Hawaii Senator urges more citizens to apply for food stamps (Hilo: low income, sale)

[smarino]

Interesting article in today's Tribune Herald in Hilo

Legislation urges more to use food stamps | Hawaii Tribune-Herald

And even more interesting (read bizarre) comments on the article. The article makes the point that while many people in Hawaii live at a poverty level that enables them to get food stamps, many don't. The comments are pretty Republican for Hawaii, urging those that are eligible to get a job. I wonder why there's so little understanding of the situation?

The food stamp monies have been allocated for each state in Washington D.C. They don't roll over to another year to my knowledge, so why NOT get them if the money is already allocated, and if someone is eligible? As the newspaper article says, it's a considerable sum, well over $240 million dollars worth. That money goes right into the state economy, bolstering the profits of grocers and food growers, allowing them to retain their workers at their wage point so they spend their monies in the community, the state taxes the wages, and it trickles down to every corner of the state economy.

We live temporarily in Florida, and the comments on the Hilo paper are something I used to see every day when we lived in Volusia county, a much more Republican place than where we are now in St Pete. Namely, if you apply for food stamps you're a bum and sponging off the government. In Florida, the state government has thrown away hundreds of millions of dollars (again, these dollars were allocated specifically for one purpose and could not be used for anything else) refusing to sign onto the Affordable Health Care Act, basically for spite. The usual Republican lies are that this would be a government "handout", and it's bizarre to see these sort of comments in the Hilo paper regarding food stamps.

The disturbing thing is that the right wing people and businesses that have this skewed perspective are sitting there w/ their hands out for other government assistance monies for their own businesses. Somehow in their minds, it's OK to be a big deal business owner and take every bit of government help that you can get, yet let a poor individual do it for something so basic as food and they're all in an uproar about sponging off the taxpayers. I don't like it, and truly wonder if people are so dense that that they can't grasp the facts even when they're right in front of them. Are ideologies that powerful? If so, better to not have any, and think for one's own self. Jeez, if the money is there and can't be spent for anything else, ESPECIALLY if someone is not undercutting someone else due to too much demand (something that is not happening w/ Hawaii food stamps), it seems stupid not to apply for them and receive them.

[ccjarider]

Where does one begin when thinking about how to respond to this????

1. The $ is not there. US Gov't is in debt. Why encourage more spending?

2. Gov't should not be in the business of encouraging people to "use more gov't." If people aren't using the program, the questions should be - Why does program exist? Better debate topic is - how much less $ should be allocated in coming years to what is obviously an overblown problem?

3. Encouraging use of gov't handouts just gets more people in the mindset of looking for gov't handouts. It does not make for a strong society. IN some states there are generations of people who have never lived without some form of gov't handout. It's a shame as they probably lost out on many opportunities to grow and experience success because they never tried.

[whtviper1]

What's really shocking in Hawaii is about 325,000 people are in Medicaid in Hawaii so about 1 in 4 people. That's a lot of people with a ridiculously low income.

About 1/2 aren't getting food stamps. Astonishing since they are entitled to it and doesn't cost Hawaii anything with a spin that if everyone eligible grabbed that $300/month it would be put back in the Hawaii economy and in theory people might get healthier/eat better (for those who want the cliff notes version).

[Koale]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

What's really shocking in Hawaii is about 325,000 people are in Medicaid in Hawaii so about 1 in 4 people. That's a lot of people with a ridiculously low income.

About 1/2 aren't getting food stamps. Astonishing since they are entitled to it and doesn't cost Hawaii anything with a spin that if everyone eligible grabbed that $300/month it would be put back in the Hawaii economy and in theory people might get healthier/eat better (for those who want the cliff notes version).

