Cashier Refuses to Accept EBT For Cigarettes, is Fired


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It's not your place (or mine) to say what other people do with their lives. You live yours and let them live theirs

THE HELL IT IS!!!!!!!! i do not want some worthless entitled piece of **** to use my tax money to buy themselves cigarettes or anything else that is not essential to their day to day life.

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I agree here. EBT should not be used to purchase 'luxury items'. In fact here in Washington (I just read the laws) it's actually illegal to do this.

So before saying that there are no laws against it, there actually are some state laws that prohibit their usage for such items.

Since when? I did my Wal Mart cashier stint after highschool in Washington and I distinctly remember people using the fast cash portion of their EBT to buy massive amounts of alcohyal and ciggs. It shocked me because their EBT money bought huge amounts of soda and junk food, and the fast cash money (supposed to be a type of disability pay) over 100 in fash cash towards alcohal and ciggs (2 cartons and 3 18 packs usually).

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wouldn't be able to in here in kentucky as it should be anyways

How are SNAP benefits used? rcb_trc.gif

Your household's SNAP benefits will be deposited into a SNAP benefit account each month. Your household will receive an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card and a Personal Identification Number (PIN) in the mail to use to access your food benefit account.

Sign the back of your EBT card right away. SNAP benefits can be used just like money to purchase almost any food item, except ready-to-eat hot foods. You may also use SNAP benefits to buy seeds and plants to grow fruits and vegetables. The following items cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits: tobacco, alcohol, pet food, soap and other household products, medicines, and other non-food items.

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wouldn't be able to in here in kentucky as it should be anyways

How are SNAP benefits used? rcb_trc.gif

Your household's SNAP benefits will be deposited into a SNAP benefit account each month. Your household will receive an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card and a Personal Identification Number (PIN) in the mail to use to access your food benefit account.

Sign the back of your EBT card right away. SNAP benefits can be used just like money to purchase almost any food item, except ready-to-eat hot foods. You may also use SNAP benefits to buy seeds and plants to grow fruits and vegetables. The following items cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits: tobacco, alcohol, pet food, soap and other household products, medicines, and other non-food items.

Any Canadians or UK Neowinians care to comment on if you can buy alcohol or ciggs on your equivelant programs?

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Any Canadians or UK Neowinians care to comment on if you can buy alcohol or ciggs on your equivelant programs?

In Quebec, Canada you can.

There's not such a thing as food stamps here. It's called Bien ?tre social (people call it simply BS) in french. People who doesn't work get a check every month from the gouv. It's of course a relatively small check but people can buy crap with it if they want. Most of those people live in what is called HLM or Habitation a loyer modique which is "state" sponsored apartment building at a lower cost (you don't want to live in those for long unless you' have really low standard of living).

It's surely different in Alberta.

Here and there people talk about preventing BS from buying **** but it's never really seriously considered simply because it would be hard and costly to enforce. A limit to the number of years you can be on BS (unless you have a disability) would be fine though.

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Some of you would rather knock down the few who don't use government money to your liking than fight the real source of corruption. Corporations, lobbyists, bankers and politicians scam the system with ease while most of you sit like ****** and do nothing but complain. Lets turn this to you: Why can't you fulfil your obligation as an American and fight for the constitution like you should?

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In Quebec, Canada you can.

There's not such a thing as food stamps here. It's called Bien ?tre social (people call it simply BS) in french. People who doesn't work get a check every month from the gouv. It's of course a relatively small check but people can buy crap with it if they want. Most of those people live in what is called HLM or Habitation a loyer modique which is "state" sponsored apartment building at a lower cost (you don't want to live in those for long unless you're a looser).

It's surely different in Alberta.

Is the program you describe akin to unemployment and does it have a cutoff? If so, what I am discussing is an extra supplemental you get on top of unemployment and on top of food stamps. SNAP is divided into EBT and Fast cash in my State and in most others.

Some of you would rather knock down the few who don't use government money to your liking than fight the real source of corruption. Corporations, lobbyists, bankers and politicians scam the system with ease while most of you sit like ****** and do nothing but complain.

As I said before, those are bigger and more pressing issues that do need fighting and need more attention than they get. That said, SNAP is a states issue and several states have fixed these problems already, while the other issues are primarily federal. Two different worlds focused on completly different problems.

