Saturday, January 25, 2020
English Language Essays Language play in Literature
English Language Essays Language play in Literature What is the role of language play in literature? Language play, the use of words and language to create new and unusual meanings and correspondences, has long been used by authors to ensure that their words have an impact on readers. Poets, playwrights and novelists, both classic and contemporary, use language play to conjure the readers’ imagination without wordy descriptions or long explanations. Language play affords writers the opportunity to say more with less, evoking vivid imagery causing the reader to feel the action, rather than simply reading words on a page. â€Å"Literary language is different from everyday language because it draws attention to some property of the language itself, and highlights or foregrounds it. This foregrounding surprises the reader into a fresh perception and appreciation of the subject matter.†(Jeffries, 1996, p. 163) There are many different type of foregrounding used by authors, most of which are also considered to be types of language play. Out of the tradition of language play comes the phrase â€Å"to play on words†which usually refers to the most basic form of language play, punning. But this phrase can also be taken in this context to refer to other types of language play including: metaphors, similes, rhyme, alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia, and many other more technical forms of language play. Many authors use language play to create their own distinct style, not only setting their words and ideas apart, but also themselves as writers. These authors have used language play to break literary conventions and create their own literary trademarks. One of the most notable authors known to persistently use language play in their literature is William Shakespeare, who broke conventions of subject matter and language use far before his time. Shakespeare’s use of language play has ensured that his plays remain relevant to this day, while the works of his contemporaries often appear dated or irrelevant today. Shakespeare instilled timelessness in his works by using numerous language play conventions to create visual pictures for his readers and audiences. He mixed the use of poetry and prose in his plays to mark changes in the narrative, notably the movement from conversation to soliloquies. This use of language play is effective both when reading the texts and listening to the words aloud. As text the movement from prose to poetry has a distinctly different look on the page, just as the rhythm of speech changes when read aloud. In his poetry he often uses rhyme, alliteration (the repetition of consonants), assonance (the repetition of vowels) and onomatopoeia (words that sound like the things or actions they describe, such as, pop) to create a distinct, memorable rhythm within the text. This use of language play within the text also creates text which is notably easier for actors to recite and remember. But probably the most notable language play convention used by Shakespeare is punning, which he used to great effect both in his tragedies and comedies. â€Å"Shakespeare was a dedicated punster, not only for comic but also tragic purpose†¦. An example is Hamlet’s cry: Is thy union here? Hamlet, v. iii. 340) When he realises that his mother has drunk the wine laced with a poisoned pearl (a union) by the man she has joined in union or marriage, thus bringing about her union with death. Here a pun compresses meanings and emotions in a powerful and poignant manner. (Cook, 1996, p. 220–221). Shakespeare also used punning for comedic purposes in his comedies and romances. There are numerous examples of banter in Shakespeare’s comedies. These banters often not only serve a comedic purpose but also move to develop characters or shed insight on to the plot. In Twelfth Night the fool or clown character, Feste, appears by the end of the play to be the most intelligent and insightful character, and as a result he is loved and respected by all. FESTE                  Good madonna, why mournst thou? OLIVIA                Good Fool, for my brothers death. FESTE                  I think his soul is in hell, madonna. OLIVIA                I know his soul is in heaven, fool. FESTE                  The more fool, madonna, to mourn for your brothers soul,                               being in heaven. Take away the fool, gentlemen. (Shakespeare, Act. 1 Scene 5) In this passage Shakespeare uses word frequency to focus the readers attention on the role of Feste as the fool. The effect of word frequency is that as words are repeated they gain a greater effect upon the reader, (Graddol, et. al. 1994, p. 227-228). As the word fool is repeated throughout the passage, and throughout the play, it focuses the readers attention to the irony in that the one character that can see everything that is going on within the complicated play if Feste, the fool. At the beginning of scene five Olivia calls for Feste to be taken away because she does not understand what he is trying to say, he then proves himself to be more sound of mind then she, the true Shakespearean fool. â€Å"People’s understanding