Just had someone offer to pay for my food with EBT in exchange for cash

[Paradoxical]

I've never had anyone ask me for such a favor before and I'm not old or experienced. But I obliged because he seemed like a nice guy and I am not a particularly paranoid person.

But I'm still a little confused as to why someone would want to have such a transaction.

He kind of caught me off guard so I wasn't really thinking about intent. But my first thought after getting home is drugs. Am I right to make such an assumption?

He bought me 6 bucks worth of food and I gave him 5 dollars cash.

I'd kind of like to know what's up just in case someone else bothers me again.

[Starry Messenger]

1. Is it spring break again so soon?

Look son, who the fuck buys drugs for $5? Even if your tale is true, your putative parasitical poor person could barely buy smokes for that. Go to bed.

[Paradoxical]

5. Hence why I'm asking why someone would do such a thing.

You can't even by a gram of weed for that much.

[Starry Messenger]

10. Maybe he needed bus fare.

And if he used up all his food money what would he do about the munchies? :eyes:

[JVS]

29. Or toilet paper, or sticky tape, or one of the zillions of things people need that EBT doesn't buy.

[leftstreet]

2. Why didn't you just give him 5 bucks?

:shrug:

Why assume it was for drugs?

Maybe he wanted to buy his mother a birthday gift

[Paradoxical]

7. I guess with such a small amount of money it probably wasn't for drugs.

The whole event just kind of threw me off.

[leftstreet]

20. You ripped him off for a dollar

You got six bucks worth of food for five

Well, there are many lessons here for you to contemplate

:beer:

[Starry Messenger]

25. + $1

[Ghost in the Machine]

57. Most people who sell their stamps do so for 50cent on the dollar..

At least that's always been the case everywhere I've live.. in Fla, Ga & Tenn

The guy probably needed some smokes, or beer, or bus fare, or birthday card for a family member or any number of other things....

[auntsue]

3. EBT restrict what can be bought to certain food items

so he probably wanted cigaretts, alcohol, or maybe shampoo. I have a neighbor who get food from a food bank plus she has EBT. She often needs personal care items more than she needs food.

[Paradoxical]

15. Wait, so how does the government expect the poor to pay for non-food items?

I always thought food stamps could be used for most grocery items.

[aquart]

19. No. Food stamps are for FOOD.

They are to keep you from starving. The government doesn't care if you have toilet paper.

[Lucky 13]

61. Or diapers...

[Hannah Bell]

24. poor people can only eat food, no plates or napkins allowed.

[Paradoxical]

26. WTF? That's fucked up.

Now I don't feel that bad about breaking the law.

[Hannah Bell]

31. i wouldn't feel too bad either, especially for $6. personally i think

there should be an allowance for basic hygiene items: soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, kotex, diapers, shampoo, deodorant.

[aquart]

4. That was a wee bit o' fraud you participated in.

EBT is supposed to buy HIS food. He gave up six dollars in food money for five dollars cash. Not the intent of EBT.

With more and more pressure on and more and more need of the food stamp program, you probably don't want to give the defunders any ammunition. Or any reason to impose new restrictions.

So maybe you'll resist the next time you're asked.

[Paradoxical]

6. Yeah very quickly realizing that was definitely illegal.

But I'm super tired and stressed out. I wasn't really thinking about "why" other than to make sure I wasn't about to be mugged or something like that.

[aquart]

16. Happens every day. But now you know.

Now get some sleep and don't worry about it.

[Spider Jerusalem]

8. Drugs, booze, cigarettes

none of which can be paid for with EBT. Five bucks is enough for a pack of smokes or a six-pack of cheap beer. Or maybe he needed gas money or toilet paper and soap. EBT cards can't be used for any non-food items including items for personal hygiene or fuel. And things being what they are, as far as the unemployment situation generally, and with many prospective employers refusing to consider applicants who aren't already employed...I don't really see where this is a problem, honestly (unless you happen to be of the school of thought that says "OMG how dare someone on food stamps want to buy cigarettes/beer/etc!")

[Paradoxical]

11. I'm not particularly concerned with the poor wanting cigs or booze

Everybody needs something to give them a little comfort.

[kickysnana]

9. Do not do this again

It is illegal to use someone else's card even if they offer. Just say no. But if for some reason you cannot help yourself do not post what you did on a public forum.

[pengillian101]

12. So, what happened?

Hope everything is ok.

