal culpability tossed off to 30 Rock on that one), and I can't control myself any longer.

nada, your shopping at such a venue is so oughts.

under your scenario you'd be fine. as long as you had a platinum or better card.

You know sunnD is not under the food stamp rules, right?

Couldn't help myself aboutready. It really did happen when I was 16 or 17 working as a stock boy. After that I was known as the 'i know nada' stock boy. Help yourself to our finest prepackaged deli meats and european canned tuna!

Crap AR, I'm missing out. Where are the upwardly mobile shopping now?

nada, our posts crossed. i'm still trying to distill the "truth be told, w67h fed me Jesus juice...' into something. anything.

w67th, if i do recall correctly, last time i saw him fed me wine.

Did he talk about making you "feel special" too?

nada, f'ng hilarious. no he picked up the tab when some of us weren't looking, sneaky bastard.

Yah, he don't play fair at all.

What you failed to realize was I paid with food stamps.

lol.

w67th, i do so love you. that was awesome.

SunnyD I'm concerned because it is my (and our) tax money that goes to pay for this shit! I actually care when I feel like I'm the only idiot being truthful and paying taxes and not stealing from the system.

Food stamps shouldn't exist: there should be food banks that you and pick up staple items. That way you can't blow your load on shrimp and steak.

Just an fyi I see people in Fairway on uws well dressed buying w foodstamps all the time very well dressed people who look like they dont need them and guess what alot of them work for the elderly folks at Hamilton house (low income building for elderly) these old folks dont do their own shopping many are ill physically and mentally so the social workers nurses people working for the building do the shopping for them I know because I knew one of the social workers so you dont realy know the situation just by who is doing the shopping

"there should be food banks that you and pick up staple items."

And where do you propose the food bank get the food from? A unicorn's ass?

robot, you are an idiot.

I can't believe robot is proposing a government sector solution -- food banks -- over a private sector solution -- efficient distribution of food through the highly efficient retail food distribution channel. I'm sure their head is exploding right now.

inonada: Wagyu? Really? We've all moved on to grass fed, grass finished, and local.

I hear you, SNs, some of that crap they served as wagyu in the US is real swill. Honestly, I'd just rather have McDonald's: at least I don't have to pretend I'm being served quallity. This stuff at JPB is some breed that is a hybrid between black angus and wagyu, American-grown on a 10-stage Japanese feed program, complete with a "roaming cows make better beef" ethos and an esoteric (to us Americans, anyways) Japanese service at the butcher shop that includes a lot of bowing and presentation with swipes of the arm. But quite frankly, that's all a side-show to the flavor & marbling.

That being said, I am happy to explore other options and compare. Where should I be looking, in your estimation, for the good stuff?

inonada, it might be a too gauche suggestion for you, but: there's a new butcher shop on Amsterdam & 87 (Shatzy the butcher). I tried them 3 times; so far so good.

Right, like it would be sooooo hard to set up food banks around the city for people on food stamps to visit. These places already exist at churches and neighborhood houses. Ok, you don't want food banks, how about severely restrict the items that can be purchased with food stamps? No more steak and shrimp, just the staples. No one should be eating high on the hog on the government's tab. Just enough so people don't starve and they don't get scurvy.

NYCrobot, so you think foodbanks could order, store and distribute fresh food for less than a supermarket chain? The infrastructure already exists, it would be insanely costly to duplicate. This is not to say abuse doesn't exist, but food stamps are not that easy to get if you're not pregnant or if you don't have children. It's a small price to pay for the great social goal of eliminating hunger and starvation.
If you really want to blow a gasket, read up on all the "contractors" who blew in the Green Zone after 2003; most of them young Republican, college-educated, sons of privilege, charging hundreds of thousands of dollars for non-existent "services", paid in cash straight from our Federal taxes. Now there's something to be mad about.