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Since when? I did my Wal Mart cashier stint after highschool in Washington and I distinctly remember people using the fast cash portion of their EBT to buy massive amounts of alcohyal and ciggs. It shocked me because their EBT money bought huge amounts of soda and junk food, and the fast cash money (supposed to be a type of disability pay) over 100 in fash cash towards alcohal and ciggs (2 cartons and 3 18 packs usually).

For a very long time. Here's the actual applicable statement straight from the DSHS site in Washington State:

  1. What is the purpose of DSHS cash benefits?
    • DSHS cash assistance benefits are provided to low-income residents who qualify for public assistance programs. These benefits are intended to help pay for basic living expenses as described under RCW 74.04.770. TANF cash grants must be used for the sole benefit of the children, and we may require proof that you are using your TANF cash assistance to benefit your children as allowed under RCW 74.12.260.
    • Your electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card or cash assistance benefits may only be used by you, an eligible member of your household, or an authorized representative/protective payee for the purposes of your cash assistance program. You are not allowed to sell, attempt to sell, exchange, or donate your EBT card or benefits to any other person or entity.
    • You may use your cash benefits to pay a reasonable amount of basic living expenses such as:

i. Shelter;

ii. Utilities such as heating, telephone, water, sewer, garbage, and recycling;

iii. Food;

iv. Transportation;

v. Clothing;

vi. Household maintenance;

vii. Personal hygiene;

viii. Employment or school related items; and

ix. Other necessary incidentals and items.

  • It is not legal to use electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards or cash obtained with EBT cards to:

i. Gamble. Gambling includes:
  • The purchase of lottery tickets;
  • The purchase of pull tabs;
  • Use of punch boards;
  • Purchase of bingo cards;
  • Betting on horse racing;
  • Participating in casino games; and
  • Participating in other games of chance as found in chapters 9.46, 67.16 and 67.70 RCW.

ii. Participate in or purchase any activities located in a tattoo, body piercing, or body art shop licensed under chapter 18.300 RCW;

iii. Purchase cigarettes as defined in RCW 82.24.010 or tobacco products as defined in RCW 82.26.010;

iv. Purchase any alcoholic items regulated under Title 66 RCW;

v. Purchase or participate in any activities in any of the following locations:
  • Taverns licensed under RCW 66.24.330;
  • Beer/wine specialty stores licensed under RCW 66.24.371;
  • Nightclubs licensed under RCW 66.24.600;
  • Contract liquor stores defined under RCW 66.04.010;
  • Bail bond agencies regulated under chapter 18.185 RCW;
  • Gambling establishments licensed under chapter 9.46 RCW;
  • Adult entertainment venues with performances that contain erotic material where minors under the age of eighteen are prohibited under RCW 9.68A.150;
  • Any establishments where persons under the age of eighteen are not permitted.

  • If you use your electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card or cash obtained from your EBT card illegally we may:

i. Assign a protective payee to manage your cash assistance benefits under WAC 388-460-0035;

ii. For households receiving TANF, require proof that your benefits are being used for the benefit of the children in the household;

iii. Terminate your cash benefits; or

iv. Pursue legal action, including criminal prosecution.

[/Quote]

The EBT for food benefits is even more restrictive. I'm 31, and it has been this way for as long as I can recall.

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For a very long time. Here's the actual applicable statement straight from the DSHS site in Washington State:

[/indent][/indent]

Wow, it must have zero enforcement then as I have seen it so many many times and been ordered by management to accept it. Thanks for the information, I will certainly provide like minded friends with those RCW codes so they can take their fight past management.

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Wow, it must have zero enforcement then as I have seen it so many many times and been ordered by management to accept it. Thanks for the information, I will certainly provide like minded friends with those RCW codes so they can take their fight past management.

Indeed. If management fires them, then management is itself committing a crime. So honestly arm them with this info and this way they can help clean up the benefits system so that the max benefits reach those who most need it. :)

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Is the program you describe akin to unemployment and does it have a cutoff? If so, what I am discussing is an extra supplemental you get on top of unemployment and on top of food stamps. SNAP is divided into EBT and Fast cash in my State and in most others.

As far as i can tell there's no extra over "unemployment check" here. Not sure what you meant by having a cutoff ... If you doesn't work you get a check and that's it. Like i said you can apply for a low cost app but from what i know there's a waiting list and it's hard to get a place.