of texts not only depend on a general knowledge of the world, but also involve strategies of comprehension which are not peculiar to language (Graddol, et. al. 1994, p. 218). In this sense authors often depend on reader’s knowledge, assumptions and opinions to gain the reactions they desire from their readers. Thus, in Twelfth Night even though Feste is referred to as the fool the audience soon learns to listen to him for insight into the story. Just as Shakespeare uses language play to enrich his plays and ensure their timelessness, similarly, Gabriel Garcia Marquez infuses his works with evocations of the magical and surreal, while remaining within the classification of literary fiction, rather than crossing the boundary into science fiction, although many of his story-lines could easily be classified as science fiction or fantasy. Marquez uses unusual metaphors to create a unique world where, often, the past present and future coincide, yet Marquez presents his narratives in such a visual and powerful fashion, that they not do not appear strange. ‘Through the window he contemplated the sea grown drowsy in the ennui of four o’clock, and realised with a heavy heart the swallows had returned,’ (Marquez, 1995, p. 20). In this passage Marquez uses language play in a number of ways. Firstly he uses the reader’s assumptions of what certain words should mean and which other words they should be grouped with, these assumptions are referred to as schemas and frames (Graddol, et. al., 1994, p. 216-8). Furthermore he uses collocation (Jeffries, 1996, p. 169), which is linked to the idea of schemas and frames, using the idea of grouping unusual words to create an impact upon the reader. In his description of the â€Å"sea grown drowsy†Marquez uses the idea that most readers would see the sea as unruly and goes against that by describing it as drowsy, creating a sense of melancholy with only a few words. He also uses the readers understanding of the phrases â€Å"heavy heart†and â€Å"swallows returning†to express the idea of sadness in time passing. Without saying that time has passed the use of the phrase â€Å"the swallows had returned†indicates to the reader that it is now spring and the character in question is unhappy about it. Both authors manage to resist being pigeonholed by using language play to paint vivid dynamic pictures in the reader’s imagination. They depend on the reader to fill in the details of what they are describing, and in doing so avoiding the need to describe details which could confine them to a specific period or genre of literature. If there were no language play, there would be no literature because there would be only one way of saying any one thing. Language play affords authors the ability to personalise their thoughts, and those of their characters, creating dynamic narratives. Much of literature is referential, but without the use of language play we would merely have repetition rather than reference. â€Å"No text is produced which is not in some way affected by texts, both spoken and written, literary and non-literary, that have gone before it’ (Jeffries, 1996, p. 181). It is their use of language rather than their ideas, which set authors apart from one another. BIBLIOGRAPHY Cook, G. â€Å"Language play in English†(pp. 198-227). In: Maybin, J. and Mercer, N. (1996). Using English: From conversation to canon. London: Routledge. Graddol, D., Cheshire, J. Swann, J. (1994). Describing Language. â€Å"7.4: Written Language.†(pp. 214-234). Buckingham Philadelphia: Open University Press. Jeffries, L. â€Å"What makes English into art?†(pp. 162-184). In: Maybin, J. and Mercer, N. (1996). Using English: From conversation to canon. London: Routledge. Marquez, G.G. (1995) Of Love and other Demons (translated from Spanish by Edith Grossman). Toronto: Knopf Canada. Shakespeare, W. Twelfth Night. Act 1, Scene 5. In: http://www.shakespeare-literature.com/Twelfth_Night/5.html
Friday, January 17, 2020
Dementia And The Associated Stigmatisation Health And Social Care Essay
Dementia derives from Latin de intending ‘out of ‘ and work forces intending ‘the head ‘ . Dementia is an organic mental upset which affects the encephalon. Furthermore, dementedness is a degenerative progressive procedure. The CDCP ( 2004 ) states that dementedness is the 5th taking cause of decease amongst the 65 plus group. Dementia affects all groups every bit ; â€Å" no societal or racial lines, and the hapless, the wise and the simple alike are affected. †( McCugh et al, 1999: 7 ) No two people will hold symptoms that develop in precisely the same manner, and symptoms vary depending on the advancement of the unwellness. Symptoms by and large comprise of memory loss, freak out, damages with logical thinking, opinion and apprehension, trouble with executing daily things, psychotic beliefs, agitation, restlessness and rational damage. Age is an of import hazard factor. Dementia is rare below the age of 65, but unluckily it still can happen but on the plus side it can still be diagnosed. Those people diagnosed with dementedness under the age of 65 are described to hold early onset dementedness. A recent instance survey is that of Mark Priddy who was diagnosed with Alzheimer ‘s