.

[twinboysmom]

There is no way, anyone can 'live off the government'. Food stamps and welfare payments do not provide enough for basic needs. MO

Most recipients are required to work or attend (approved) school, unless they are enrolled in a substance abuse program, or a single parent with a child under one year old. All persons, living in the household, are required to produce SS numbers and proof of income. So, boyfriend's income will count.

You are obviously not educated as to how to work the system. Come to my state. There are plenty of folks that can give you lessons on this. It is passed down from generation to generation. Very sad and depressing.

 

[luvsJack]

There are people that take advantage and "live" off the system. But I would say they are actually "surviving" not really "living". Just not enough there to do more than survive.

 

[sparks19]

I don't know the people in the subsidized housing seem to be living ok. Most have nice new cars and nice new clothes.

of course some supplement their welfare with an under the table job where they don't pay taxes and don't report their earnings. so they get full welfare benefits and work under the table.

I wouldn't say the average welfare scammer (I'm talking specifically about people who work the system) is merely surviving any more than hardworking middle class people are merely surviving.

I don't know. A friend of mine from years ago was on full welfare benefits when she was 18 and a single mom with a 1 year old. She got $1500 a month and subsidized housing so she only paid $150 a month for housing. She seemed to be doing more than just surviving and she wasn't even scamming the system (as far as I could tell)

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

You are obviously not educated as to how to work the system. Come to my state. There are plenty of folks that can give you lessons on this. It is passed down from generation to generation. Very sad and depressing.

You had me thinking you live in NY!!! It's amazing how many people living in projects have the same apartment passed down through the family. Screw living in a nice neighborhood where my kids will thrive, I want a $200 2 BR apartment!

There are people that take advantage and "live" off the system. But I would say they are actually "surviving" not really "living". Just not enough there to do more than survive.

They're only living when they get back their refund check and use it for their Disney vacations! But that's a totally different thread

 

[Jewel1310]

I agree with several of th previous posters - you can't really live off the system. 99% of people living on food stamps and with rent assistance would love to get out of the system and have a good paying job. I volunteer with an organization that assists people in breaking out of poverty, typically generational poverty. People aren't happy to live that way generationally. They want more for themselves and their children - just like all of us do. Some of the hardest working people I know are living in poverty.

What people often aren't aware of is that it isn't food stamps and rent subsidies or education subsidies that break the bank on the state and federal level. It is Medicare and Medicaid. Often when people think of Medicaid they think of the a poor child and their doctor visits. In reality the big expense of Medicaid is senior citizens and severly disabled or catastrophically ill people in nursing homes that require the most care and most funding. A very vulnerable population. Those people don't choose to live that way either. I am sure they would like to be in a loving home surrounded by caring family and friends.

I hope the OP's cousin finds a way to use the education she is receiving and can make a better life for herself and her kids.

 

[Robindianne]

She's in school...going for free of course. I can't go for free because my DH makes too much money. But she gets it for free because she doesn't make any!

She has no housing costs...boyfriend pays for all of that since he was paying all of it before she moved in anyways. So now "we" pay for her food, etc.

Oh well...like the PP said...there's nothing I can do about it. But I guess I just needed to vent more than anything else.

You have to stop comparing her with you. Focus on you and your happiness and let her, her finances, the welfare system, etc go.

If you truly worry about people who cheat welfare, I can recommend a good book, quick, interesting, easy, eye-opening read: Flat Broke with Children. FYI even the people interviewed, on welfare, are worried others on welfare are cheating the system and "costing them money." Cheating is much much more rare than we fear but does happen - just like tax fraud and subprime mortgages and bank bailouts which cost more of all of us in the bigger picture anyway.

Also I feel like what goes around comes around and those who do ill will get their comeupance with no help or worry from me.

JMHO

 

[luvsJack]

I don't know the people in the subsidized housing seem to be living ok. Most have nice new cars and nice new clothes.

of course some supplement their welfare with an under the table job where they don't pay taxes and don't report their earnings. so they get full welfare benefits and work under the table.

I wouldn't say the average welfare scammer (I'm talking specifically about people who work the system) is merely surviving any more than hardworking middle class people are merely surviving.

I don't know. A friend of mine from years ago was on full welfare benefits when she was 18 and a single mom with a 1 year old. She got $1500 a month and subsidized housing so she only paid $150 a month for housing. She seemed to be doing more than just surviving and she wasn't even scamming the system (as far as I could tell)

$1500 a month. $150 goes to housing. Did she have a car note? Did she have utility bills? Did she buy clothing out of that? What about personal hygiene supplies, cleaning supplies and paper products? She have kids? What about school supplies? Haircuts? OTC medicines? Household items? This stuff adds up quick.

My mom gets $1500 a month and has NO house note and NO car note. By the time she pays utilties, gas in the car, and other necessities there is $0 left. So, again--surviving not really living. Of course that may be how you define "living".

 

[ols386]

There are people that take advantage and "live" off the system. But I would say they are actually "surviving" not really "living". Just not enough there to do more than survive.

That's what my initial thought was, that if you want to call that living....not exactly my idea of living even a moderate lifestyle.

