Sometimes this really ticks me off!

[bambootinker]

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Thanks for providing accurate information from someone who has actually administered the program - not heard that "Mary's sister Sarah's uncle's nephews brother-in-law and sister-in-law have been doing/receiving/spending/trading whatever, whatever.."

It's not a pretty life - not an easy life - and not a glamorous life.. I still say the majority of people do not make this their life-long dream and would get off of welfare in a heart beat if the system didn't make it next to impossible TO get off..

Feeding a family of 5 on $700 a month is pretty darn easy.

 

[C.Ann]

Feeding a family of 5 on $700 a month is pretty darn easy.

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If they were getting $700 a month - but that is highly unlikely.. See barkley's experiences while administering the program..

I know years ago - when my late (former) MIL was receiving food stamps (80 some-odd years old and widowed) - she received $28 a month.. Yes - you read that right - twenty eight dollars.. She was diabetic to boot and there were no "extra" allowances made for that.. Her only other income was a small SS check..

What you "read" on sites and how it is actually administered are two very different things..

 

[bambootinker]

--------------------------------------

If they were getting $700 a month - but that is highly unlikely.. See barkley's experiences while administering the program..

I know years ago - when my late (former) MIL was receiving food stamps (80 some-odd years old and widowed) - she received $28 a month.. Yes - you read that right - twenty eight dollars.. She was diabetic to boot and there were no "extra" allowances made for that.. Her only other income was a small SS check..

What you "read" on sites and how it is actually administered are two very different things..

That is the amt. given to a family of 5 with a small monthly SS check, a small bit of cash (about $450, if I remember correctly) and a burial plot to their name. $350 rent, they pay utilities. I went with this family as a court advocate to fill out these papers. Believe it or not Barkley isn't the only person who has dealt with this issue.

eta: My aunt only received about that amt., too. Thing is, if they had helped with nutrition they probably could have kept her out of the state funded nursing home.

 

[tasha99]

I don't know what to think here--if people are working and genuinely qualifying for various forms of aid, I think that's what it's for. I would much rather have someone work but get a couple hundred dollars in food stamps than have them sit at home earning nothing. I got food stamps and daycare help when I left my husband, and I was very glad to have it. One of my ex's methods of postponing our divorce was to tell me I wouldn't get a penny and would be out on the streets; if I'd known how much help was available, I'd have left a lot earlier!

I think fraud cases should be prosecuted, but I also think people should feel comfortable taking the aid they qualify for while they try to better themselves. Someone mentioned cars, and I have to say that I knew someone who got food stamps and Wic who drove a new minivan. It was leased--she couldn't own it and still qualify. I never felt bad that she did that because her husband was a Staff Sergeant in the army and she did a morning paper route, despite only having one leg. Seriously, why would I begrudge her kids the extra milk and cheese she would qualify for even if she drove a junker?

Anywho, except in cases of the disabled, everyone will eventually become self-sufficient. Even someone who works a minimum wage job will eventually see her children grow up and move out, freeing up more disposable income.

 

[C.Ann]

That is the amt. given to a family of 5 with a small monthly SS check, a small bit of cash (about $450, if I remember correctly) and a burial plot to their name. $350 rent, they pay utilities. I went with this family as a court advocate to fill out these papers. Believe it or not Barkley isn't the only person who has dealt with this issue.

eta: My aunt only received about that amt., too. Thing is, if they had helped with nutrition they probably could have kept her out of the state funded nursing home.

--------------------

Do you mind mentioning what state? Quite frankly, if the numbers you are stating for that family of 5 are accurate, it sounds like they would actually need that amount to maintain a poverty-level lifestyle.. Are you saying that they're receiving too much?

 

[bambootinker]

Ohio. And, I'm only talking about the food stamp program. Not 'welfare" checks. Did I misperceive the original comment? This family also had section 8 housing which was very nice for the $350. I thought they could do smaller, but the state mandated 3 bedrooms even though the kids were all girls.

They were attempting to get SSI, and a family member was helping them out until then (or until they started getting a welfare check.) Something like that. It has been about 6 months.

And, yes, I am saying that you can feed a family for a lot less than that.

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

If all that mattered was here and now, then, perhaps. OTOH, if one cares about the long term, they get a job or training, work hard, etc.

The idea that money and "get all you can get" is all it is about is disheartening.

You are very, very mistaken if you think that all people receiving govenrment assistance do not work hard. Yes, there are some. Others are doing the job that I am sure most people wouldn't lower themselves to do.

 

[bambootinker]

You are very, very mistaken if you think that all people receiving govenrment assistance do not work hard. Yes, there are some. Others are doing the job that I am sure most people wouldn't lower themselves to do.

