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FrodosPet

(5,169 posts) Wed Jun 27, 2012, 01:52 PM Jun 2012

Clerk loses job over stand

http://www.sentinelsource.com/news/local/clerk-loses-job-over-stand/article_87627ed5-5d4e-5ff0-a781-f14deb034771.html

PETERBOROUGH — Jackie R. Whiton of Antrim had been a six-year employee at the Big Apple convenience store in Peterborough until a single transaction sent her job up in smoke.

The store clerk was fired after she refused to take a customer’s Electronic Balance Transfer card to pay for cigarettes.

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EBT cards are used for both food and cash assistance programs. There are two types of cards: one can only be used for food. The other can be spent on anything and used just like a debit card.

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Seems to me, whether anybody likes his choice of what he legally spends his benefits on, the cash value is NOT restricted. Whether you want toilet paper and dish washing soap or a pack of smokes and a bottle of Absolut, nothing in the rules says you cannot, so bluenose teabagger grandma needs to do her job or make way for someone who will.

3 replies

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Clerk loses job over stand (Original Post) FrodosPet Jun 2012 OP

Now if it had been a young Woman Turbineguy Jun 2012 #1

I totally agree and kudos to Big Apple for doing the right thing. Unless, like you say, there are Booster Jun 2012 #2

This is the work I do Puzzledtraveller Jun 2012 #3

Turbineguy

(37,423 posts)

1. Now if it had been a young Woman

Reply to FrodosPet (Original post)

Wed Jun 27, 2012, 02:19 PM

Jun 2012

spending her own money on a Day After Pill, that would have been different.

Booster

(10,021 posts)

2. I totally agree and kudos to Big Apple for doing the right thing. Unless, like you say, there are

Reply to FrodosPet (Original post)

Wed Jun 27, 2012, 02:22 PM

Jun 2012

restrictions on what anyone can buy then this lady doesn't have a right to make that decision. When I gave money to a homeless person my best friend asked "how do you know they won't spend it on booze?" I told her it was a gift and they could with it as they please.

Puzzledtraveller

(5,937 posts)

3. This is the work I do

Reply to FrodosPet (Original post)

Wed Jun 27, 2012, 02:27 PM

Jun 2012

Each state has their own rules when it comes to cash payments on EBT, because those cash payments are usually part of TANF (welfare) and they are not governed by the SNAP rules which are federal, eventhough benefits can be accessed on on account and one card in some states. Additionally most systems that control SNAP benefits will not allow purchase of non food items, had the customer only had a EBT card for SNAP, the transaction would have denied anyway. Also, some states restrict certain items on the cash side of it, apparently there cigarettes are allowed. That is not the case in my state, but a clerk would not have to make that decision, they card would just decline the purchase.

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