Vehicle and Internet Expenses to be Included in Household Bills for EBT and foodstamps

When considering expenses for EBT, snap, food stamps, etc. Car insurance, car notes and internet bills need to be included in expenses for the household for a true estimate of the need. Four food stamps. When all bills are not taken into account, you do not get a true idea of the state of need of the family. For example, it might say on pay stubs that you and your partner make $1700 per month. However, after you’ve paid the car, note, the car insurance and the rent you’re only left with a $100, which doesn’t cover gas or groceries. Therefore, a new policy needs to be implemented that all bills are taken into account. When determining the need for food stamps.

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I don’t agree with taking the car note into consideration. I have a $180 car note. I chose an affordable car that fit into my budget. I don’t believe someone should be allowed to choose a car outside their budget and then compensate that expense with food stamps. The only way I would agree to this is if there was a standard exemption amount for each car payment.

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I 100% agree. You need a car to get to work. The bills associated with having that car should be included in the household expenses. Now I am not saying that someone should be able to get a car with a $700 car payment and the whole thing be considered BUT a portion should. I think the internet and phone bill should be included as well. Now a days you have to have at least a phone with data or the internet to apply for jobs. There are some places that won’t allow you to come in to their establishment to apply. So you have to be able to apply online. So the phone bill or internet or something like that should be allowed. Maybe there should be a certain amount that is automatically applied to “expenses” to take in to account for these things. I know there has to be some way to make it fair to everyone. Maybe a median amount for the area you live in. Some places cars and insurance are more expensive than others so it wouldnt be fair to have the amount the same for NYC as it is for a small town in South Carolina. But definitely some sort of amount should be included for vehicles and phones.

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So I live in Louisiana and everywhere you go, you cannot find a car note for less than 400 unless you have a used vehicle and someone is willing to work with you. Where I live we have no access to public transportation and we are required to work minimum 20hrs per week to qualify for foodstamps. Now me and my boyfriend are both full time but that is for all people, 20hrs minimum. You need a vehicle to get to work. Louisiana is also one of the most litigious states and full coverage car insurance is required on vehicles in which a car note is still active. You cant find insurance for one person cheaper than $150. All together I pay $623 for my note and insurance. I also didnt choose this vehicle. My mom forced my hand a bit and now I have a huge car expense on top of $900 rent when my paychecks are never higher that $250 and my boyfriend makes only $450. It should be included if it is a life expense for the health and wellbeing of you or your family; car note, insurance, house mortgage/rent, and utilities( including internet)

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Correct, here in Louisiana insurance ranges from $150 to $600 depending on the vehicle and the company…I will never believe the low rates commercials lol

I do not agree with this you do not need a brand new car. I have been driving an old vehicle with no car payment for over a decade. EBT should be banned in general. I have always had to work for everything and buy my own food. There is no reason that people cant do better themselves and work toward better careers. If you are on EBT and have a car payment then you need to make better choices.

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Not everyone is so blessed to not have a car payment. I originally drive a vehicle with no payment and because I was under 18 that vehicle broke and my family refused to help me fix it and my mom forced me into a car note. It wasnt my decision, the car is in her name but she wont pay for it because she bought her own new car, and you must have been also blessed enough to work and MAKE ENOUGH MONEY to support yourself. I have a minimum wage job as most jobs in my state pay less than 10 an hour unless you have a college degree and I live off terrible tips and my boyfriend just got a raise to make 12 an hour. We have a horrible situation and for you to assume people arent working hard enough is ignorant. I work 40+ hours a week and so does my boyfriend on top of that we do Shipt and Doordash and Spark deliveries and we still dont make enough for groceries because a damn gallon of milk and a bag of flour is 15 dollars. You dont have to utilize food stamps but you should never judge people based on their situation. And for my mom who had food stamps. I was in the hospital as a kid for 4months straight and my mom couldn’t work her normal job and we needed foodstamps because she is a single parent and my dad ditched. Im about to be in medical school as well so I think Im furthering my career just fine.

Food stamps should be higher for the disabled. They need healthy food and many cannot work.

I agree new cars would have car notes over $400, that’s why I did not buy a new car. If I were you I would sell the car because you cannot afford it. Find a used vehicle and take it to a mechanic prior to purchasing it and see what they think of it, if you feel used cars in your area are not trustworthy. Also consider going outside your area if that’s the case. I live in South Dakota, we don’t have high wages here either. I traveled 2 hours away to purchase a used vehicle.

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If the car is not in your name and it’s taking all your money, tell your mom to sell it or simply stop making the payments. It will not affect your credit. It also isn’t doing anything to improve your credit, btw. I know you probably don’t wanna do that to your mom so at least get her to try to sell it. But seriously, it’s not very wise to have such an expense and then not be able to eat, right? Get a used vehicle. Take it to a trusted mechanic to get it looked at before you buy it. That $50 charge is worth it. It’s not going to be as nice as the other car but you’ll have money at the end of the month. Stack your money and invest in yourself and your future. Best of luck!

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Its not in my name and I have no permission from the owner to sell

If it’s not in your name then you can simply stop paying for it.

No I cant because if I do that my mom takes the car and I have nothing and I cant afford another vehicle neither can my bf and we are really really struggling like the economic state of where I live is awful and with no car I cant work neither can he.

Sounds like crying to me. You have to seek better work. I didn’t always have a good paying job. Also, good for your family for not helping you fix the car you should have worked to get money to fix it yourself. Parents that coddle there kids are the problem. My father never coddled me told me to get jobs and work for what I have and I did. He was 100% correct. I worked low paying jobs for many years. I joined the trades and made a better life for myself. You cant go around crying about what you have to pay for. I paid my truck off and just decided to keep driving it. I have 275,000 miles you do not have to have a bunch of fancy crap. You also should rely on the government for everything. WELFARE AND EBT needs to stop. STOP BEING LAZY. Get a real job with a 401k not door dash that’s supplemental income. Sounds like maybe your really young and you just haven’t learned the life lesson yet. Not everything is going to be handed to you. Take a deep dive into your budget. I know what milk and flour cost I typically spend $200 a week on groceries WITH MY OWN MONEY!!!

I agree with Barbara. I would agree truly disabled should get Food stamps. The rest should not.

I was never coddled. I had jobs that paid $15 and hour and then we’d move or Id get sick again because I have lots of health issues. And not just oh I dont feel well I cant work wahwah. Litteraly unable to walk or eat for however long, being constantly sick and vomiting and being in and out of the hospital. Over here jobs wont pay yoi higher than 10 of you dont have a degree and Im litteraly in school. And how dare you speak down on others because you believe they arent trying? I had a uard life and I got tf over it but sometimes people domt get that opportunity. I work my ass off and so does my boyfriend, in full time college amd my full time job. And we still cant afford things. Everywhere has a sign up that they are hiring but they never are. You never hear back from these companies. Ive applied to 27 companies in the last 2 months and have either been rejected for an n interview or ignored. So tell me please where is the “better work” because Ive tried it all. Im not even in my 20’s yet and I have more work experience than the majority of my peers.