[Paradoxical]

13. Nothing happened. I gave him the cash and we both left.

[pengillian101]

18. Most likely, I'd do the same!

"Nothing happened. I gave him the cash and we both left."

[upi402]

14. Gonna unrec this -sorry man

Freeperville will juice the jeans over this one!

[JeffersonChick]

17. He probably needed gas

Obviously, don't know what his situation is. Maybe he got laid off, and the unemployment checks aren't enough. Here in AZ, while it's not too difficult to get food stamps, it's next to impossible to get "welfare" - cash assistance (unless you are on WIC). From what I understand, the most anyone could get in cash assistance around $100. For both cash assistance and food stamps, they give you an EBT card. If you only qualify for food stamps, obviously you won't be able to use it as a debit card for anything other than food.

So, imho, he may genuinely need the cash for gas, or phone bill.. who knows?

[LooseWilly]

21. EBT only buys food. Cash buys... anything. Your "someone" was just converting EBT to "liquid asset".

EBT benefits won't pay for the phone bill, or the gas bill (especially now with subsidies in the process of being eliminated)... or booze, hookers or cigarettes. Cash, however, will buy any of these things.

Likewise, Xe stock will not pay a phone bill, gas bill, or pay for booze, hookers or cigarettes... until the stock has been sold for cash.

You just bought EBT "food stock"s, allowing the seller to buy... other stuff.

When I drove a taxi in Oakland I regularly had people trying not only to pay for the taxi fare with food stamps... but to actually trade food stamps or "taxi vouchers for the disabled (scrip)" straight up for cash.

In the case of food stamps, since I would not be able to use them to buy booze or cigarettes... I marked up the price considerably (if the customer still wanted to pay the inflated price... I figured I was just being a Good Capitalist American— and I gouged them in their desperation).

In either case, I usually found that it was someone who had some sort of public assistance benefits and was having to get creative to make it through the month... or it was just a hustler who'd found something in his/her grandmother's drawer that they could turn into cash for... whatever shenanigans they were up to.

If the person you were dealing with "seemed like a nice guy" then there's every chance that some bill that needed to get paid was coming up on critical "shut-off" time, and he/she was having to get creative with "resources" in order to keep shit together.

Or, maybe he/she just really needed a $4 jug of Gallo wine...

Aren't we willing to give others a little leeway to make some judgements of their own as to what they need?...

:+

[madrchsod]

22. around here the market is 50-60% on the dollar

[Paradoxical]

23. He offered to pay for twice the amount of food.

I told him not to worry about it because I despise the idea of charging interest.

[Raksha]

56. That's the going rate in my neighborhood...

100% markup...$10 cash for $20 in food stamps. Don't even ask me how I know.

[Mojeoux]

27. Old story, same old snobby Haves.

Holding their noses at the tribulations of the Have-Nots. Big whoop. Oh yeah .........that's YOUR tax dollars. As Effing if.

[Paradoxical]

30. Fuck. I don't want to be a bourgeois douchebag.

:(

[JVS]

28. Chaching! You bought foodstamps at a discounted rate!

Here's what's up. Suppose I have an EBT card but I already have some inexpensive food at home for dinner and I don't have any cash. Since I already have food, what I'd really like to brighten up the weekend is a bottle of Northern Lights Canadian Whiskey (Retails at $7.99+ tax, for a total of less that $9). Since I have no cash, I offer to get you $10 worth of groceries for $9. I can take the cash and buy my whiskey. I couldn't before because foodstamps don't work for liquor.

[Hannah Bell]

33. yes, because a bottle of whiskey is first on the list of all foodstamp recipients.

as they are universally stinking drunks or college kids trying to get a buzz on.

a toothbrush & tube of toothpaste would be first on my list, however.

a bottle of whiskey wouldn't even place.

if i had a baby, diapers.

if i were still menstruating, kotex.

all those little items that make the difference between feeling like a stinking outcaste & a human being.

[JVS]

37. Having some drinks on the weekend is nice too and not some kind of heinous crime.

[Hannah Bell]

43. never said it was, but i doubt a bottle of whiskey is first choice for most food stamp

recipients, highest fraction of which are single mothers.

diapers, tampax, & personal sundries.

oh, & toilet paper.

[joshcryer]

51. I know a guy personally who got a flat screen TV after two months of EBT scamming.

He bragged about it for days.

