Sometimes this really ticks me off!

[livie1205]

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.

I have also heard this stright from someones mouth it is just GROSS!!!You can call bs all day long and all you get is a sore throat....it happens everyday!

 

[castleview]

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.

As a high school student, I worked in a deli and handled many WIC moms. Being the idealist I was, I didn't see the problem with it...until many of those moms would get everything with WIC and spend cash on cigarettes and cupcakes.

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

I work at a small retail store that sells a small amount of food items for pretty cheap compared to grocery stores. We see a lot of EBT's come through our line, and I'm honestly surprised at the vast amount of people who use them. We have one lady that just had her 5th child specifically for the government help. How do I know this? She bragged about it while in line using her food card! While they are definitely not living lavishly (I have yet to see someone in our town on food stamps that is), it makes me angry! But, at the same time, what do you do? If she's not getting the help, she won't get a job anyway (claims she's disabled for being overweight), and then those children suffer. Then, there is another man who I've known for years, lost his wife many years ago, works odd jobs around town, who just went on food stamps recently. He's 78 years old and there's no way he could just go out and find a job in our town. I have no problem seeing him spend his small amount of food stamps as he goes through the line. I suspected for the past few years that he hasn't been eating much. And then, like there is another family that uses there food stamps. They have three children, husband works in construction, mother watches children in her house during the day and does schooling at night. They're obviously looking at it as something they don't want to be on forever. Another case that I don't have a problem seeing.
I think a lot of the abuse of the system has to do with the families in general. A lot of the young girls that are abusing the system have more than likely grown up on government assistance. They don't see any other way, nor find it shameful as some of us would. They really do see it as a way of life. But, how does the government change this around? What can they do to make these people want to better themselves? Maybe, along with the government assistance they could do mandatory job training. But, then that wouldn't work for the people who are on the assistance and have jobs. IDK, I'm glad I'm not in government. It gives me a headach just thinking about it!

 

[KAMLEM]

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.

This is what the OP said:

I'm in the position where I recently took a part-time job. I have watched these people not make an effort. These women have no intention of working and they see no problem with having more children. I'm all for helping people when they need it but people also need to help themselves. They ask me if I can leave off the overtime and be sure to not put the perdiem with their wages. The majority of the people I'm talking about have learned how to "work" the system and I'm fed up. Again I'm not wishing ill on their children but somewhere down the line their parents should be doing more and if it means the mom getting at least a part time job and not having any more kids then so be it. I'm talking about what I've seen for years. One of these women just picked up her husbands check and was bragging about how she was going to go shopping.

 

[ozarkmom]

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.

No I've had wives ask me if I could leave the overtime off which I cannot. No when our crews work overtime you don't have the option to not work. Once again my problem stems from the fact that the people I'm working with and know seem to be content with their situation. I also am bothered by the fact that they brag about spending their husbands paychecks yet they need help. I've known a couple of women over the years that actually used the resourses available and went to school and then work. I applaud that. I also know couples that the wife works partime at night when the husband can watch the kids. When I first went back to work 2 of my children were in daycare full time and my oldest after school. At that time my husband had a job that did not offer medical insurance. I was mainly working for the insurance and after daycare a little extra money for the bills. Anyway alot of people that are busting their butts trying to pay the bills and have something I believe feel as I do about people that just seem to think they are entitled. I also am in the group that hates to see someone use their food stamp card to buy junk or extravagances.

 

[barkley]

I work at a small retail store that sells a small amount of food items for pretty cheap compared to grocery stores. We see a lot of EBT's come through our line, and I'm honestly surprised at the vast amount of people who use them. We have one lady that just had her 5th child specifically for the government help. How do I know this? She bragged about it while in line using her food card! While they are definitely not living lavishly (I have yet to see someone in our town on food stamps that is), it makes me angry! But, at the same time, what do you do? If she's not getting the help, she won't get a job anyway (claims she's disabled for being overweight), and then those children suffer. Then, there is another man who I've known for years, lost his wife many years ago, works odd jobs around town, who just went on food stamps recently. He's 78 years old and there's no way he could just go out and find a job in our town. I have no problem seeing him spend his small amount of food stamps as he goes through the line. I suspected for the past few years that he hasn't been eating much. And then, like there is another family that uses there food stamps. They have three children, husband works in construction, mother watches children in her house during the day and does schooling at night. They're obviously looking at it as something they don't want to be on forever. Another case that I don't have a problem seeing.
I think a lot of the abuse of the system has to do with the families in general. A lot of the young girls that are abusing the system have more than likely grown up on government assistance. They don't see any other way, nor find it shameful as some of us would. They really do see it as a way of life. But, how does the government change this around? What can they do to make these people want to better themselves? Maybe, along with the government assistance they could do mandatory job training. But, then that wouldn't work for the people who are on the assistance and have jobs. IDK, I'm glad I'm not in government. It gives me a headach just thinking about it!

