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The average monthly SNAP benefit per person in Illinois is $138/month, or $4.60 a day. You're not going to be living large on it. [http://www.fns.usda.gov/site

The average monthly SNAP benefit per person in Illinois is $138/month, or $4.60 a day. You're not going to be living large on it. [http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/pd/18SNAPavg$PP.pdf http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/pd/18SNAPavg$PP....]

Retric 12y ago
If you spend 4.60 per day on unprocessed food and a little meat you can get high quality food. But you need to cook it. Or you can basically starve on chips and soda. Now if your unemployed / underemployed and have free time foor cooking it's not unreasonable to shop at whole foods. Assuming you don't need to watch kids / elderly / or the disabled. Though transportation is often a major issue keeping people shopping at the corner store.
buttcoinslol 12y ago
There are 2,040,053 SNAP recipients in IL, at an average of $138 per month, total benefits equal $281,527,314. Per month. Even if only a quarter live in Chicago, that's still nearly $1 billion a year in SNAP benefits in Chicago alone.
- ceejayoz 12y ago
  And that's still $138/month/person, leaving the point that no one's living large on this sort of budget entirely intact.
- albedoa 12y ago
  That is so far from the point being made that I have to wonder if you are being honest with yourself in writing this comment.
  - buttcoinslol 12y ago
    I understood the point, I have been on SNAP before and I am aware that $138 isn't a whole lot of money for food. I was merely stating that there are at least $1 billion dollars of SNAP money per year in Chicago and Whole Foods is trying to get some of that money by being present. It is not the only reason, just one of many. Also, SNAP recipients pay for food with cash too, it's not like being on SNAP means you cannot spend other income on food.
- mentat 12y ago
  A point that one might be able to gather from this is that Whole Foods could be trying to capture some of that by being present where it is used.
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]
twoodfin 12y ago
The average SNAP recipient has other income to spend on food. The benefit is a supplement. Except at the maximum end, it's not intended to fully fund your food purchases. Those "live off the average SNAP benefit" publicity stunts are disingenuous.

Retric 12y ago

If you spend 4.60 per day on unprocessed food and a little meat you can get high quality food. But you need to cook it. Or you can basically starve on chips and soda. Now if your unemployed / underemployed and have free time foor cooking it's not unreasonable to shop at whole foods. Assuming you don't need to watch kids / elderly / or the disabled. Though transportation is often a major issue keeping people shopping at the corner store.

buttcoinslol 12y ago

There are 2,040,053 SNAP recipients in IL, at an average of $138 per month, total benefits equal $281,527,314. Per month. Even if only a quarter live in Chicago, that's still nearly $1 billion a year in SNAP benefits in Chicago alone.

ceejayoz 12y ago
And that's still $138/month/person, leaving the point that no one's living large on this sort of budget entirely intact.
albedoa 12y ago
That is so far from the point being made that I have to wonder if you are being honest with yourself in writing this comment.
- buttcoinslol 12y ago
  I understood the point, I have been on SNAP before and I am aware that $138 isn't a whole lot of money for food. I was merely stating that there are at least $1 billion dollars of SNAP money per year in Chicago and Whole Foods is trying to get some of that money by being present. It is not the only reason, just one of many. Also, SNAP recipients pay for food with cash too, it's not like being on SNAP means you cannot spend other income on food.
mentat 12y ago
A point that one might be able to gather from this is that Whole Foods could be trying to capture some of that by being present where it is used.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]

twoodfin 12y ago

The average SNAP recipient has other income to spend on food. The benefit is a supplement. Except at the maximum end, it's not intended to fully fund your food purchases. Those "live off the average SNAP benefit" publicity stunts are disingenuous.