Staying single to collect welfare benefits

[Inigo]

Not for nothing but being court ordered to get a job is just a joke. With the economy the way it is, chances are this kid will not get a job. He may try because he is forced to, but chances of him actually being hired are slim to none. When the court see's that he isn't working what will they do? If they "lock him up" who do you think will pay for the child then? I know it sounds nice on paper "court ordered to get a job" but what does it really mean in the working world...nothing.. sorry to sound like a downer but it is true.

He'll get to show me 10 job applications a week, with signature verification they were submitted. He might not find one, but he's darn sure going to be applying everywhere.

 

[Serling126]

Just to throw in my 2 cents from my experience...

A while back we were in a very tight financial situation. We had cut back on everything- decreased food budget, canceled the cable tv, any clothes came from Goodwill, spending zero on eating out & entertainment, etc... I got desperate and looked into eligibility for government assistance... for a family of 4 my husband made just barely too much for whatever programs I was looking at (don't remember if it was WIC, food stamps or what...). He works overtime whenever possible, and I worked 20 hours a week to try to bridge the gap in our budget, but we still had to pay for daycare and that was eating up a large portion of my wages. If I had quit work and had another baby, we would have been eligible for all sorts of government support!! But ethically & morally, I just could not do it...

Instead, DH switched to the evening shift (3:30 to midnight), so he can take care of the girls in the morning, which allowed me to pick up more hours at work (I work 30 hours now), and still be home in time to get the girls off the bus at 3:45. We only get to see each other on the weekends, which sucks, but we do not have to pay for any daycare which makes a HUGE difference in our budget. It's not ideal, but between this choice and making ourselves dependent on government care, this is preferable. Honestly, there are some days when I get frustrated that due to finances I cannot stay home with my kids and have go to work instead, but I cannot be a leech on the system when I am capable of holding a job to support the children that DH and I brought into this world.

 

[kelleyrn2000]

I have a relative who is single, and gets the LINK card (Illinois food stamp program). She gets $300.00 per month for groceries, which even she says is ridiculous. We are a family of 5 and that is just under what we spend per month on groceries (although we are very careful with our food budget) but seriously, if she gets $300 as a single person, then what would a family get to spend? And why so much? This person has actually brought food like bread and milk to us when DH is laid off and things have been tight, because she said she had extra food (we didn't ask her to, she just brought it to us). It just seems so crazy to me that we are two working parents and she is unemployed and bringing US food!

 

[princessmom29]

Federal law was changed in the mid 90's that only allow someone to stay on temp assistance for 5 years, but you have to be trying to work and after 2 years MUST be working at least 35 hours a week to continue receiving assistance.

ALSO realize (for all those people bashing people with public assistance) that families who adopt children through the state and those that foster for the state also receive state benefits (some may get subsidized money, some food stamps, medicaid etc) as an incentive to take in these kids. This is REGARDLESS of the families income.

I don'tthink anyone here has a problem with the parents of foster/adopted children getting state benefits. The only group who recieves benefits that I have a problem with is the group that makes no attempt to support themselves. There are ways around every requirment put fortth to stay on public assistance, and there are forms of asistance with no time limits, like food stamps and section 8. The limts you are talknig about are for cash welfare payments, and often poorly enforced.

 

[dpayne1969]

I have 2 relatives who are single young parents with 2 kids with different dads
they are perfectly able to work but chose not to, these are the ones that make
me angry!! They get $600 a month for food stamps for 2 kids,they get free medical plus a check every month, they also live in housing where the state pays for a majority of their bills!! I don't get it...they are lazy & drink all weekend long it is disgusting!! I think something should be done about the able bodied folks who can work & chose not to...they do not even stay home with the kids, the kids are school aged so they should be working during the day time
they go to places they KNOW are not hiring & turn in their monthly work applications

 

[muscarello4]

Yep. Those who adopt from the state can get benefits regardless of income. My husband and I adopted two kids. We have great jobs with great insurance. The boys both qualify for Medicaid. We take it happily and thankfully. (Free prescriptions and it covers our deductibles and copays.) We also receive a small monthly stipend, tax free. AND we receive a tax deduction.