there are mandatory job requirements to receive public assistance but if a person is meeting it by working (albiet at a job that could never financialy sustain their family) they are not required to get job training to better themselves. absent of a job adults can be required to participate (and activly, at the dss office-not just saying they are doing it) in job training and job search. some states have work requirements such that if a person is employable but for a valid reason can't find work they are put to work doing state or county tasks for the minimum number of hours required-at minimum wage which does count against their grant (the county i worked in had adults work at the recycling plant and picking up roadside garbage to meet this requirement).

there are practices to try to prevent generational assistance. financial penalties if teens are'nt attending school and getting minimum gpa's (and small bonus financial incentives if they get a high gpa). some states like the one i'm in have created programs to provide opportunites for kids who never would have considered college or post secondary ed voc training an option to begin participating while still on highschool on the state's dime (small investment for a big payoff if it prevents them from going on aide).

 

[C.Ann]

Then, there is another man who I've known for years, lost his wife many years ago, works odd jobs around town, who just went on food stamps recently. He's 78 years old and there's no way he could just go out and find a job in our town. I have no problem seeing him spend his small amount of food stamps as he goes through the line. I suspected for the past few years that he hasn't been eating much. And then, like there is another family that uses there food stamps. They have three children, husband works in construction, mother watches children in her house during the day and does schooling at night. They're obviously looking at it as something they don't want to be on forever. Another case that I don't have a problem seeing.

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

This is where I get all tangled up.. I don't "see" or "hear" the abuse that people speak of whenever this subject comes up.. I see and hear the above.. Are there peope who abuse the system somewhere? Sure.. Are there people who cheat on their income taxes? Sure.. Are there people who speed, get a ticket, and then want to find a way to get out of it? Sure..

But the widespread generalizations I hear and see drive me crazy.. There are a million and one things that can be "abused" - but for the most part it's the "minority" that are doing the abusing - not the majority.. The kind of reactions I see hear would make it very difficult for someone in real need to apply for help - for fear of being clumped in with the few abusers that everyone and their brother seems to know "personally"..

Of course it would be helpful if the government were more vigilant - and cracked down harder on the few who do abuse the system - but it's just not happening.. Maybe that's where all this anger and disgust should be directed..

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

there are mandatory job requirements to receive public assistance but if a person is meeting it by working (albiet at a job that could never financialy sustain their family) they are not required to get job training to better themselves. absent of a job adults can be required to participate (and activly, at the dss office-not just saying they are doing it) in job training and job search. some states have work requirements such that if a person is employable but for a valid reason can't find work they are put to work doing state or county tasks for the minimum number of hours required-at minimum wage which does count against their grant (the county i worked in had adults work at the recycling plant and picking up roadside garbage to meet this requirement).

there are practices to try to prevent generational assistance. financial penalties if teens are'nt attending school and getting minimum gpa's (and small bonus financial incentives if they get a high gpa). some states like the one i'm in have created programs to provide opportunites for kids who never would have considered college or post secondary ed voc training an option to begin participating while still on highschool on the state's dime (small investment for a big payoff if it prevents them from going on aide).

Is that for welfare or food stamps? Because my SIL was/ is on food stamps and didn't have a job nor go to school for nearly 3 years. She dropped out at 15 after her first baby and still received food stamps as well as medicaid. She worked with her caseworker and never got it taken away.

 

[castleview]

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

This is where I get all tangled up.. I don't "see" or "hear" the abuse that people speak of whenever this subject comes up.. I see and hear the above.. Are there peope who abuse the system somewhere? Sure.. Are there people who cheat on their income taxes? Sure.. Are there people who speed, get a ticket, and then want to find a way to get out of it? Sure..

But the widespread generalizations I hear and see drive me crazy..

Actually, talk to my mom. She runs the food bank at her church and most of their clients are lifers. She was so excited a few months ago to have a mother who was going through a divorce and needed to get back on her feet. She used the food bank for nine months and thanked everyone each time she was there. She even gave my mom a nice homemade gift on her final visit.

Those are the stories that remind my mom why she does this...because it does get very frustrating when regulars come (sometimes when they're not due back) and ask "is this all you have, don't you have a gift card?" Just the other day, a woman with five kids didn't show up for two grocery carts of food. How lazy can you be to not even show up for handout?

 

[C.Ann]

Actually, talk to my mom. She runs the food bank at her church and most of their clients are lifers.

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

Is this income-based help? How much info does she have on the people who come there? Last year my sister had to go to a food bank at church for food several months in a row and no one asked or knew "why" she had fallen on hard times..