I just gotta say that it's really not that so many people have ridiculously low incomes, it's the cost of living that makes it seem that way. I don't feel that a $27.00 hr position is that low, really, and when you have at least 2 people, in most homes, working at that pay level you have a rather decent income. But, let's just start w/the cost of Electric on Maui...wow...you're looking at least $300.00 a month, unless you enjoy the drip drip drip of sweat down your back you're going to use your AC. Now add the outrageous cost of gasoline, food etc. Yeah, it just seems that so many people have low incomes. Rent is another issue, totally.
Money doesn't go far on Maui. It's going to be interesting to see how all the folks that will be affected by the Kaizer takeover at MMMC adjust.
Koale

[hotzcatz]

Most folks don't make $27 per hour, they're more around the $12- $16 per hour range. Folks working at MMMC are the more high paid employees. Bus drivers, servers, hotel workers, cashiers, etc., are all in the $10 to $16 per hour group. Which isn't enough to live a standard lifestyle as a single person. Mostly because of rents, but the high costs of everything else doesn't help.

Here's a snippet from the SNAP website which says who qualifies:

******************************************
General Program Requirements
For this benefit program, you must be a resident of the state of Hawaii and fall into one of two groups: (1) those with a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $2,001, or (2) those with a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $3,001 who share their household with a person or persons age 60 and over, or with a person with a disability (a child, your spouse, a parent, or yourself).

In order to qualify, you must have an annual household income (before taxes) that is below the following amounts:
Household Size* Maximum Income Level (Per Year)
1 $17,615
2 $23,829
3 $30,043
4 $36,257
5 $42,471
6 $48,685
7 $54,899
8 $61,113
*********************************************

There was additional data about what to do if your household was over 8 people, but a short snippet is enough for now.

A full time job at $8.50 per hour would put someone over the maximum income allowed so they'd not get SNAP. Dunno how a single person could live on that amount, though. That would be $1,475 per month. Hmm, rent a room in a house somewhere? Although then they aren't really a 'single' person anymore and does renting a room in a house then become part of 'household' income? Well, figure $800 for rent? $120 for utilities (cell phone and bus pass) and that leaves $550 for everything else. $137.50 a week for groceries, sundries, entertainment, etc. Can't eat much healthy food on that amount. One hopes they get a small kitchen in their rental so they can prepare food.

Well, if the person got $8.46 per hour instead of $8.50, that would put them just barely below the maximum amount they are allowed to earn per year and then they'd get the additional $300 per month in SNAP. I can just see someone trying to tell their employer that they don't want a raise to $8.50 per hour, they just want $8.46 per hour.

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by Koale

I just gotta say that it's really not that so many people have ridiculously low incomes, it's the cost of living that makes it seem that way. I don't feel that a $27.00 hr position is that low, really, and when you have at least 2 people, in most homes, working at that pay level you have a rather decent income.
Koale

A family of 2 to qualify for Medicaid combined makes $11.50/hr (about $5.75 each) or less assuming a 2,080 hour work year.

[Vaedrem]

The SNAP program can also take into account if almost all of your income is going towards rent/utilities when deciding if you're eligible. As for the article, absolutely, SNAP can help people eat healthier (thus potentially reducing state healthcare costs) and boost the local economy. The Hilo farmers market (among others on the island) accepts food stamps, thus it also acts as a much needed subsidy for local farmers.

The comments sections, sadly, are the same everywhere (filled with nasty people looking to rant/vent their hatred for fellow human beings) they probably don't even live in Hawaii.

[hotzcatz]

I'm thinking it's not really hatred but jealousy. Most folks have to work hard to pay for rent and food and yet they don't get SNAP. Considering the size of the US economy and the amount of it that's spent on military, it wouldn't take much less to spend - maybe 1% - 5% - less on military and give everyone a basic stipend. Then there'd be an across the board basic amount for everyone. Other than spending less on military, the tax on robot produced goods could be increased.

The other thing is the way the taxation system is set up. The more money the government gives out to the people, the more money they spend and the more taxes they pay. The government gets taxes on raw goods, sale of goods, services, etc., etc. If they could keep folks spending money on U.S. made goods, that would be even more taxes for the government to collect. I'm not sure what the percentage difference is between what would be given out versus what would be recouped.