So, are we hurting the right people yet when we starve children?
People may need to verify if their usual retailer will accept EBT payments. Meanwhile, February benefits went out early and March benefits will depend on what happens with the shutdown.
On edit, 6:00 PM Pacific, after reading the thread:
Regarding people spending all their February benefits now, of course that will happen. And many recipients empty their debit card as soon as it fills regularly, especially if the benefit is only part of their food budget. Then other income has to buy food later. In my experience, people with limited incomes are far better at budgeting than the rich, they have to be.
Food security programs are one of the most stabilizing economic stimulus programs ever, very evenly spreading the benefit where needed into fundamental local economic institutions everyone depends on and benefits from when thriving and profitable while simultaneously providing for societal welfare and security.
“SNAP helps about 38 million people in 19 million households put food on the table each month. Nearly half are children.”
The impact is already profound. What happens to the businesses who lost a large portion of their customers? Does everyone else have to pay more for food? Or do the disappear from the retail landscape if this does not end promptly? How many people will loos their jobs, or work reduced hours? How many more people will need food assistance by the time full impact is reached?