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Tag Page EBTAbuse

#EBTAbuse
larsenjackie

The “Helper Fee” at the Self-Checkout

The first time I saw her was near the self-checkout machines. She looked young, maybe mid-20s, standing in that suspicious way—close enough to observe, far enough to pretend she was waiting. As I scanned my groceries, she whispered, “Need help? I can make your bill cheaper.” I thought she was selling some membership. Instead, she pulled out two SNAP cards and said, “You send me cash, I pay your total.” My $42 bill (chicken, milk, bread) was suddenly paid with her SNAP card, and she asked me to Cash App her $30. I knew it was wrong. But the instant savings? It hit the weak spot in me. Later, I heard the store caught seven similar “helpers” that month. Some say it’s survival. Some say it’s fraud. I can’t forget what she told me: “I don’t have a job. This card is the only way I can turn something into money.” #SNAPFraud #EBTAbuse #GroceryStories #PolicyChangedMyLife #LifeInAmerica

The “Helper Fee” at the Self-Checkout
Louis Hoover

I Watched a Corner Store Turn SNAP Benefits Into Cash — No Food, Just Money

I live in Queens, and there’s a tiny corner store near my apartment — the kind where the owner sees what you’re touching the moment you walk in. But it’s also the kind of store where SNAP fraud quietly happens every day. Last week, I was buying milk when the man in front of me said: “Swipe $120. Just give me $60.” The owner didn’t even look up. “Same deal as usual.” He swiped his EBT card, took no groceries, grabbed $60 cash, and walked right out. I stood there thinking: My paycheck gets taxed every two weeks without fail. Meanwhile, SNAP — meant to help families buy food — is being turned into a cash-exchange service. And the funniest part? This same store prices things so high that families who actually need help can’t afford to shop there. So who’s really being cheated? #SNAPFraud #WhereAreOurTaxesGoing #EBTAbuse #CommunityStories

I Watched a Corner Store Turn SNAP Benefits Into Cash — No Food, Just Money
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