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Economy

Amazon to Begin Accepting Food Stamps

2017-01-17

[Breitbart] Internet-based retail giant Amazon is among the seven online food retailers that will soon start accepting food stamps, as part of a pilot program instituted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The two-year program, set to launch this summer, will test online ordering and payment methods.

The USDA, which oversees the $74 billion food stamp program, also known as SNAP or the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, says it plans to expand the online program nationwide and eventually add more retailers.

Participating retailers include Safeway, ShopRite, Hy-Vee, Hart’s Local Grocers, and Dash’s Market, and will serve food stamps recipients in seven states: Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington, Iowa, and Oregon.

However, Amazon is by far the largest online food distributor participating in the federal government’s new program.

"Amazon is excited to participate in the USDA SNAP online purchasing pilot," the Seattle, Washington-based company said in a press release. "We are committed to making food accessible through online grocery shopping, offering all customers the lowest prices possible."

Posted by:Besoeker

#6 Deacon, you have hit upon the real issue. This isn't a bad thing at its core, BUT, it is a wide open door to graft and corruption on another epic scale.

This can help some people that are in dire straits like your youngest brother but the slugs and slime will rapidly get on board the gravy train.

Been there done that with a similar gov't program. It took about a month before the cheat sheets were showing up in the hood.

Posted by: AlanC 2017-01-17 15:41

#5 My youngest brother is nearly immobile and can no longer drive. This is very helpful to him.

Posted by: Deacon Blues 2017-01-17 12:08

#4 You can order food - real, basic food - through Amazon, and they deliver. Actually could be quite helpful to people without transportation or with mobility problems. Not saying that's how they would be used, but ... is it any worse than the food stamp 'laundering' that goes on in poor neighborhood convenience stores now? But with cheaper food?

Posted by: Glenmore 2017-01-17 09:30

#3 Consider it another US dole currency laundering scheme. Amazon wants to capture some of the Paypal instant banking business.

Buy with FS, then cancel for online credit or cash refund. Amazon accounts receivable can sit on the interest bearing FS transaction until the G. reconciles.

Posted by: Skidmark 2017-01-17 08:17

#2 When I figure it out I'll tell you Bobby, but, I find this disturbing as well.

Could it be that using Amazon implies a stable address and significant IT infrastructure that most users of food stamps shouldn't have?

Posted by: AlanC 2017-01-17 08:01

#1 Why do I find this disturbing?

Posted by: Bobby 2017-01-17 07:31

00:00