I feel quite differently about the "working poor." LOL, you can be compassionate without believing people should get to stay home with their kids and have the govt. pay for the food in their bellies and the roof over their head, while others work the graveyard at McD's so their hubby can watch the kids during the night and visa versa. One earns my respect. One doesn't.

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

I feel quite differently about the "working poor." LOL, you can be compassionate without believing people should get to stay home with their kids and have the govt. pay for the food in their bellies and the roof over their head, while others work the graveyard at McD's so their hubby can watch the kids during the night and visa versa. One earns my respect. One doesn't.

I getcha!

 

[barkley]

That is the amt. given to a family of 5 with a small monthly SS check, a small bit of cash (about $450, if I remember correctly) and a burial plot to their name. $350 rent, they pay utilities. I went with this family as a court advocate to fill out these papers. Believe it or not Barkley isn't the only person who has dealt with this issue.

eta: My aunt only received about that amt., too. Thing is, if they had helped with nutrition they probably could have kept her out of the state funded nursing home.

does ohio have a state subsidised fs program? that could explain why they could have received more than the feds permit. they could also have received much more than anyone in an identical situation in another state if their social security was ssi which is exempt for budgeting purposes for fed fs (because in fed fs cases ssi recipients can't receive fs though the household they are a part of can) but their state does funding that provides fs for ssi persons (i'm thinking someone was getting ssi because you mention the burial plot-that's one of the exempted items for ssi and medicaid eligibility).


people need to remember-there are federal laws governing food stamps and cash assistance but individual states can provide extra benefits if they so desire. we had lots of people relocate to california believing that they would continue to get the identical benefits they received in their prior state only to find that california unlike other states did'nt automaticaly provide housing assistance or utility assistance and the foodstamps were not supplemented by the state for the average recipient (looked realy appealing when they heard the grants were 4 or 5 times more than they received 'back home' till they got there and realized they were no longer going to get their rent paid, their utilities paid AND their food stamps could plummet upwards of 75% per month).


of course it could have been what happened to one of my clients-i found an error in her budget dating back years that resulted in over a thousand dollars in lost benefits-she opted to do the wise thing and instead of getting it in a lump sum she had me increase her monthly allotment by a hundred or so (and a bit more when the kids were out of school) for a year or more.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I posted this on another thread once, and someone flamed me for it, so I hesitated to post it again. But, I work in a grocery store, so I see people use food stamps all the time, and there are some using them, that I think are abusing them.

1) Someone got over $30 on prepared buffalo wings.
2) Someone got several lobsters.

I don't have anything against people who need assitance, but I think it's crazy that some people will use food stamps on things like lobster, and over-priced junk like the chicken wings. I think there needs to be some limits on what is allowed to be bought on food stamps.

I also think however that there should be some non-food items allowed, like toothpaste and personal hygeine items.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

not true,one of my neighbors about 6 yrs ago was on food stamps 800.00 a month for 2 kids! she has the paper stamps...I had given her a ride to the store so I saw this with my own eyes..also she could have seen this happen with the wic checks and thought they were the food stamps...the wic checks are still paper.I am also tired of seeing people load up two buggies of steak and soda and drive away in a new suv with perfect nails and a coach purse while I am buying chicken and driving a mini van! It does get old...I also agree if you cant afford them do Not keep having babies!I would LOVE to have more kids but I know money would be tight so I do not do it.

Maybe it was a Wic check I seen. But whatever it was, the person bought milk, handed the woman a piece of paper . The cashier made a comment that she hasn't seen one of these in a while, and handed her a bunch of change back in which the woman bought cigarettes. When the woman left the cashier commented to me, "Isn't it nice how they work the system? "

You seen that? Really? How long ago?

Would you be surprised to know that all states use EBT, not paper "stamps?"

I think you are fabricating a story.

Ahh hello, no I'm not and why the heck would I do that? Because I guess I have nothing else to do then think up lies to tell people on the Dis. Maybe I made a mistake and mistook one government aid for another. Excuse me, that I'm not perfect.

I'm paying that for a 1/2 gallon here

If you ready my post, it did say $1.50 was for a half gallon of milk.

 

[charabby]

And it starts young too. Ever hear a 9 year old say, "I don't need to work. They give you money for having kids. You get free food and they pay your rent." Yes that was part of a conversation between 4th graders.

.

No, and I have hard time believing you have either. Where did this occur?

I used to be a teacher of MS students (you know of the age where they *could* get pregnant) in inner city Detroit and NEVER heard any remotely similar statement.

Sorry, I call BS on that.

PS I know I'm late to the party here and this has probably already been addressed, but these kinds of exaggerations are so damaging.

 

[charabby]

When the states switched to EBT cards, the cheats had to step up their game. Now, they just go shopping with the person they are giving the "stamps" to.

