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Watch: Surviving on food stamps

by MEG COYLE / KING 5 News

KING5.com

Posted on October 6, 2010 at 8:20 PM

The poverty level in Washington state has jumped from nine percent in 2006 to 11 percent last year, and it's still climbing. So, when the food stamp system is abused, as the KING 5 Investigators learned, it does little to justify the need, especially in the face of more budget cuts.

This is the story of a man who relies on food stamps to survive.

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Comments: Displaying 1 - 7 of 7

fruitypants said on October 7, 2010 at 3:28 PM

If you can't afford to live on your own why did you have a child? That doesn't sound like great parenting, sounds like ignorance.

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tacwilster said on October 7, 2010 at 2:34 PM

One bad apple spoils the barrel.

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liveinthegorge said on October 7, 2010 at 1:18 PM

Working as a cashier in a grocery store sadly I saw way too much food stamp abuse. I do not know why they allow families that smoke to get food stamps.... the cigarettes for 2 adults costs more than food...... if they just stopped smoking they could buy their own food. Not to mention seeing a young seemingly healthy person pushing two cars to the register.... first one food and using food stamps... second cart booze and cigarettes and paying with cash. I have seen elderly women counting their pennies to buy a few groceries and the next person in line a teenager or 20ish buying a bag of chips and bottle of soda with food stamps. Testing for drug usage would certainly kick alot off...... I had to be drug tested to work.... why should those getting government handouts not have to be tested also?

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auntymel said on October 6, 2010 at 9:46 PM

My own family has been struggling on ande off for the past two years. Sometimes we are eligible for food stamps, sometimes we're not. It has been extremely difficult. My husband has been unemployed since Jan. 2009 when Kenworth laid everyone off. I work full time but do not make that much money and have felt grateful that my children have been able to, at least, get lunch at school. Unfortunately, there are way too many people who abuse the welfare system which in turn makes it all that much more difficult, for the ones who are sincerely trying, to get a little extra help when the need arises. It is very frustrating - for everyone. In the present economy, you can't even feel confident in the ability to find a better paying job, because they're not out there. My hat is off to the small family in this article. I hope the actions of those reprehensible abusers and cheaters of the system do not force them to lose out on the help they obviously need.

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mikelike01 said on October 6, 2010 at 9:39 PM

Another prime example of people taking advantage of the system. And another example of why we need to do drug testing on people who use the food stamp/welfare system. I think this guy is doing a great job and I hope he makes it. Its all the bad apples out there that are making the rest look like its all bad. I have had to use the system and never thought that I would have to. I sure am glad it was there for me when I needed it to be.

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eightwrong said on October 6, 2010 at 8:55 PM

where are all the trolls? Nothing to say about a guy who really needs food stamps and wants to turn his life around? Hope he makes it. He's a good dad.

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aleigha said on October 6, 2010 at 8:47 PM

My heart goes out to the man and his daughter in this article. He is a prime example of the hundreds maybe thousands of people that are doing the best they can with what they've got and are using the welfare system for the help that it is there for. Stay strong, its cold and hard out there sometimes but keep your chin up for your daughter and yourself!

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