Anyone who has a problem with state aid for adoption can go through the hoops to adopt a child and then deal with the repercussions of a child coming from state care. I will take ANYTHING that the state is willing to give. We can support our kids, but the money helps with the fun things. IE....too many trips to Disney!

Adoption subsidy is a state program that I whole-heartedly support. Getting these kids into loving forever homes should be a priority! The money can help loving families not stress the additional expense of adding to their family.

 

[deerhart]

I don'tthink anyone here has a problem with the parents of foster/adopted children getting state benefits. The only group who recieves benefits that I have a problem with is the group that makes no attempt to support themselves. There are ways around every requirment put fortth to stay on public assistance, and there are forms of asistance with no time limits, like food stamps and section 8. The limts you are talknig about are for cash welfare payments, and often poorly enforced.

Yes, but can you tell the difference just by looking at them?

 

[muscarello4]

Exactly!!! You have no idea the looks I have gotten at the Pharmacy. People need to back off. They have no idea what my kids have been through. They get Medicaid benefits until 18. I can drive up in my new minivan. It seriously ticks me off. I choose not the engage them, but most people just don't get it. You really never know the truth when making a snap judgment.

I actually had a pharmacist tell me that they couldn't run my private insurance and Medicaid. I needed to cancel the Medicaid. PUHLEEZ!

I get that people are upset about those abusing the system, but it is not a black and white issue. Don't judge unless you know the full story!

 

[arihillfarm]

they are NOT playing by the rules, at least in my state. By now they would be common law husband and wife and legally required to report both incomes. As i understand it, in most states, if you maintain a household together you must report all household incomes, including minors earning income in the household.

It is false that all couples co-habiting for a certain period of time in states recognizing common law will be considered to be common law married. Unless they have agreed between them that they are lawful husband and wife and are known in the community to be husband and wife, they are not common law married, nor can the state force them to become so unless they so decide.

-Astrid

 

[dizneemom]

Maybe I missed something, but how has this thread become the illegals bashing thread? I believe the OP is referring to Americans

That said, I am in NYC...a great city that would not be what it is without the hard work of immigrants...many probably not legal. Without knowing the circumstances people come from, it is not fair to attack someone for wanting a better life for their children! Are there abuses, of course? But isn't there someone at your job that hangs around the water cooler a little longer, or drinks the coffee, but never brings any in?...

There are many stories, historical events, etc. that make me less than proud to be American, but the idea that our government would we assist those who would otherwise be abused or endangered, especially children, then I am very proud! Perhaps if their parents had had the education illegals children will have access to,they would not have had such limited resources and would have been able to be fiscally responsible!....

Actually-this thread is about welfare! Also, if you look at previous posts-I am not the first to write about this.

We are a nation of laws and to not uphold our laws would cause chaos-probably much like some of the things we are seeing today in our country.

I don't have any problem with immigrants who come here legally. My problem is when people come here illegally and want aid when so many citizens need help. Maybe if they were not abusing our system as illegals-maybe there would be more money to help our own.

Actually-pretty much everyone on here has said that they just want our nations laws upheld. Whether it is your next door neighbor getting WIC and living with her boyfriend who is not reporting his income or illegals on welfare--please tell me how my post is not pertinent?? or is BASHING?????

Never ever would I go to another country illegally and then ask their government to pay me to live there.

 

[dclfun]

I recall reading how many people had left the welfare rolls after the "reform"- well, they just went to the disability rolls instead. Actually, many people ( and yes, I knew them and saw it happen) coached their kids to do poorly on tests so that they could fall behind and be "disabled" or to behave poorly in school so that they could be "disabled". It's very easy for a child to get disability and very hard for an adult. Once a child is "disabled" and collecting SSI, the family automatically is eligible for Section 8, Medicaid, and food stamps, of course if no one is working. So the child becomes their meal ticket and the child is losing a chance to succeed as an adult. The adults do not have to prove that they are using the SSI benefits for the child either. It's called crazy money- and I resent supporting people who abuse their children ( yes, IMO this is child abuse)--Kathy