 

[castleview]

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

Is this income-based help? How much info does she have on the people who come there? Last year my sister had to go to a food bank at church for food several months in a row and no one asked or knew "why" she had fallen on hard times..

A lot of times, people just give you the info without you asking. I don't know if it's income based, but she's been at this 30 yrs. and some of the newer clients are children of clients. Like welfare, it becomes a cycle. Many times they show up when they're not due back for another week. But don't you think it's rude to walk into a place where they are giving you food and ask if they have anything better?

 

[C.Ann]

But don't you think it's rude to walk into a place where they are giving you food and ask if they have anything better?

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

Yes it is.. My sister was not allowed to pick and choose - nor was she allowed to leave anything behind (the boxes are pre-packed).. She has dietary restrictions due to illness and felt bad about taking things she couldn't eat, but they wouldn't let her leave those items behind.. So - she found a few people in her community that were willing to take the things she couldn't eat and give her things she could eat in return - and anything else she couldn't eat she donated to a different food bank..

Of course I about killed her when I found out she didn't have enough money for food and immediately dashed off to the Post Office with a check for her..
Geez.. She helped my DH and I at a very dark and difficult time in our lives and she didn't even let me know she was in a situation where I could at least partially return the favor..

 

[charabby]

This is what the OP said:

I did misread then. sorry

 

[castleview]

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

Yes it is.. My sister was not allowed to pick and choose - nor was she allowed to leave anything behind (the boxes are pre-packed).. She has dietary restrictions due to illness and felt bad about taking things she couldn't eat, but they wouldn't let her leave those items behind.. So - she found a few people in her community that were willing to take the things she couldn't eat and give her things she could eat in return - and anything else she couldn't eat she donated to a different food bank..

Of course I about killed her when I found out she didn't have enough money for food and immediately dashed off to the Post Office with a check for her..
Geez.. She helped my DH and I at a very dark and difficult time in our lives and she didn't even let me know she was in a situation where I could at least partially return the favor..

Well, you can't kill her for not wanting to tell you ...but I know how hard it is when a loved one is going through a rough time. My parents probably wouldn't let me know if there was trouble either. But...some sort of divine intervention made you aware that you can return the favor. I'm sure that lifted your sister's spirits.

 

[C.Ann]

Well, you can't kill her for not wanting to tell you ...but I know how hard it is when a loved one is going through a rough time. My parents probably wouldn't let me know if there was trouble either. But...some sort of divine intervention made you aware that you can return the favor. I'm sure that lifted your sister's spirits.

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

It's hard because she's in Florida (a widow) and I'm in NY.. She recently suffered a concussion, broke her ankle, and broke her knee cap in a nasty fall.. Did she call to let me know? Of course not! I heard about it from my brother.. (She knew that even though I have health issues of my own - and I'm dealing with 2 specific problems right now - I would have seriously considered ditching my own health issues and flying right down there to take care of her..) I know "why" she hides things from me, but we should be helping each other - not this "one-sided" stuff.. KWIM??

Oh well.. Sorry, I'm getting OT.. LOL

 

[bambootinker]

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

This is where I get all tangled up.. I don't "see" or "hear" the abuse that people speak of whenever this subject comes up.. I see and hear the above.. Are there peope who abuse the system somewhere? Sure.. Are there people who cheat on their income taxes? Sure.. Are there people who speed, get a ticket, and then want to find a way to get out of it? Sure..

But the widespread generalizations I hear and see drive me crazy.. There are a million and one things that can be "abused" - but for the most part it's the "minority" that are doing the abusing - not the majority.. The kind of reactions I see hear would make it very difficult for someone in real need to apply for help - for fear of being clumped in with the few abusers that everyone and their brother seems to know "personally"..

Of course it would be helpful if the government were more vigilant - and cracked down harder on the few who do abuse the system - but it's just not happening.. Maybe that's where all this anger and disgust should be directed..

I guess I have to wonder how often you are connected with the people using these services. I work in a rural appalachian school district. I see about 70% of my students qualify, and I see a lot that work under the table, sell their benefits, buy junk (I know, not illegal, but abuse in my book!) etc. So I am connected with these people. I also know many who don't, but I'd say the numbers are 50/50. Those people cheating are stealing from tax payers, and, in a way from those who deserve them. They affect the reputations of all those on welfare, etc. That is why those of us who are around it become angry about it. I understand the resentment of those who choose to work their tails off rather than apply.

I am angry at the people who abuse the systems because govt. shouldn't have to police honesty and integrity.

castleview, I know many of the food pantries here had to start IDing, and limiting visits. This only affects those truly in need.