disease at the age of 36. As a individual ‘s age additions, the prevalence of dementedness additions. The prevalence of dementedness amongst the over 65 is one out of 20, increasing to one individual out of five amongst the over 80. Types: There are many types of dementedness as dementedness is the umbrella term.Alzheimer ‘s is the most common type of dementedness. The Alzheimer ‘s Society found that Alzheimer ‘s disease affects around 417,000 people in the UK. Alzheimer ‘s disease occurs when a alteration in construction of the encephalon occurs, where ‘plaques ‘ and ‘tangles ‘ develop. There are besides a diminishing figure of nervus cells. Chemical alterations besides occur within the encephalon, where chemicals are involved with the transmittal of messages within the encephalon are at a deficit peculiarly the neurotransmitters acetylcholine. Changes such as these within the encephalon construction and the chemical science of the encephalon, cause encephalon cells to decease. Symptoms of Alzheimer ‘s disease involve confusion, temper swings, backdown, and communicating jobs and the ulterior phase, trouble with feeding, walking and continency occurs where the likelihood of dependence will happen. Blood supply to the encephalon allows the encephalon to work decently, and to be healthy. Blood is delivered through the vascular system, supplying O to the encephalon. When blood ca n't make the encephalon, the cells dice and the encephalon becomes damaged, taking to vascular dementedness. High blood pressure can be a cause for vascular dementedness. It is really of import to place and handle high blood pressure. A individual shot is called single-infarct dementedness, nevertheless, it is more common that a series of little shots occur, which is so called multi-infarct dementedness. It is said that vascular dementedness has a ‘step-like ‘ patterned advance, of where a sudden impairment occurs. Dementia with Lewy organic structures histories for a little figure of the entire instances. The Alzheimer ‘s Society has estimated that dementedness with Lewy organic structures histories for around 4 % of all instances of dementedness with the aged. Lewy organic structures occur when proteins in the celebral cerebral mantle and the encephalon root develop and construct up. It portions its features with Alzheimer ‘s disease and Parkinson ‘s disease. However, the individual ‘s memory is less affected compared to Alzheimer ‘s. Similar symptoms to Parkinson ‘s disease include musculus stiffness, awkwardness, loss of facial looks and scuffling. The differentiation between the two is of import as it can hold profound deductions for direction. Front-temporal dementedness is another rare signifier of dementedness, and includes Pick ‘s disease. Damage occurs to the front-lobe of the encephalon, which is responsible for our behavior, emotional responses and linguistic communication accomplishments. Often, the person ‘s memory remains integral, but their personality and behavior alterations. Other symptoms include loss of suppressions, a decrease in or deficiency of address, acting unsuitably, and or going aggressive. This type of dementedness is characterised by a younger of oncoming, with the 75 old ages old being a rare to be diagnosed. Diagnosis: Early on symptoms are frequently elusive doing it hard to name. It frequently takes up to one twelvemonth or longer for a concluding diagnosing to be made. Dementia is merely identifiable with certainty after a post-mortem scrutiny. Early diagnosing is of import as it allows better attention programs to be developed for the hereafter, and interventions can besides be started. Doctors employ a figure of schemes to name dementedness. It is of import that they rule out any treatable conditions, such as depression, or vitamin B12 lack. Doctors frequently begin with patient history and physical scrutiny. They can urge a specializer, of which encephalon trials take topographic point. Imaging scans, such as a magnetic resonance imagination ( MRI ) scan, which can supply information about the physical province and construction of your encephalon The mini-mental province scrutiny ( MMSE ) is a Screen for Cognitive Impairment. It is most normally used to prove for ailments of memory jobs or when a diagnosing of dementedness is being considered. The trial consists of a series of inquiries and trials, where each inquiry answered right receives points. From an accomplishable mark of 30, the lower the mark the more terrible the disease.A Peoples with Alzheimer ‘s disease by and large score 26 points or less. It must be noted that the MMSE is non a trial for Alzheimer ‘s disease or any other cause of dementedness. However, the trial is questionable. First, there are many other grounds why person might score less than 26 points. Second, Holzer at Al ( 1984 ) argues that the †choice of a cut-off mark to find the presence of dementedness is slightly arbitrary. †( Ineichen, 1998: 11 ) Treatments and Remedies: Although dementedness is irreversible and incurable, intercession techniques have been developed to better the jobs every bit much as possible. The attacks do non work with everyone, so there must be an recognition of single