What should be done when people on welfare spend money on vacations?

[JennyMominRI]

If the money is being used for anything other than medical expenses, then IMO the public should be able to have some say in how it's spent. .

Yet, they don't have any say, it's up to the insurance company to make the rules about how the insurance is used...The people paying into the Insurance program get no say
The people at SSDI get to make the rules on how SSDI money can be spent.
It's no different than any other insurance program out there..

I'm not sure what's so *different* about SSDI.. It's insurance like other insurances.. Hundreds or in this case millions pay into it, only some get the benefits... IT works the same with casualty life insurance or Homeowners insurance...Many people have life insurance that will cover accidental death..99% of the people who pay for it will never use it.. That money goes to pay the 1 % who do, but I don't see people out their trying to tell widows how to spend their husbands life insurance because "She gets more out of it than he put in"

 

[cardaway]

Yet, they don't have any say, it's up to the insurance company to make the rules about how the insurance is used...The people paying into the Insurance program get no say
The people at SSDI get to make the rules on how SSDI money can be spent.
It's no different than any other insurance program out there..

I'm not sure what's so *different* about SSDI.. It's insurance like other insurances.. Hundreds or in this case millions pay into it, only some get the benefits... IT works the same with casualty life insurance or Homeowners insurance...Many people have life insurance that will cover accidental death..99% of the people who pay for it will never use it.. That money goes to pay the 1 % who do, but I don't see people out their trying to tell widows how to spend their husbands life insurance because "She gets more out of it than he put in"

Maybe I'm missing something, but are you comparing a tax dollar funded insurance to a privately funded one? Of course the two of those are different.

 

[JennyMominRI]

Maybe I'm missing something, but are you comparing a tax dollar funded insurance to a privately funded one? Of course the two of those are different.

Tax payer insurances are paid by tax payers... Privately funded ones are being paid by it's members... In either case you ,within the program(taxpayer or member of private insurance), are *paying* for others within your group ..Does your money count if it's going to the government but not count if it's going to Blue Cross or Allstate?
Either way you are still paying money to others expenses if they are sick or injured and you are not.

 

[MushyMushy]

That's not at all what I've psoted. I've been pretty clear IMO and I'm not going to repeat myself anymore.

Yeah. Clear as mud.

 

[cardaway]

Tax payer insurances are paid by tax payers... Privately funded ones are being paid by it's members... In either case you ,within the program(taxpayer or member of private insurance), are *paying* for others within your group ..Does your money count if it's going to the government but not count if it's going to Blue Cross or Allstate?
Either way you are still paying money to others expenses if they are sick or injured and you are not.

I think I get what you are saying now, so I'll ask this. Do people receiving money from tax payer insurances get lump sums that can be used for things outside paying directly for medical and living expenses? If so, then frankly I do think the tax payers should have a problem with that at some level.

 

[cardaway]

Yeah. Clear as mud.

You know, I realize this was a hot topic and tried to be respectful to everybody. I don't know why some people can't do the same in return.

 

[JennyMominRI]

I think I get what you are saying now, so I'll ask this. Do people receiving money from tax payer insurances get lump sums that can be used for things outside paying directly for medical and living expenses? If so, then frankly I do think the tax payers should have a problem with that at some level.

I get a check each month and spend it as a I please..I paid into the sytem, I paid the insurance for years..You are paying into SSDI right now and if you become sick or disabled you are eligable for the same benefits as me, although they will probably pay you a lot more than they pay me, as you paid more in. SSDI is NOT welfare

 

[Fitswimmer]

I look at SSI completely differently than welfare. I have NO issue with someone who is medically unable to work, or unable to work enough to support themselves receiving assistance. I have NO issue with how those folks spend their $$.

I have LOTS of issues with people who simply feel work is optional and will do virtually anything to avoid it-but still expect to have what I work hard to have.

 

[JennyMominRI]

I think I get what you are saying now, so I'll ask this. Do people receiving money from tax payer insurances get lump sums that can be used for things outside paying directly for medical and living expenses? If so, then frankly I do think the tax payers should have a problem with that at some level.

I get a check each month and spend it as a I please..I paid into the sytem, I paid the insurance for years..You are paying into SSDI right now and if you become sick or disabled you are eligable for the same benefits as me, although they will probably pay you a lot more than they pay me, as you paid more in. SSDI is NOT welfare ,it is a benefit that every single tax payer is entitled too.

 

[JennyMominRI]

I look at SSI completely differently than welfare. I have NO issue with someone who is medically unable to work, or unable to work enough to support themselves receiving assistance. I have NO issue with how those folks spend their $$.

.

SSI *is* a welfare program..It is means tested...You get it even if you never paid a cent in... SSDI is different.. It is dependant on how much you paid in ...The amount you get is dependant on how much you put in

 

[Fitswimmer]

SSI *is* a welfare program..It is means tested...You get it even if you never paid a cent in... SSDI is different.. It is dependant on how much you paid in ...The amount you get is dependant on how much you put in

Ok, well I guess it's more about who is receiving benefits for what reason for me then. I don't want to see anyone with medical issues not get the help they need and I really don't need an accounting of how they spend their $$. There but for the Grace of God go I.