I don't know the people in the subsidized housing seem to be living ok. Most have nice new cars and nice new clothes.

of course some supplement their welfare with an under the table job where they don't pay taxes and don't report their earnings. so they get full welfare benefits and work under the table.

I wouldn't say the average welfare scammer (I'm talking specifically about people who work the system) is merely surviving any more than hardworking middle class people are merely surviving.

I don't know. A friend of mine from years ago was on full welfare benefits when she was 18 and a single mom with a 1 year old. She got $1500 a month and subsidized housing so she only paid $150 a month for housing. She seemed to be doing more than just surviving and she wasn't even scamming the system (as far as I could tell)

Then I read your post....and come to think of it, the apartment where my son lives is what I would call an average but nice complex, and the apartment complex right next door to him, appears to be much nicer, and it is subsidized housing. I was shocked when he told me that it was subsidized. So maybe it all depends on the situation and the region.

I could see some living on welfare and doing jobs and being paid under the table and not paying taxes, but I would also think that those under the table jobs probably would not pay much.

 

[TLSnell1981]

You are obviously not educated as to how to work the system. Come to my state. There are plenty of folks that can give you lessons on this. It is passed down from generation to generation. Very sad and depressing.

I am not talking about those, 'who work' the system. Not everyone, is a scam artist, not even most. If you know someone, who is abusing the system.. REPORT THEM.

Thankfully, I've never been in that position. I certainly, won't slam those, who are in need.

I agree with several of th previous posters - you can't really live off the system. 99% of people living on food stamps and with rent assistance would love to get out of the system and have a good paying job. I volunteer with an organization that assists people in breaking out of poverty, typically generational poverty. People aren't happy to live that way generationally. They want more for themselves and their children - just like all of us do. Some of the hardest working people I know are living in poverty.
What people often aren't aware of is that it isn't food stamps and rent subsidies or education subsidies that break the bank on the state and federal level. It is Medicare and Medicaid. Often when people think of Medicaid they think of the a poor child and their doctor visits. In reality the big expense of Medicaid is senior citizens and severly disabled or catastrophically ill people in nursing homes that require the most care and most funding. A very vulnerable population. Those people don't choose to live that way either. I am sure they would like to be in a loving home surrounded by caring family and friends.

I hope the OP's cousin finds a way to use the education she is receiving and can make a better life for herself and her kids.

Great post! Most DO want a better life, but need a leg up. It's hard to get out of a rut.

 

[cabanafrau]

It affects all of us when someone cheats the system. It also affects the people who actually need the assistance since there is less for the truly needy.

Absolutely, positively, 100-percent true!

 

[sparks19]

$1500 a month. $150 goes to housing. Did she have a car note? Did she have utility bills? Did she buy clothing out of that? What about personal hygiene supplies, cleaning supplies and paper products? She have kids? What about school supplies? Haircuts? OTC medicines? Household items? This stuff adds up quick.

My mom gets $1500 a month and has NO house note and NO car note. By the time she pays utilties, gas in the car, and other necessities there is $0 left. So, again--surviving not really living. Of course that may be how you define "living".

she got food stamps so she didn't have to pay out of the monthly $1500 for that. She often had more food stamps than she could use.

She did not have a car. very small town, you can walk everywhere. but I actually don't even think she had her license at that time anyway if I recall correctly.

Yes she had one child... her monthly check went up when she had him but he was only a year old.

She had cable, internet, a nice clean 3 bedroom home, food, clothing, enough to rent movies when she wanted and eat out from time to time. She said herself that they didn't really WANT for anything. She wasn't just merely surviving.

 

[TLSnell1981]

However, a basic average guideline for the food stamp program will show that an average family of 4 can expect an amount up to $500 per month for food stamps. This figure will greatly vary based on the age of the family members and medical needs. A single person household will show an expected average of up to $200 per month. Again, these figures are averages and not state specific.

Cash allowance benefits for financial assistance will also be state regulated and allowances paid will also vary based on different criteria. However, an average expectation can be placed on a family of 4 receiving up to $900 for their TANF allowance. A single person household can expect an average of up to $300.

A family of 4 cannot live on $900 a month. Additionally, criminal activities meant to defraud the SRS program greatly limit the available funds for those who truly need and make the regulations stricter, in some cases too strict, eliminating the benefits for those who truly need it.

http://www.welfareinfo.org/payments/

 

[castleview]

There is no way, anyone can 'live off the government'. Food stamps and welfare payments do not provide enough for basic needs. MO

Most recipients are required to work or attend (approved) school, unless they are enrolled in a substance abuse program, or a single parent with a child under one year old. All persons, living in the household, are required to produce SS numbers and proof of income. So, boyfriend's income will count.

Really. Because I know people who flat out tell me they are. Some won't marry the father of their children either (even though he lives with them) because they'll have to go off "state". Food stamps, welfare payments, WIC, children's health insurance, referals to food banks, and public housing make it quite easy.

 

[Uncle Remus]

Most "welfare" fraud is perpetrated by real criminals:

(CBS) According to the FBI, all you have to do to get into this business is rent a cheap storefront office, find or create a front man to get an occupational license, bribe a doctor or forge a prescription pad, and obtain the names and ID numbers of legitimate Medicare patients you can bill the phony charges to.