 

[dizneemom]

I recall reading how many people had left the welfare rolls after the "reform"- well, they just went to the disability rolls instead. Actually, many people ( and yes, I knew them and saw it happen) coached their kids to do poorly on tests so that they could fall behind and be "disabled" or to behave poorly in school so that they could be "disabled". It's very easy for a child to get disability and very hard for an adult. Once a child is "disabled" and collecting SSI, the family automatically is eligible for Section 8, Medicaid, and food stamps, of course if no one is working. So the child becomes their meal ticket and the child is losing a chance to succeed as an adult. The adults do not have to prove that they are using the SSI benefits for the child either. It's called crazy money- and I resent supporting people who abuse their children ( yes, IMO this is child abuse)--Kathy

Wow-I agree that is child abuse! That is horrible-how could any loving parent want their child to be "disabled" or encourage them to do poorly in school. Just terrible is all I can say!----now I need to pick my jaw up off the ground!

 

[jlima]

If you want your blood to boil, then read about the FLDS families in Utah and Arizona. These families thrive because only the first "wife" is legally married. All of the other "wives" qualify for food stamps and other public assistance because they aren't legally married to the husband.

 

[Kat77]

I recall reading how many people had left the welfare rolls after the "reform"- well, they just went to the disability rolls instead. Actually, many people ( and yes, I knew them and saw it happen) coached their kids to do poorly on tests so that they could fall behind and be "disabled" or to behave poorly in school so that they could be "disabled". It's very easy for a child to get disability and very hard for an adult. Once a child is "disabled" and collecting SSI, the family automatically is eligible for Section 8, Medicaid, and food stamps, of course if no one is working. So the child becomes their meal ticket and the child is losing a chance to succeed as an adult. The adults do not have to prove that they are using the SSI benefits for the child either. It's called crazy money- and I resent supporting people who abuse their children ( yes, IMO this is child abuse)--Kathy

That is possibly one of the most heartbreaking things I have ever heard!

 

[aceys_h0ney]

This assuming that everyone on assistance is lazy and worthless is old too. The same urban legends about buying filet mignon and lobsters continues to go around and around. Its just not possible only having what the system will provide.
QUOTE]

I worked at a grocery store for 6 months, the same people came in all the time buying the same crap you are claiming they cannot get. Along with their expensive meats they bought pure junk. Every month on the first it was not uncommon for me to ring out 20-30 orders that were over $400 and all crap. Then see the same people in there over and over again buying more crap. My neighbor was actually shocked once when I whipped out cash to buy my food, he asked why I didn't just use my food stamp card. He actually believed that everyone got one. Then my personal favorite is an apartment complex across the street from the grocery store where I worked, every apartment had a card to use. No one even knew who they really belonged too. Everyone had them but the one thing no one had was a job. Oh wait one last story, when I asked for their store shoppers card that saves lots of money I was told more then once they did not need to scan it the government was paying and we should stick it to them. Too lazy to even hand me a card to save some money. Too stupid to realize it actually did benifit them because they could save $30 and come back for more Doritos and Chips Ahoy tomorrow.

Sorry for the rant but people do in fact get enough money to live high on the hog. I have seen it many many times. I have had it with the braggign about the assistance, heck I even got offered once for someone to "school" me on how to work the system because they felt bad I was working so hard to support my family.

 

[princessmom29]

Yes, but can you tell the difference just by looking at them?

you missed the part where I said that I work with the children of these pepole every day. I KNOW in many, many cases that this is what is gonig on because I talk to the children and am in contact with the parents. Parents who have no disability and no small children at home choose not to work over and over because they can get more by working the system. This is not a case Of "how do yuo know they don't aren't disables and need that" I KNOW these people and they are NOT disabled. They are choosing not to work. I deal with it EVERY DAY. It is much more pervelant than you would realize if you were not in that world, and didn't see it daily. I do. literally every day I am confronted with the fact that there are people, lots of people, with no intention of ever supporting themselves without public assistance.