"If you really want to blow a gasket, read up on all the "contractors" who blew in the Green Zone after 2003; most of them young Republican, college-educated, sons of privilege, charging hundreds of thousands of dollars for non-existent "services", paid in cash straight from our Federal taxes. Now there's something to be mad about. " Totally agree with the corruption and fraud in all government. Lets, eliminate the federal income tax and starve the monstrosity of the government.

Julia, you're even more entertaining than NYCrobot. He merely proposed local goverments should duplicate the efforts of supermarket chains for a small amount of people, that was pretty ignorant of business reality. You think we shall eliminate fraud and corruption by getting rid of the Federal government. That's a breathtaking blast of dumbness, ignoring all of recorded human history. If anything, the American democratic model of checks and balances is still one of the most virtuous governments in existence, guaranteeing rights and opportunities for its citizens that are unmatched when you consider the diversity and dynamism of its population.

"You think we shall eliminate fraud and corruption by getting rid of the Federal government." Get rid of transfer payments NOT all government.

So you'll be happy paying for your own health care when you're 65?

AR.....ditto

what wit. what cogent analysis. what thoughtful reasoning. frankly, i'm astonished.

"-- $100 in the bank -- you are immediately disqualified. "

Matt,

I disagree. I know someone who has at least $50k in the bank, a lease in his name, lives alone & he gets food stamps. However, he is mentally ill. So, since this person & the white dog lady are mentally ill, maybe mental illness allows people to qualify for food stamps even though they have an apt & some $ in the bank.

"So you'll be happy paying for your own health care when you're 65?: about ready,,, I already answered this question. I will do it again. Yes, I don't want transfer payments from the government.. I would also like my medicare taxes paid back.

$50k in the bank, living in manhattan will last how long???

ms. lg, i only asked the question once. your answer was wanting in style (which i further comment was addressing), but that didn't really prevent me from discerning your intent.

thankfully what you want is quite different from what will happen. but keep writing to your representatives. as disney so beautifully promotes, dream DO come true. maybe even your anarchistic dreams have a chance. i doubt it, but knock yourself out with your anger toward those you deem unworthy of aid and support.

oh, and have you cancelled that health insurance policy yet?

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/applicant_recipients/eligibility.htm

Julia,

I said he has "at least" $50K in the bank (I think he has around $150K), but, since you asked, NYC supplements his rent as well, so he's OK. And, his social workers visit him weekly. But, that's OK, because otherwise he'd have to be institutionalized. At least he's no longer violent, he's very heavily medicated. He's living on his own & not hurting anyone & that's a good thing.

Society should and will help the 3 percent of dysfunctional people who are unable to provide for themselves. Aboutready and the rest of the capable people really should pay their own way. Why should other people be forced by violence to support anyone else? We are talking about transfer payments, not schools,military,roads,police,fireman,etcetcetc...

so if you can't afford private health care insurance when you're 65 or whatever your age of retirement is (and probably 90% of americans can't or would be destitute under such a scenario) you shouldn't receive treatment for cancer?

have you cancelled your policy yet? i resent that you received more money from your coverage than i've received for my daughter. risk really shouldn't be spread. you should pay for what you need from society, always with your own money and always exactly when you need it.

forced by violence? the irs sent a swat team in to collect your taxes?

"forced by violence?" Yes, if i don't pay my taxes the government will enter my house and drag me to jail. Is that force?

Good Morning julialg! :)

julialg, that's a lovely thought.

btw, how about your health insurance? i'm certain you wouldn't want anyone else to pay for benefits you might receive.

dwell, Good Morning! aboutready... I had and have PRIVATE insurance with a private insurance company that gladly makes a large profit.

just because it is private doesn't mean it isn't a redistribution of risk. some people pay more, some people pay less to ensure they get a benefit.

grandpa jake paid into social security for years, and was told he'd get money upon retirement assuming he lived long enough. uncle harry paid in but had a massive heart attack at 55 and sadly was never able to collect.

your thought process is faulty and self-serving, at best. if you had a young child who had cancer your benefits from your health insurance would make you an underwriting outlier. i.e., you got more than you were worth as a risk. just like some people in our society get more than YOU perceive them to be worth.