differences, jobs and their willingness to set about intercession. For illustration, if depression is developed during the early phases of Dementia, this can be treated. Besides, prompting techniques can be used for memory loss. Busch ( 1984 ) found four subjects within curative attacks. These include world orientation, reminiscence, remotivation and resocialisation. It is non merely the patients who can be approached but besides the household and health professional via reprieve and support groups. Taulbee and Folson ( 1966 ) back up the methods of intercession, reasoning that it †makes the patient feel that he is worth something after all, that he can still carry through something. †Drugs merely have a impermanent consequence, handling the symptoms but non the causes. Nonetheless, some drug interventions available can better the symptoms or decelerate down the patterned advance of the dementedness in some persons. FDA -approved drugs for dementedness are known generically as donepezil ( Aricept ) , and memantine ( Ebixa ) , and besides galantamine ( Reminyl ) , and rivastigmine ( Exelon ) have been recommended for the intervention of dementedness. Donepezil ( Aricept ) , galantamine ( Reminyl ) and rivastigmine ( Exelon ) are licensed for the intervention of mild to chair dementedness. Aricept, Exelon and Reminyl are known as Cholinesterase inhibitors, which increase the degree of the chemical acetylcholin in the encephalon to increase communicating between nervus cells because dementedness leads to a loss of nervus cells. Memantine ( Ebixa ) is licensed for the intervention of moderate to severe Alzheimer ‘s disease. Ebixa is different in that it blocks t he chemical glutamate. Dementia amendss nerve cells, which release inordinate sums of glutamate, doing farther harm of the encephalon. Drugs are non effectual for everyone, with estimations of between 40 to 60 % of people profiting from drugs. However, these drugs may be seting some aged at hazard with their side-effects. These normally include diarrhoeas, fainting, sickness, fainting and utmost side-effects including fainting, slow bosom beats, and hallucinations. However, drugs have become â€Å" chemical blackjack †in the intervention of dementedness. It was revealed that the NHS has struggled to get by with the lifting Numberss of dementedness patients and as a consequence have turned to anti-psychotic drugs, which was prescribed ab initio for schizophrenic disorder. The National Audit Office says up to 150,000 people with dementedness were unsuitably prescribed drugs, lending to a possible 1,800 deceases a year.A Much research is being done on dementedness in order to assist physicians better understand, diagnose, and handle the disease. Previous researches carried out have found correlativities that vitamin vitamin E and vitamin b12 may forestall the diminution with the aged. An American survey suggests that decrease of fatty acids in the encephalon can assist handle Alzheimer ‘s, yet this survey was carried out on mice and hence can non be generalised to human existences. Experts predict that fleshiness leads to dementia and therefore a healthier lifestyle including a better diet, more exercising and lower blood force per unit area can cut down the hazard. The Dementia 2010 study estimated that the cost of dementedness in the UK was ?23 billion in 2008, with each patient bing ?27,647 per twelvemonth. As Rebecca Atwood emphasiss, â€Å" We need a committedness to a major addition in research support if we are to get the better of dementedness one time and for all. †She stresses farther that â€Å" If we do non significantly increase investing in dementia research in order to develop new interventions, we are headed for an unmitigated societal and economic catastrophe. †The National Dementia Strategy, produced by Department of Health promised ?150m would be used to â€Å" pump premier †diagnosing and intervention. Despite this promise, dementedness is still non seen as a precedence and remains further down the picking order as its cause for concern is non that of a high precedence. Amyyas Morse, the caput of the NAO, said the 2009 authorities scheme had been meant to â€Å" transform the lives of people with deme ntedness †. â€Å" The action nevertheless, has non so far matched the rhetoric in footings of urgency†¦ it is improbable that the intended and much needed transmutation of services will be delivered within the scheme ‘s five twelvemonth timeframe. †Curates have admitted merely 3 per cent of the medical research budget is spent on analyzing Alzheimer ‘s and its related conditions, while funding for malignant neoplastic disease and bosom disease has risen. The Medical Research Council and the Department of Health revealed that in 2008/09, passing on dementedness research fell 7 per cent to ?29.9 million. At the same clip, funding for malignant neoplastic disease surveies rose to ?250 million and ?75 million for bosom disease. ( Martin, 2009 ) Despite warnings of increased agony, the deficiency of concern may be related to perceptual experiences of ageing. In decision, one of the stigmatism of dementedness is agism, and this agism is holding an consequence on research and support of dementedness.