 

[princessmom29]

I recall reading how many people had left the welfare rolls after the "reform"- well, they just went to the disability rolls instead. Actually, many people ( and yes, I knew them and saw it happen) coached their kids to do poorly on tests so that they could fall behind and be "disabled" or to behave poorly in school so that they could be "disabled". It's very easy for a child to get disability and very hard for an adult. Once a child is "disabled" and collecting SSI, the family automatically is eligible for Section 8, Medicaid, and food stamps, of course if no one is working. So the child becomes their meal ticket and the child is losing a chance to succeed as an adult. The adults do not have to prove that they are using the SSI benefits for the child either. It's called crazy money- and I resent supporting people who abuse their children ( yes, IMO this is child abuse)--Kathy

My MIL taught a child who had been coached to fake seziures in an attempt to collect SSI penefits or "crazy money" as most of my school families call it. I really does happen fairly often. This particular child snapped right out of a grand mal when she heard MIL say that her mom was not going to bwe happy about having to pay for an ambulance ride.

 

[Muushka]

So I gather from this thread about half of us are unhappy with the state of welfare (or our welfare state).

What do YOU plan on doing about it? I know what I am doing. The primaries for congress will be coming soon.
Do your homework! Get involved!!!

 

[penn19]

That is wonderful for you. I did too and I got married too. He was an idiot and a drunk and it was the biggest mistake I ever made and we divorced 5 years later. Would I have given up my child? Not a chance.

I personally do not believe that it is morally ok to have a child out of wedlock or to even have sex out of wedlock. But, do we now want the government to be the morality police too?




Several have said that they don't spend whatever their state's amount is for a family of 4 on food stamps. I have no clue what a family gets here, but I know darn well that I cannot buy groceries for a family of 3 on $100 a week. It would definitely be closer to the $600 per month that some of you were saying. In order for us to have healthy meals every morning and night, plenty of fresh fruits and veggies for snacks and such and my lunch for work (dd eats at school) plus the items that dh keeps in the truck to eat (drives a 18 wheeler) it ranges from $120-$180 per week. I have tried everything to get it down, but if it goes down one week its just right back up the next. And I do use coupons and I ad match and watch the ads closely.

No, I do not want the Government to become the morality police. I want you (not you personally, but all of us "you") to become your own morality police. I look at my son now and think ok, thankfully it all worked out. And yes, it would have killed me to give him up for adoption, but in a heartbeat I would have at the time because it would have given him a better life than being with a single mom who at the time was making $6 an hour. Heck, I will admit I was very selfish. I didn't want to raise a baby on $6 an hour, which I KNEW I could not do, because I wanted better for ME!!!

 

[ssawka]

I recall reading how many people had left the welfare rolls after the "reform"- well, they just went to the disability rolls instead. Actually, many people ( and yes, I knew them and saw it happen) coached their kids to do poorly on tests so that they could fall behind and be "disabled" or to behave poorly in school so that they could be "disabled". It's very easy for a child to get disability and very hard for an adult. Once a child is "disabled" and collecting SSI, the family automatically is eligible for Section 8, Medicaid, and food stamps, of course if no one is working. So the child becomes their meal ticket and the child is losing a chance to succeed as an adult. The adults do not have to prove that they are using the SSI benefits for the child either. It's called crazy money- and I resent supporting people who abuse their children ( yes, IMO this is child abuse)--Kathy

Not true, most states have a huge waiting list to get Medicaid and as such they are put on a Medicaid waver list which in no way is a free "meal ticket". In fact because there is such an opinion that people are "cheating the system" that I have seen first hand children with legitimate disabilities get denied aid. As I have said before, there will always be people trying to cheat the system, but unless you are a doctor, you have no authority to say who is and is not "disabled". DD does get money from the state for being disabled, but I would gladly give up all funding to have a child who is not disabled. Do not criticize until you have walked a mile in their shoes!

As for the testing, often the child is given more support and eligible for more "school services" depending on how they score on tests. Our schools love to categorize children and only want to provide services if the child can neatly fit into one of the categories. IMHO tests are a horrible way to judge a childs abilities, worth, and needs.