Of course health care is free for everyone and school under university doesn't cost much.

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As far as i can tell there's no extra over "unemployment check" here. Not sure what you meant by having a cutoff ... If you doesn't work you get a check and that's it. Like i said you can apply for a low cost app but from what i know there's a waiting list and it's hard to get a place.

Of course health care is free for everyone and school under university doesn't cost much.

That makes more sense, What I mean by cutoff is can it be used infinitly? Say I was canadian and just decided not to work anymore, could I do that, or after a few years if I wasnt disabled and just turning down jobs could I be cut off?

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ii. Participate in or purchase any activities located in a tattoo, body piercing, or body art shop licensed under chapter 18.300 RCW;

  • Adult entertainment venues with performances that contain erotic material where minors under the age of eighteen are prohibited under RCW 9.68A.150

no new tats or lap dances on the states dime :huh: was there really a fool that would try it ?

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All this outrage about "your tax payer money being used wrong" on people buying cigs, yet you guys say nothing about the other millions of ways it is used wrong. Sheesh, priorities are ****ed by so many.

its gotta start somewhere. and if there are already states doing this... why not all of them? why should someone in NH be able to buy this crap with benefits while people in NY cant? I agree tax payer money is spent rampant on tons of useless things but when I know there are hardworking people out there who dont "qualify" for these benefits are barely paying their bills. yet these low lifes who are doing nothing to better themselves can have their "vices" while others are just scraping by. I dont pretend to know all the ins and out because I am fortunate to have a job and can support my own "vices". but when government leechs are living better than the working class average joe.. I have a problem with it

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That makes more sense, What I mean by cutoff is can it be used infinitly? Say I was canadian and just decided not to work anymore, could I do that, or after a few years if I wasnt disabled and just turning down jobs could I be cut off?

You can use it infinitly. They will bother you to go back to work but that's all. Not sure why you would want to use this for more than a few months though.

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You can use it infinitly. They will bother you to go back to work but that's all. Not sure why you would want to use this for more than a few months though.

Out of curisoity, how much per month in CAD is it?

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being that in the region she lived in it was an allowed transaction i can see where she would not be allowed to refuse the purchase as an employee however, as a person i am glad she attempted to refuse it.

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You can use it infinitly. They will bother you to go back to work but that's all. Not sure why you would want to use this for more than a few months though.

Same in the UK

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being that in the region she lived in it was an allowed transaction i can see where she would not be allowed to refuse the purchase as an employee however, as a person i am glad she attempted to refuse it.

THIS! follow the law, but strive to change it through proper means.

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Out of curisoity, how much per month in CAD is it?

It's 589$ every month if you are single and can work.

It's 896$ every month if you are single and can't work (need to be backed by a doctor but there's way to cheat the system i think sadly).

You can get more if you have kids but it's via another program i think.

I actually did not know how it was as i never actually knew someone on the BS. I had to check on google lol.

http://www.mess.gouv.qc.ca/solidarite-sociale/programmes-mesures/assistance-emploi/prestation-de-base_en.asp

http://www.mess.gouv...tations_en.html

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It's 589$ every month if you are single and can work.

It's 896$ every month if you are single and can't work (need to be backed by a doctor but there's way to cheat the system i think sadly).

You can get more if you have kids but it's via another program i think.

I actually did not know how it was as i never actually knew someone on the BS. I had to check on google lol.

http://www.mess.gouv...tations_en.html

Sounds just uncomfortable to force you back to work, I could back a program like this in the states. The problem here is if you know how to work the system you can get free rent, fast cash, food stamps, free utilities, and free phone service. This comes to about 1500 plus in assistance if you were to go buy a strictly cash calue of the equivelant paid.

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It is upsetting when people talk about "their" tax money like the taxes they pay go to specific people. Maybe "your" tax dollars went to a farmer that just received a subsidy. Maybe "your" tax money went to a congressman that missed his last two votes in senate. Maybe "your" tax money went to fix the highway that you travel to visit your family that lives out of town or the policeman that investigated the murder on the other side of town. I say all this because I am not upset how my tax money is used instead I use my vote to try and change the influences in my community-city-state-country. Our few dollars are minute in the scheme of things. Look at the million/billion dollar businesses that received tax dollars. Is it better that they were not "bottom" feeders? The just fed on those on the bottom. Not trying to change any opinions just trying to broaden some thinking.

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