Thursday, January 9, 2020
Innovative Methods to Fund a Newly Set Up Business - Free Essay Example
Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1212 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Business Essay Type Narrative essay Did you like this example? BUSINESS FINANCE Innovative methods to fund a newly set up business Business Partner When you wish to start a business and you find yourself with not enough capital but are aware of someone who is interested in joining hands with you in your business, you can definitely opt for a business partner. A business partner will not just help in contributing to the capital but will also lend his hands for the functioning of the business. It is very important for the partners to have their goals aligned in the longer run. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Innovative Methods to Fund a Newly Set Up Business" essay for you Create order Venture Capital Venture capitalists invest in businesses with vast growth opportunities and they do so in the early stage of the business. Earlier venture capitalists used to receive a share in the business but now they demand debt financing and share in the business. Venture Capitalists function on the basis of making a couple of huge wins to cover up their ample failures. It is known that three forth of the businesses receiving funding in this method fail. Second Mortgage The following loans knock into the protected equity one may have in their home. One can calculate how much one can borrow for the second mortgage by considering the value of the home and subtracting it by yet to be paid mortgages. The interest rates are very low compared to other sources of funding. One must be cautious as there are instances where lenders only lend up to 75-85% of the real value of the home. These are also called as home equity lines of credit. Credit Cards Credit Cards are looked upon as a transitory measure between getting ones venture started and getting financing such as a loan. Credit Cards have very high interest rates which makes hardly possible for business to consider it as a long term capital. Credit Cards have mostly been used in the situations where the entrepreneur had no other alternative to get funding for his business. Even the founders of Goggle have funded their company with the help of a credit card in the mid 90s. My own uncle funded his textile business temporarily with a credit card when he had no other options. Family and Friends Lending money from your family and friends can be very risky when it comes to a startup. More than 40% of times people lending from family and friends have failed. Collecting funds from your family can make the situation more complex and ruin personal relations. But if you share a very comfortable relations with your peers it is not a bad option if your business becomes successful even family and friends benefit from it. One must always remember to draw documents before indulging in the type of funding method. Crowd funding Crowd funding allows the public to fund your projects using their own funds. One has to pitch in the idea that one wants to see funded. It is up to people if they like your idea or not and if they it is up to them on how much they want to invest. A lot crowd funding websites use reward base model where the investor reward as the product that they have invested in. This reward base model seems to changing to equity for reward. The popularity of crowd funding is increasing by the day and some of the crowd funding websites are Fundable and Kichstarter Product presales Selling your products is an often-overlooked and highly effective way to raise the money needed for financing your business. Entrepreneurs can raise funds with a pre sale of their products. The biggest challenge is in coordinating the inventory delivery times from the supplier so that we could start fulfilling orders. Another challenge is forecasting the number of units we can pre sell, resulting in a shortage. Entrepreneur Priska Diaz was able to raise $50,000 for her companyBittylabwith a presale of her Bare air-free baby bottles. Her presale efforts allowed her to drive website traffic, get additional social media followers, and offer discounts to customers. The money Diaz was able to raise helped her pay for inventory, and also helped to open some doors in retail and learn about her websites visitors. Though Diaz was able to benefit greatly from this means of financing, there were still some difficulties to overcome.  · Side business New business owners can try double-dipping as a means of funding their startup. Entrepreneur Alex Genadinik used his revenue from tours he organized on ComeHike.com to launchProblemio.com, which builds mobile apps for planning and starting a business. After receiving donations for some of the free hikes he led, Genadinik began to charge for events, where he marketed his new site to hikers. I tried everything else before that, including monetizing with ads and becoming an affiliate reseller for outdoor gear, but it didnt quite work, Genadinik said. This allowed me to work on my project without the distraction of looking for investors.  · Selling assets Sometimes, you may have a financing method and not even realize it at first. That was the case for entrepreneur Hamid Saify, who was able to fund his opinion-sharing community,ChoicePunch, by selling a car he had wanted to pass along to his children. Though it was a tough decision, Saify was able to make $30,000 from the sale of the car. That money, in turn, went toward some very important aspects of the fledgling startup. I used some of that money to help with the last payments to our design and development contractors, Saify said. The rest I put into our account and used to help support marketing during our beta launch months.  · Winning a contest Other times, businesses can benefit from a bit of luck. That was the case for Roberto Torres and Luis Montanez, who funded a portion of their startup costs for apparel companyBlack Denimwith winnings from abusiness-plancompetition. We utilized the funds to purchase manufacturing equipment that allowed us to scale our products and meet demand, the owners said. This advantage gave us the opportunity to increase our production and get into bigger players like Stein Mart and Walt Disney World. The competition also gave us access to business experts that asked us the tough questions while allowing us to retain our equity à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ a perk that would have been very difficult to obtain otherwise.  · Renting out your home or apartment Cutting out liabilities is another creative way for new business owners to fund their startups. For Fay Johnson, founder and editor ofdeliberate LIFE, that meant renting out her apartment. Johnson was able to do this by placing her San Francisco apartment on Airbnb and renting it out for anywhere between five nights and a month at a time.The decision has been successful for Johnson, who has used the money raised to fund the costs of the first few issues of her magazine. Though the move has allowed Johnson to finance her startup, it has not come without its share of headaches, including tight time restraints. As an entrepreneur, time is one of your most valuable resources, Johnson said. When renting, I have to keep in mind that I need to clean and reclean the apartment, and since I work from home, I also have to find a place to work during those days. ARSH BHATIA 4BBA-B (HON) 1311706
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
How to Apply for Food Stamps
For over 40 years, the federal Food Stamp Program, now officially named SNAP - the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - has served as a mainline federal social assistance program designed to help low-income families and individuals buy the food they need for good health. The SNAP (Food Stamp) program now helps put nutritious food on the tables of 28 million people every month. Are You Eligible for SNAP Food Stamps? Eligibility for SNAP food stamps depends on the applicant households resources and income. Household resources include things like bank accounts and vehicles. However, certain resources are NOT counted, such as a home and lot, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the resources of people who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF, formerly AFDC), and most retirement plans. In general, individuals who work for low wages, are unemployed or work part-time, receive public assistance, are elderly or disabled and have a small income, or are homeless may be eligible for food stamps.The fastest way to find out if your household is eligible for SNAP food stamps is to use the online SNAP Eligibility Pre-screening tool. How and Where to Apply for SNAP Food Stamps While SNAP is a federal government program, it is run by state or local agencies. You can apply for SNAP food stamps at any local SNAP office or Social Security office. If you are unable to go to the local office, you may have another person, called an authorized representative, apply and be interviewed on your behalf. You must designate the authorized representative in writing. In addition, some state SNAP program offices now allow online applications.Normally the applicant must file an application form, have a face-to-face interview, and provide proof (verification) of certain information, such as income and expenses. The office interview may be waived if the applicant is unable to appoint an authorized representative and no household member is able to go to the office because of age or disability. If the office interview is waived, the local office will interview you by telephone or do a home visit. What to Bring When You Apply for Food Stamps? Some things you may need when you apply for SNAP food stamps include: If You Are Employed: Last four pay stubs or a letter from employer stating gross and net wages for the past month.If You are Unemployed: Proof that your employment was terminated. Also identification and claim cards for unemployment benefits.Proof of Household Resources: Bring all savings account passbooks (including parents children). Bring all checking account books in addition to your last checking account statement and canceled checks. All stocks, bonds, savings certificates, annuity funds and credit union membership, etc. must be reported and verified.Proof of Income: Bring a copy of income tax return for past year. If you are self-employed, a profit and loss statement for the current calendar quarter is required.College Students: Bring proof of education expenses (tuition) and proof of income (loans, scholarships, contributions, earnings).Social Security Number(s): Bring the Social Security number for each member of your household. If a member of your household does not have a Social Security number, your food stamp certifier will assist you in obtaining one. No More Paper Coupons: About the SNAP Food Stamp EBT Card The familiar multi-colored food stamp coupons have now been phased out. SNAP food stamp benefits are now delivered on SNAP EBT (Electronic Balance Transfer) cards which work like bank debit cards. In order to complete a transaction, the customer swipes the card in a point-of-sale device (POS) and enters a four digit Personal Identification Number (PIN). The store clerk enters the exact amount of the purchase on the POS device. This amount is deducted from the households EBT SNAP account. SNAP EBT cards can be used in any authorized store in the United States regardless of the state it was issued, except in Puerto Rico and Guam. Stores stopped accepting paper food stamp coupons on June 17, 2009.Lost, stolen or damaged SNAP EBT cards can be replaced by contacting the state SNAP office. What You Can and Cannot Buy SNAP food stamp benefits can only be used to buy food and for plants and seeds to grow food for your household to eat. SNAP benefits cannot be used to buy: Any nonfood item, such as pet foods; soaps, paper products, and household supplies; grooming items, toothpaste, and cosmeticsAlcoholic beverages and tobaccoVitamins and medicinesAny food that will be eaten in the storeHot foods The SNAP program requires stores to carry a certain number of â€Å"staple†foods meat, dairy, grain, fruit, and vegetable items. Trump Moves to Expand List of Allowed Staple Foods On April 5, 2019, the Donald Trump administration proposed a new federal regulation adding canned spray cheese, beef jerky, lemon juice, and pimiento-stuffed olives to the list of staple foods approved for SNAP purchase. The U.S. Department of Agriculture stated the change would save SNAP grocery vendors money â€Å"under the revised minimum stocking requirements for staple foods.†Under the proposed rule, stores could stock up to six fewer staple items, resulting in a savings of about $500 per store over a period of five years. According to the Federal Register notice of the proposed rule, canned spray cheese would qualify as a dairy product staple, beef jerky as a meat, poultry or fish staple, and lemon juice and jarred pimiento-stuffed olives would qualify as staple fruits and vegetables. Do You Have to Be Employed to Get Food Stamps? Most SNAP participants who can work, do work. The law requires all SNAP recipients to meet work requirements unless they are exempt because of age or disability or another specific reason. More than 65% of all SNAP recipients are non-working children, seniors, or disabled persons. Some working SNAP recipients are classified as Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents or ABAWDs. In addition to the general work requirements, ABAWDs are required meet special work requirements in order to maintain their eligibility. The ABAWD Time Limit ABAWDs are persons between the ages of 18 and 49 who have no dependents and are not disabled. ABAWDs can only get SNAP benefits for 3 months during any 3 year period if they do not meet certain special work requirements.​ In order to remain eligible beyond the time limit, ABAWDs must work at least 80 hours per month, participate in qualifying education and training activities at least 80 hours per month, or participate in an unpaid state-approved workfare program. ABAWDs can also meet the work requirement by taking part in a SNAP Employment and Training Program. The ABAWD time limit does not apply to people who are unable to work due to physical or mental health reasons, pregnant, care for a child or incapacitated family member, or are exempt from the general work requirements. For More Information If you would like more information, the USDAs Food and Nutrition Service offers an extensive Questions and Answers Web page on the SNAP food stamp program.
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