 

[C.Ann]

I am angry at the people who abuse the systems because govt. shouldn't have to police honesty and integrity..

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

Well - considering the government can't even police themselves when it comes to honest and integrity, I can see where it would be a problem.. Still, I think the anger should be directed at them - because as evidenced on this thread, the innocent get caught in the crossfire..

The majority of the year-round residents that live here where I do (7 to 8 months out of the year) are honest, hard-working people who live at poverty level without seeking government assistance.. They are proud people who get by on what they have and aren't caught up in the trappings of having the "biggest/best/newest/fanciest" of everything.. When someone does apply for any kind of assistance, it's usually due to some unfortunate circumstance and even then, they only accept help for a short period of time.. (In this community, people are very big on helping one another out when they fall on hard times rather than going through the humiliation of applying for assistance..) My land and school taxes here are extremely low and it's amazing what this town is able to do with the small amount of revenue they pull in each year.. More importantly, people are actually happy here.. They live a simple lifestyle and they are perfectly satisfied with that..

 

[Amlee]

Several years back the state of Alabama added a law that required all employers to fill out yet another form if an employee quits or refuses to do a job. If a person quit their job or after so many refusals for a job, the state stops ALL state assistance. No food stamps, money, I mean NOTHING!

It's a form I had NO problem in filling out. But boy I can't tell you the number of people who came in having a fit because we turned them in. I finally had a sign made with the state code and the law written out and put in our front office. I also had copies of it put at all of the time clocks and a notice went out in paychecks.

OP I completely understand where you are coming from. But if a family needs the help I don't mind doing it. What I DO mind, is the people that come in and DEMAND that I fill out the form right that minute. Not happening! The sign says 48 hours and it means 48 hours. I don't care that you have an appointment in 30 minutes. You have had the paper for how long?

 

[barkley]

Is that for welfare or food stamps? Because my SIL was/ is on food stamps and didn't have a job nor go to school for nearly 3 years. She dropped out at 15 after her first baby and still received food stamps as well as medicaid. She worked with her caseworker and never got it taken away.

if the child is under age 6 she's probably exempted from work requirements for food stamp purposes (old law that they've talked about revising for years but have'nt gotten around to it). the stricter work requirement rules are in conjunction with tanf (welfare) however food stamps as far as adults under age 50 without kids go are incredibly strict-unless a person can be exempted (and the criteria is tight) they can only get food stamps for 6 months in any 3 year period of time unless they meet the work requirements. work requirements can vary state to state but for the most part can be very unattractive to someone who believes they can get by with doing nothing-from personal experience i can tell you that the bulk of able bodied childless adults who applied for food stamps in the county i worked in and then learned that absent of a verifiable job would be assigned to picking up garbage along the county roads or cleaning up items for recycling for a minimum of 30 hours per week more often than not failed to appear or simply withdrew their applications.

 

[Luv'sTink]

What the laws and rules are and what really happens sometimes is two very different things.......


I live in Washington state. It is easy to get tanf here! DS bio-father was on assistance for a year because he has an enlarge heart, from doing drugs. It was easy for him to get assistance, three doctor visits and he got right on. Which meant no support for his children. He has been off for about six months, maybe. He told my brother last week he is going back on because it was "easy" he got food stamps and money and he didn't have to work. My brother also has an enlarged heart, same reason, but no assistance for him, because he never tried, he just works. My brother is recovering.

When DS was born almost 12 years ago, I was on DSHS for THREE months and went right back to work. When I notified the DSHS office I wanted off, a case worker called me and told me I would not be making enough that I couldn't still qualify for assistance. I said no thank you, I only needed help for a little while and the lady argued with me to stay on! When I asked about the 5 year limit for being on public assistance she told me not to worry about it, that was so up in the air they were never going to go through with it.

My brothers ex sold the "food stamps" off her card every month, she did as another poster mentioned. She would go to the store with the person buying them, use her card for food purchase and then get cash. We tried to turn her in, but her mother worked at DSHS. Same woman, was living in New Hampshire but having her check deposited in Washington, she got away with that too.

I PERSONALLY know a family with five children, the mother does NOT work the youngest is two almost three. They receive DSHS, section 8 housing and they qualify for for IEC every year and get about 3 to 4 grand on their income tax and this year got back the stimulus check also, all without paying a dime in income tax from the fathers paycheck, YES I know this personally. They cashed those checks at check express to get the money faster, so basically they just gave away hundreds of dollars for nothing, other than a few days. No fraud on this, just stupidity.

There was story on the national news a quite a few years ago about how people who lived near other states would get assistance from more than one state. I believe the biggest offender recieved assistance from UT, CO, AR and NM because she lived right in the corner of one of them. I cant find a link to the story, may be too old.