They discontinued his benefits, though and now he's really feeling it (has 4 kids, 3 of which are full on autistic), wouldn't surprise me if that TV wound up in a pawn shop with how hard his dope habit is.

[LanternWaste]

62. I imagine we quite often project our own desires and guilts...

I imagine we quite often project our own desires, priorities and guilts onto the lives of others.

[Raine]

55. Yeah maybe the person wanted it for pet food

From what I've heard you can't use food stamps for cat and dog food. Maybe for comfort in a cold dreary world the person has a pet and likes be able to get it fed!

[boppers]

38. I find it interesting how different folks assume different objects/services are the reason.

On one side: Drugs, Alcohol, Cigarettes
On another side: Bus fare, toilet paper, shampoo, utility bills.

Making it more interesting is how few posters actually combine both possibilities.... maybe he wanted to buy a beer, *and* a card for his dying grandchild, or wanted to get a razor for a job interview *and* a joint.

[joshcryer]

40. Yeah, in my case it was gas and cigarettes, though sometimes a fast food meal.

Usually it's going to be vices though and I don't particularly have a problem with it.

[JCMach1]

32. I am going to be cynical, but beer, cigarettes, maybe even gas

I remember when food stamps used to be 'stamps', people would come into the store and make several tiny purchases with $1 food stamps. They would get regular change back.

Wait a few hours and they are back buying ____________, which is restricted.

[Hannah Bell]

35. toothpaste? tampax? shampoo?

[JCMach1]

42. Of course, begs the question why doesn't America give proper welfare payments?

Not much any more thanks to the Republican Party and the DLC.

Clinton and the Dems knew this would happen one day... long-term unemployment and a harsh economic downturn. Exactly why I was against welfare reform of the type proposed at the time it was passed.

Sigh...

Oh yeah, and let's thank NEWT while we are at it too!

[joshcryer]

39. This is what kids are for, back then you send 'em in to get friviolous items like soda or candy.

They get change back and the adults go make the change purchases. Plausible deniablity "my kid wanted a soda, and he gave me the change back" etc.

[Tunkamerica]

34. This seems fake. Not that it doesn't happen... just that you truly don't know

why someone would trade cash for a card swipe that can only buy food. Combined with the low post count and the fact that you felt you had to post it on an internet message board... seems fake.

[Paradoxical]

41. Combine 1 part tired college student and 1 part curiosity and confusion.

Like I said, I've never had someone make such an offer before. He seemed sincere and I try not to judge others because I have no idea what they are going through.

I asked this board because it's one of the few places left for liberal discussion. I can't ask about this on the motorcycle forums I belong to. It's full of right-wing douchebags.

[joshcryer]

44. Living in the ghetto I would get this offer about once a month.

These days not so much because everyone knows me, but at the peak I would get people offering a lot (white boy, don't know shit, etc). I never took them up on the offer because I didn't want to get busted, mainly. The cards make things a bit more difficult, carrying a card not assigned to you is proof all by itself that you are breaking the law. It is tempting, though, twice as much food for half the price (usually), but there are others out there who really need a 50% discount for food so I just let it slide, and imagine that those people are managing by better because that stupid white boy was too scared to take 'em up on the offer.

[Marengo]

66. You need to review the forum rules

"This seems fake. Not that it doesn't happen... just that you truly don't know why someone would trade cash for a card swipe that can only buy food. Combined with the low post count and the fact that you felt you had to post it on an internet message board... seems fake."

From the code of conduct: "Do not draw negative attention to the fact that someone is new, has a low post count, or recently became a member of Democratic Underground. Do not insinuate that because someone is new, they are a troll or disruptor.

Seems to me an apology may be in order?

[joshcryer]

36. When we were kids my parents would send us in to the store to buy small items to get change back.

Back then they didn't have EBT cards it was monopoly money that was used for food only. We'd buy a soda for 10 cents and get bad 90 cents change. They then took the money to buy gas for the car, and cigarettes (they didn't drink). Sometimes after we hit all the grocery stores in town they'd take us to Wendy's and we'd get the cheapest thing on the menu.

Yes, it was wrong. Yes, it was illegal and we could've been reported to DHS for it. But I didn't think anything of it as a kid (10-11 years old), I got a soda out of the deal, they were happy with their cigarettes (withdrawals were a bitch, lots of fighting, it was peaceful when they had their smokes).