ok, julialg, here's an exercise for you. name a country/economic system/culture/government that you admire, and give the reasons. nothing theoretical, must have actually existed, but i'll give you all of history.

aboutread... Did you really go to Yale or is that just a running joke?"grandpa jake paid into social security for years, and was told he'd get money upon retirement assuming he lived long enough. uncle harry paid in but had a massive heart attack at 55 and sadly was never able to collect." This is public.. social security is broke and the young suffer at the hands of the old.. I had Private insurance.. private private private private,,,,,,

oh, and it would be nice if such a place could logistically be replicated today under circumstances similar to those we currently face.

Julialg: public or private, insurance relies on some people paying in, and not needing to be paid out. Private insurance cos. profit if and only if they manage their risk well and get more people paying in than payouts.

Public (once we run out of funny furriners buying our debt) - same thing.

public/private, insurance is insurance.

i don't care if you have private. you got more than you paid for. what would you think we should do if private health insurance ceased to exist in this country?

"the young suffer at the hands of the old." i think you should be required to personally show up at the homes of the elderly and tell them that they will no longer receive benefits. particularly those who rely on them for most of their income.

yes the system needs work, and yes congress blew the money that should have been kept safe for social security, but when you have represented to a group of people who had no reason at the time to not believe you that they would have enough money to live and eat and then you want to say SORRY, no can do, the young don't like it? that's just bitchy and self-entitled behavior. you paid but i'm going to keep the money for my kids?

indexing i have no problem with, taxing, increasing the age for receiving benefits (or receiving less if you start earlier, except in cases of disability).

yes i went to yale. at which community college did you learn such sophisticated concepts, or are you self-taught?

nyc10023 It is private, we all understand that some people use their fire insurance and some don't. We know the premiums are reflecting that fact.. You don't have to buy the insurance if yo don't like it. But it is private, nobody forces you by violence to buy the private insurance. Social security medicare and other government programs are by mandate and force.

"Social security medicare and other government programs are by mandate and force."

FICA taxes only labor income, so work towards earning eventually as little as possible from wages as a proportion of your total earnings. I'm aware it cannot be implemented overnight, but there's a whole mindset change that will be very positive for you.

Also the typical household can choose to be a one income household instead of a 2 income household. That move not only cuts the waste of FICA taxes by 2 but also avoids the high penalty that working wives face (given that housewives that don' pay into FICA do receive benefits, FICA payments of the working wife are a double waste). USA middle-class is populated mostly by wage slaves imho, the faster you learn how to avoid being one, the better. At the same time, you give the AARP what they deserve :-)

LG: Social Security, in its current incarnation, is broken. Because it wasn't set up properly, from an actuarial POV. I do see the injustice of paying taxes to support a gov't program you don't support. I too, pay taxes, for all sorts of gov't programs I don't like. But this is the tyranny of the majority. If you don't like the system, work to change it.

notadmin, i have no problems with your line of reasoning.

ms. lg, you do realize that our gov't represents the interests of a few hundred million people? have you come up with a system/culture/country that you can present as an exemplar yet?

i'm still waiting for the name of that community college.

"i'm still waiting for the name of that community college." I rather be governed by the first 2000 names in the Hartford phone book than the faculty at Yale. (paraphrasing WFB)

"If you don't like the system, work to change it. "

i believe that's a waste of time beyond supporting the peterson fundation for example. i wouldn't put too much time & energy there beyond spreading awareness in an efficient way. if you recognize that the elderly have the politicians by the b*lls, then, camouflage your earnings so that your interest are aligned with them.

www.pgpf.org
you can add them as a fan in facebook too to spread the word.

btw, thank you AR for not being against my line of reasoning.