"There's a whole industry of people out there that do nothing but provide patients," Waterman told Kroft.

Asked what he means by "provide patients," Waterman said, "I'm just talking about lists of patients, people's names, Social Security numbers, addresses, and date of birth. With those four things, you can bill for a patient."

Asked where Tony got his fictitious customers, he told Kroft, "They'll be people that would sell you a list of maybe $10 per patient. And I'll buy 1,000, 10,000 maybe at a time. And then you just fill in the patient's name and you send it. And then I used the same patients with the same company and then the next company I used the same patients and I kept using them, and they'll pay for the same patient every time."

Once the crooked companies get hold of the patient lists, usually stolen from doctors' offices or hospitals, they begin running up all sorts of outlandish charges and submit them to Medicare for payment, knowing full well that the agency is required by law to pay the claims within 15 to 30 days, and that it has only enough auditors to check a tiny fraction of the charges to see if they are legitimate.

If they're not, it's usually people like 76-year-old Clara Mahoney who catch them.

She began to notice all sorts of crazy things turning up on her quarterly Medicare statements back in 2003 - things that Medicare paid for on her behalf that she had never ordered, never wanted and never received.

"Air mattresses, a wheel chair, urine bag for my leg," Mahoney said, listing some of the unwanted items Medicare was charged for on her behalf. "It was getting so I didn't wanna open up the explanation of benefits because you know, it's like, 'Oh, no. Not again.'"

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009...14390_page3.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody

 

[Goofyluver]

It does affect me in that I've provided childcare and assistance with many items for the child. And morally I think it's wrong to "live off the system" when you're completely capable of working!

Her food stamps were more than I pay for a months worth of groceries for my family of 6! Granted I coupon, stockpile,etc. to get good deals but it's ridiculous!

That's some good budgeting you've got goin' on there for your family!

Maybe you could be an example to her rather than making speculations about her on a message board.

You are obviously not educated as to how to work the system. Come to my state. There are plenty of folks that can give you lessons on this. It is passed down from generation to generation. Very sad and depressing.

That's cause poverty breeds poverty.

 

[luvsJack]

she got food stamps so she didn't have to pay out of the monthly $1500 for that. She often had more food stamps than she could use.

She did not have a car. very small town, you can walk everywhere. but I actually don't even think she had her license at that time anyway if I recall correctly.

Yes she had one child... her monthly check went up when she had him but he was only a year old.

She had cable, internet, a nice clean 3 bedroom home, food, clothing, enough to rent movies when she wanted and eat out from time to time. She said herself that they didn't really WANT for anything. She wasn't just merely surviving.

She is very lucky. Very few people that I have seen on subsidized housing could call their home "nice clean 3 bedroom home". Actually, everyone I have ever known that received any kind of assistance in housing was very limited on the type of housing they could have. A very close friend of mine was a single parent of one little boy after a divorse and she could only have a one bedroom home/apartment. Another friend had two children, boy and girl and was allowed a two bedroom--she and her dd shared a room. So a nice 3 bedroom for a single mom and one child is very fortunate indeed.

In the things I mentioned having to come out of $1500, I didn't mean to add groceries into that. She was lucky that she didn't have a car note. Those that do? They don't get more per month. It comes out of that. Plus diapers and wipes--forgot those earlier, heck, those could equal a small car note!

And you are saying she got $1500 BEFORE she had her son? Really? She was very fortunate indeed! For most either the unborn child counts and the mother receives a check (that does NOT go up when the baby is born) or it doesn't and she doesn't get anything or very little indeed.

Not everyone on assistance are in the same circumstance as your friend. Its not fair to assume so. For many that amount would only mean survival.

 

[tasha99]

Well, she's going to school to better herself. Sounds to me like she's trying to improve her situation.

 

[cm8]

Well, she's going to school to better herself. Sounds to me like she's trying to improve her situation.

 

[sparks19]

You would be really shocked at how many are doing more than merely surviving.

My mom was a building manager for a few years at an apartment building. nice clean apartments (now this was in ontario... not in the US) and HALF of the tenants were on welfare and paid subsidized rent (usually under $200) but they lived in nice accomodations. And the stuff they would leave behind when they would eventually move o ut. My step dad has a treasure trove of things he's found abandoned in apartments LOL like an almost brand new acoustic guitar. excellent condition. furniture... heck he even got a 36 inch working television that they just LEFT behind.

Living here you should see the subsidized housing areas. They are nice. I don't know what the insides look like anymore but the fronts are nice and well kept.

I'm not saying everyone on welfare is living the good life or anything. most aren't but many have figured out how to work the system so they are doing more than merely surviving.

I can think of four people off the top of my head that I know that abused the system. I don't think it's as rare as people would like us to think. and finding paid under the table jobs is really quite easy.

unfortunately those people worked the system to get the maximum and now the people who REALLY need it are getting the minimum and those are the people who are merely surviving. but the current system is so broken it gives a hand out but not a hand up. it doesn't do much to help people get OUT of the situations they are in. they jsut throw money at them and hope they will go away.