My dad went to jail one time (when I was around 5) for giving food stamps to a guy for cash, the guy was an undercover police officer. I remember him being taken away but it wasn't until 10 years later that my mom told us what really happened. Fortunately back then the pleaing ignorance card worked and the judge was lenient, I don't even think he got a felony over it, but there was also a question of him being manipulated by the cop, since the cop offered to give him cash for foodstamps rather than him offering the cop foodstamps for cash.

[Oasis_]

46. Wrong imo

The taxpayers shouldn't subsidize a bottle of wine or whiskey or a lottery ticket or pack of smokes. The recipient obviously qualified for food assistance, and said assistance is what the tax payer dollars should be allocated towards---nothing else.

Oasis

[joshcryer]

47. Sure.

The tax payers should also respect my dads social security and VA benefits when he gets injured while serving and can't even stand up. No he wasn't faking it. Yes the VA fucking fucked him for life. There's a reason we have a shitload of homeless vets.

This, btw, was one of the hardest working people you could've ever known. Unbelievable worker mentality, which I inherited in my genes. He would've busted his ass for a paycheck if he could have. If anything my dad got screwed by the government because it never gave him full benefits and he died 'young' (64).

[boppers]

52. How about toilet paper?

If they're too poor to buy food, but they get money to eat food, should they just, I dunno, hold it in indefinitely, because food stamp money should only be used for food?

[joshcryer]

54. We used towels when the food stamp exchange money ran out.

When the towels were running low we'd take showers with cold water (because with a family of 6 the electric hot water heater would become empty quick) and wash that way.

[JI7]

45. if he bought you 6 dollars worth of food why did you give him 5 instead of 6 dollars cash ?

[Paradoxical]

49. I only had a couple fives.

He only wanted half of the cost of the food. Which was 3 dollars. But since I did not have that amount and I felt bad profiting from whatever the hell was going on, I gave him 5 and told him to forget about it.

[napi21]

48. A few weeks ago I would have thought this person was pulling a scam too, but

my neighbor was thrown out of her house by her boyfriend. She's not from around here and reall doesn't know anyone. She;s now sleeping in her car! She comes by here a few times a week and we've given her some food. She;s trying very hard to find a job and we;ve given her prmission to use our phone # & address because you can't get a job without those two things. Her mom, 1,000 miles away has sent her $100 which she used nostly for gas to drive to put in applications. She contacted the welfare office here i Ga. an they told her unless you have dependant kids, you get nothing. They put in the app for food subsidie but she hasn't heard anything yet.

I have no problem with someone trying to convert their EBT into cash. If life hasdealt you such a bad hand, you have to do what you can to survive.

[JI7]

50. there were kids in my school who offered me their Lunch Ticket for some Cash

the ticket would be less than if i were to buy that meal from the cafeteria with my cash.

[boppers]

53. Guilty of that, myself.

Back in the late 70's, if I didn't like what was on the menu, I went hungry and collected a bit of cash.

[ejpoeta]

58. yeah, if some stranger asks you to do that again.... don't do that.

they may be meaning to use it for gas, but it is illegal. No need to make assumptions about what they wanted that money for. Just say no. If they say it is for gas money, then you could give them a few bucks if you feel inclined and feel they are being honest, but don't trade cash for ebt cash.

[liberal N proud]

59. He most likely turned around and spent the money on beer or cigarettes

Can't buy those things on food stamps.

[eShirl]

68. *most* likely?? maybe he needed toilet paper, or gas money, or tampons or diapers

[elocs]

60. It's clearly illegal and it puts the person with the EBT card at risk for losing their benefits.

It doesn't matter if they are desperate for cigarettes or booze, gas or tp, it's illegal. This guy had no way of knowing if you were a social worker or someone else who would bust him for trying to get cash for his EBT funds. When people do that it gives a bad name to all of those who desperately need their EBT for food.

"He seemed like a nice guy". Maybe that's because he wanted something from you. Odds are he wouldn't get very far behaving like an asshole. People are not always what they appear to be (surprise, surprise).

[MineralMan]

63. Hmm....I believe that's a misdemeanor on your part.

You should turn yourself in.

[TBF]

64. Was he a public school teacher?

Just trying to keep up with the latest ...

[NoGOPZone]

65. Maybe it was James O'Keefe filming his latest sting. ;-) nt

[Morning Dew]

67. Coffee spew!

Thanks.
:rofl: