[Spooky23]

How about you get evicted and cannot get food stamps for your family, because your non-driver ID expired three months ago and you have a hard time getting a day off to take a bus downtown to DMV?

That’s reality for millions of people.

[vinay427]

There are clearly other ways to solve this that don't involve depriving people of food stamps. Most every other developed country has figured out some solution.

First of all, in most countries an expired proof of citizenship is accepted for many purposes because it's assumed that people didn't go out of their way to coincidentally lose their citizenship or permanent residence when the ID expired. If it proves residence or driving qualifications, then there are certainly other reasons why it should expire.

Suppose we have an administration, decentralized or otherwise, that stores the records of the people concerned. They can then be contacted and details can be verified.

This informal verification already occurs on many levels, particularly in the US due to the lack of consistent ID. Try flying on a flight without photo ID, entering the US as a US citizen without proof of citizenship, etc. You will be permitted to do so with a bit of extra hassle while you're identified to a reasonable degree of confidence.

[12xo]

I've found that HN and other online communities have a disproportionate number of users who have no idea of rural life in America. As such they cannot fathom a poor, rural person without a birth certificate or a photo ID or the ability to get either.

[VWWHFSfQ]

Go get your ID situation fixed.

edit: To get an EBT card in NYC you can do it all online if you have a valid (ie, not expired, ID card.) If you do not have a valid (ie, expired, ID card), then you have to go to the DMV so they can take your picture and you sign a few forms. The forms are available in 22 languages. At the same time they may work to get you a new, valid, ID card.

How is this unreasonable?

[anigbrowl]

How are the DMV opening hours/wait times? Now imagine that impact on a person with some minimum wage job. You have a valid point but the marginal cost of bureaucracy to a poor/disabled person is often a lot higher than to someone for whom life is going smoothly. Also, it's easier to fall off the smooth track than to get back on.

[VWWHFSfQ]

What is the alternative to get a valid ID card and an EBT card? I understand there's a hardship for someone that can't get away for a few hours to travel to the DMV office. But it's the same hardship for everyone. There are basic requirements:

1) You have to go to the DMV office

2) You have to agree to have your picture taken

3) You have to fill out 3 forms (offered in your native language -- 22 languages are offered)

4) You have to provide a mailing address for where the EBT card will be sent

And then you have to be on the other end of that mailing address to receive and activate your EBT card.

This all seems like very easy procedures to follow to get food stamps.

[anigbrowl]

I understand there's a hardship for someone that can't get away for a few hours to travel to the DMV office. But it's the same hardship for everyone.

No it isn't. The marginal costs are different. If you earn $2000 a week and through some mischance have to give up a day's earnings to go the DMV your $400 loss is an annoyance. If you earn $500/week your loss as a percentage of income is the same but the economic impact of losing $100 is probably much bigger.

[zaroth]

I think you have to factor in the other side of the equation as well.

SNAP benefits are worth, let’s say $400/mo. Giving up $100 to add a recurring $400 payment doesn’t seem so bad.