I have always viewed Welfare as the payments my cousin gets because she feels that work is for people that are too stupid to figure out how to get money without doing anything to earn it.

 

[JennyMominRI]

Ok, well I guess it's more about who is receiving benefits for what reason for me then. I don't want to see anyone with medical issues not get the help they need and I really don't need an accounting of how they spend their $$. There but for the Grace of God go I.

Well that's a sensible way to look at it too, it's just not how the system works.
Frankly, I'd much rather be working, heck I would have much rather done my 20 years in the Marines than live with AIDS...I've had people tell me I'm lucky to get disability and VA pay because I don't have to work.. yeah, I'm really lucky

 

[nut4disney]

I have always viewed Welfare as the payments my cousin gets because she feels that work is for people that are too stupid to figure out how to get money without doing anything to earn it.

TANF, or "welfare" has a 5 year lifetime time limit. You can't be on it for a bazillion years.

Here's a link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporary_Assistance_for_Needy_Families

 

[NYBlue1]

I know im comming in at the end of this thread and if I get flamed for repeating something else that was said in the ten pages prior to my post I deseve it, I admitedly have skimmed the thread at best, that being said....
I have no issue what so ever with people like Jenny getting assistance, going on vacation or doing whatever else they need to on their disability, she has earned that right,here is what burns my buns.

People living on government assistance in a brand new town house courtesy of the good old tax payers such as myself with a cadilac escalade and a lexus in the driveway, going on vacations and whatever else while I live in the only thing I could afford at the time ,working a full time and a side job ,a 1930s co-op garden apartment ,lots of original left in it,and drive an old honda civic. Yes I have HUGE problems with that when there is no person disabled in the home of the family getting the assistance.

I made too much money to be eligable for the nice habitate for humanity type homes but not enough be able to afford a home for my family that even rivaled the welfare town house. So yes like cardaway I am burned to no end by being stuck in the middle class, which is anything but middle and closer to the poor than ever before.

The community I live in now is comprized of all 500g plus homes and yes they have to set aside a few of the homes for some less fortunate families. I made too much money for them. Why in the world is a family that is making under 40 grand a year get to buy a 500g plus house when I could not afford it on my salary. Where is the justice in this? Please would love to hear an answer to that.

 

[MushyMushy]

You know, I realize this was a hot topic and tried to be respectful to everybody. I don't know why some people can't do the same in return.

Sorry, but when you referred to it as "stealing," that's when it crossed the line from being respectful to plain old inflammatory.

 

[Fitswimmer]

TANF, or "welfare" has a 5 year lifetime time limit. You can't be on it for a bazillion years.

Here's a link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporary_Assistance_for_Needy_Families

Not consistently, but if you work the system right you can go on and off pretty easily. Aforementioned cousin has been doing it for at least 25 years. Obviously, I'm not smart enough to figure out how to do it, because I've only received unemployment benefits for 3 months in that same 25 years.

 

[nut4disney]

People living on government assistance in a brand new town house courtesy of the good old tax payers such as myself with a cadilac escalade and a lexus in the driveway

Where in NY state do you live that people on welfare own two cars and a house in the suburbs? Seriously. That sounds really hard to believe. Do you have any evidence to show that this is happening?

I made too much money to be eligable for the nice habitate for humanity type homes but not enough be able to afford a home for my family that even rivaled the welfare town house. So yes like cardaway I am burned to no end by being stuck in the middle class, which is anything but middle and closer to the poor than ever before.

Habitat for Humanity is a private organization. Not a taxpayer supported program. Taxpayers don't control who gets their houses.

 

[blanq]

What are we talking about, which people? People on
WIC
Food stamps(I assume this is an understandable given)
SSI
SSDI
VA pay
medicaid
Medicare

Or are we are talking about the big executives of the oil companies whose companies receive millions of dollars in corporate welfare, and who personally receive millions of dollars in salaries and stock options so they can fly off in their private jets to the Maldives for a long weekend?

 

[Fitswimmer]

My question exactly, but I maybe wonder if we are talking about the big executives of the oil companies whose companies receive millions of dollars in corporate welfare, and who personally receive millions of dollars in salaries and stock options so they can fly off in their private jets to the Maldives for a long weekend.

I brought that up a few pages ago, but it got lost...

If we actually cut the corporate welfare, gave farming assistance to actual family farmers and not Archer Daniels Midland and closed the tax loopholes so that Warren Buffett isn't paying a smaller percentage of his income on taxes than I do-we might be able to actually help more people.

 

[cardaway]

Sorry, but when you referred to it as "stealing," that's when it crossed the line from being respectful to plain old inflammatory.

Inflammatory? Make no mistake, what some people are doing is flat out stealing. If that's not you, why take it personally?