Is It OK to Get Food Stamps When You’re Just Pursuing Your Passion?

People from all backgrounds can struggle with finances and can (and should) benefit from the small amount of social support that the United States offers. But I feel that by not trying to work or applying to work full-time, and by accepting her parents’ money and using it to support her painting, my friend disqualifies herself from being a SNAP candidate. At the same time, I think artists are a necessary part of our country’s ecosystem, and I certainly do not think that using an E.B.T. card precludes a person from spending money on anything that isn’t a life-or-death necessity. But something about my friend’s situation rubs me the wrong way. Is what she’s doing ethical? — Name Withheld