Person A receives stamps. He heads to the grocery store with person B. persons A uses his EBT card to purchase $100.00 worth of items for B. When they leave the store B gives a $50.00 in cash.

Same scam as before only now it requires extra work.

How would you know this? How in the world would you have any idea how common this is?

 

[charabby]

See, I don't understand this---either the OP is lying when she fills out the paperwork which from her post I know she wouldn't do, or even with honestly listing all of their salary they still qualify for all these government benefits. In which case, I don't think that qualifies as "making good money" do you?

I agree with you. And did I misread the OP? I don't remember her saying she was asked to leave that info off. i thought she said the guys are refusing the overtime rather than taking it to get ahead? I'm confused.

 

[TomLovesBecky]

Cool Beans, honestly, I don't know how you had the nerve to post that you have committed welfare fraud and don't feel bad about it. Not only that, but you KNOW all the rest of us would do it too, if we could get away with it, which is incorrect and says a lot about your mentality. Don't you have any pride? Or shame? What you did was illegal and morally wrong. Don't know if you believe in God, but at my church they teach even the preschoolers that stealing, cheating, and lying are WRONG. Even if I knew I would never, ever be caught, I still wouldn't commit food stamp fraud for three reasons. Number one, IT IS WRONG!!!! And number two, I would die of embarrassment to use food stamps. Okay, if my kids were literally going to starve and there was NOTHING I could do to prevent it except use food stamps (which is very very unlikely), then I would. But not to save money when I'm not entitled! And three, you could have been arrested for that. I guess you didn't care, though, since you got food for half price. People like you make me so mad, and ashamed for you even if you aren't!

 

[charabby]

Ohio. And, I'm only talking about the food stamp program. Not 'welfare" checks. Did I misperceive the original comment? This family also had section 8 housing which was very nice for the $350. I thought they could do smaller, but the state mandated 3 bedrooms even though the kids were all girls.

They were attempting to get SSI, and a family member was helping them out until then (or until they started getting a welfare check.) Something like that. It has been about 6 months.

And, yes, I am saying that you can feed a family for a lot less than that.

Affordable housing professional chiming in - that's a federal rule that a family of five should be in a three-bedroom unit. Actually required to be in a three-bedroom unit. Fewer bedrooms would result in the unit being overcrowded due to the federal govt's defn of overcrowded. Basically, federally subsidized rental units should have no more than 1.5 persons per bedroom. So, a two bedroom unit would be too small per those guidelines.

Also, if you are saying they pay $350, then that is literally 30% of their gross income, which is what we're all supposed to be paying. Higher rent, however unfair it may sound, would put them in a deeper hole and casue them to need more assistance.

 

[bambootinker]

Affordable housing professional chiming in - that's a federal rule that a family of five should be in a three-bedroom unit. Actually required to be in a three-bedroom unit. Fewer bedrooms would result in the unit being overcrowded due to the federal govt's defn of overcrowded. Basically, federally subsidized rental units should have no more than 1.5 persons per bedroom. So, a two bedroom unit would be too small per those guidelines.

Also, if you are saying they pay $350, then that is literally 30% of their gross income, which is what we're all supposed to be paying. Higher rent, however unfair it may sound, would put them in a deeper hole and casue them to need more assistance.

I assumed it was federal. I just think that it isn't out of line to put a set of bunk beds in a room to save them a bit of money for rent. the govt. and I disagree on occasion.

While I thought that the $700 was a lot for food, I think that it should be realigned to cover a few other options like cleaning supplies, etc.

barkley, i didn't mean to sound as though I was disagreeing, btw. I was just referring to a post that said that $700 was not a lot. I get tangled up trying to remember who I am talking with and how that affects other posts. I entered late into this computer age!

 

[charabby]

Understood, but a family of five would have to have one set of kids doubling up. Mom and Dad in one room, two siblings in one room, third sibling in the last room. If the bedrooms are the standard 10X10, that's about right. Putting three kids in one bedroom would be pretty crowded. End of the world? No, but crowded.

In the past 20 years or so, the trend in affordable housing has been to design it to be comparable to market rate houisng, but affordable to those with low incomes. It's a resonse teo the crap (seriously) that was passed off as affordable housing in the 70s. The attitude even in the industry that created the housing was that the low income didn't deserve anything other than walls and a roof. That has changed to preserve dignity, etc. Basically, if developers are going to get rich off of builiding affordable housing - and it can be VERY lucrative - they are going to have to build something nice.

Anyway, don't mean to belabor the point, it jjust happens to be the industry I work in.

 

[disneyjunkie]

How would you know this? How in the world would you have any idea how common this is?

I grew up, teach, and still live in what is considered an inner city section of Brooklyn. Since I'm not viewed as an outsider, I hear about and see cheating all the time. The people that are doing it, don't think twice about talking about it in front of me.