"If you don't like the system, work to change it. "

What i mean by the futility of doing this, is that if democracy can represent each generation equally (including those not yet born) then we wouldn't have a ponzi scheme of this gigantic proportions. The same dynamics that make the ponzi possible explain why it might be a waste of time to "fight it" as suppose to adapt in a convenient way to it. It's falling apart as we speak anyway, making sure you protect yourself and even maybe make a little money out of the debacle is the way to go imho.

With part of the profits you can even send a "thank you" note to the AARP, as a disorderly collapse brings along more opportunities than an responsibly organized one.

notadmin, you're more than welcome. i totally concur that we are becoming a nation of wage slaves. what sad lives so many lead.

julia, i'm pretty sure your source wouldn't have made that grammatical mistake. my steel-trap memory reminds me that you're the one who brought up Yale.

you're not the sharpest knife in the drawer. what bemuses me is how willing you are to demonstrate that, repeatedly.

hey julia...i agree...you are so right... i went up to hartford and visited yale the other day...those profs are really stupid

"you're not the sharpest knife in the drawer."Platitudes and conformity... That is your style.

forced by violence...there's a militia calling out to you.

i went up to hartford and visited yale the other day...those profs are really stupid... Didn't say they were stupid. Did I ? But, they are socialists and collectivist and part of the establishment.

they moved yale from new haven to hartford? somehow i missed that in the alumni bulletin.

keep digging, julialg. you're doing fine.

Julialg, please take heart that some of us actually do understand the difference between private insurance (where you, of your own free will, pool your risks with those of others based on a personal cost-benefit analysis) and transfer payments. My favorite part is how income (!), which is our best proxy for productivity, is taxed right along with alcohol, tobacco and other vices. You are right on... there are services for which government is essential, but there are certainly better ways to achieve it. No sense arguing amid the vitriol spewed in this forum.

"forced by violence...there's a militia calling out to you." Great stereotype, julia. If you are against an oppressive soviet style government, you must be violent. Quite the opposite.

julialg, you're such a rebel. but your cause is yourself. you cloak your demands in terms intended to demonstrate self-reliance and individualism but which really show selfishness and self-entitlement. you'd like to take away benefits from people who have already paid for them.

where's your example of utopia, btw?

"you'd like to take away benefits from people who have already paid for them." No. They should get their money back. I believe in rational enlightened self-interest.. I am guilty of that.

rational enlightened self-interest. that's the funniest f'ng thing i've read so far this year.

anyone want to translate that? i have some ideas.

Snow21.Thanks... For me, it's worth the price if I could maybe influence some people.

Robot, surely you've seen the movie "Grey Gardens"? Divorcee gets house (or coop) she can't afford, is unemployable, cut out of parents' will........ You can be a former debutante with a nice accent and be poor.

Lowery: Um, that's not "Grey Gardens"

julialg, thankfully you'll not influence many if any. your kind always finds each other. i.e., snow. btw, snow, you do realize that with most private insurance policies you have no choice if you have a job? you can't opt out of your employer-sponsored coverage unless you can prove you have other coverage. you can choose another policy, but you can't choose to be uninsured. that of course is so that there are more people in the underwriting system so that coverage can be provided for unusual occurrences, such as a child developing cancer. people are so ignorant.

vitriol? i'm not the one interested in seeing the elderly starve.

unemployable? lol, "green gardens"? are you serious? everybody can be a maid, janitor, learn to be a cook, ... sure, they might not ready to make any physical effort cause that's beneath them. i fully support food stamps though.

but to say that somebody is not being supported by a husband nor by parents anymore, hence the need for the gov to step in and help is too much. one is unemployable when cannot perform any task, not when they don't want to perform it (that's called not participating in the labor force).

unemployable? lol, "green gardens"? are you serious? everybody can be a maid, janitor, learn to be a cook, ... sure, they might not ready to make any physical effort cause that's beneath them. i fully support food stamps though.

but to say that somebody is not being supported by a husband nor by parents anymore, hence the need for the gov to step in and help is too much. one is unemployable when cannot perform any task, not when they don't want to perform it (that's called not participating in the labor force).