government assistance?

[nancy2394]

PLEASE keep this a friendly debate

AC's thread got me thinking. And I didn't want to hijack her thread, so I figured I'd start a new one. Way back when I was a young teen and new mom, I received government assistance. I got help with my housing, foodstamps and medical coverage.

I never really bought any luxuries while on government assistance mostly because I was always so broke..lol But I have a little bit of mixed feelings about the whole spending money while receiving funds.

I can see how some people would be upset to know that they are out there working to earn a living and their taxes are aiding the government funding that goes to the individuals needing it. Granted some people truly need the assistance and deserve it, but sadly, there are many who take advantage and suck the system dry for whatever they can get for free.

An occasional luxury item purchase seems reasonable to some extent because people still have to live and sometimes a little splurge can lift the spirits of an individual. But I do get a bit aggrivated with people who are obviously taking advantage of free funds and then bragging about all the things they've bought with free money (I've seen this happen many times)

So, my thoughts overall... are that if you are having tough times and you need to fall back on government assistance to get you and your family through those tough times.. then so be it. But it should be used as a temporary source of money, not an INCOME for years while you are able bodied and choose to sit at home and play the xbox while the rest of us are out there working to make it possible for you to receive the help you are receiving.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Jules]

I agree with you. For me, it angers me on two levels: for one, I want the money that I put in to be used resourcefully. I don't want to think that someone receives money I work hard for to go out and buy the newest gadgetry.

But for the most part I get angry because there are so many who really need the assistance and they get turned away because so many are abusing the system.

 

[Pam111]

I don't have a problem with people buying things while on government assistance. People always say "they're scamming the system." In my opinion, as long as you legitimately qualify (you are not hiding income or assets that would make you otherwise unqualified), you can do whatever you want. The government has set the income and asset limits for who qualifies, and I will not judge people who apply and are fairly given assistance. If the government did not want people to ever be able to buy anything as long as they are on assistance, they would change the income/asset limits. These limits are not high. Here, for medicaid for a single adult, you can only make 700 something a month. If you can manage to save some money and buy an xbox at some point on that income, then so what?

Also, most people on assistance do not get cash assistance, and there are limits to the amount of time you can get cash. Most people get Medicaid or WIC or food stamps.

I get WIC, as the income limits are really not that low and I'm a student so we only have my husband's income. I have a Wii and drive a decent car (with a loan). Yes, I had these things before I was on WIC, but some people seem to think I should now sell them because I "need" WIC. I didn't even apply for it, though, as you need a doctor referral and my doctor just sent it to WIC and I got a letter in the mail saying to come in. Yes, I could have turned it down, but if I qualify rightfully why?

 

[jess2416]

I don't have a problem with people buying things while on government assistance. People always say "they're scamming the system." In my opinion, as long as you legitimately qualify (you are not hiding income or assets that would make you otherwise unqualified), you can do whatever you want. The government has set the income and asset limits for who qualifies, and I will not judge people who apply and are fairly given assistance. If the government did not want people to ever be able to buy anything as long as they are on assistance, they would change the income/asset limits. These limits are not high. Here, for medicaid for a single adult, you can only make 700 something a month. If you can manage to save some money and buy an xbox at some point on that income, then so what?

Exactly!!!!!!

 

[nancy2394]

I don't have a problem with people buying things while on government assistance. People always say "they're scamming the system." In my opinion, as long as you legitimately qualify (you are not hiding income or assets that would make you otherwise unqualified), you can do whatever you want. The government has set the income and asset limits for who qualifies, and I will not judge people who apply and are fairly given assistance. If the government did not want people to ever be able to buy anything as long as they are on assistance, they would change the income/asset limits. These limits are not high. Here, for medicaid for a single adult, you can only make 700 something a month. If you can manage to save some money and buy an xbox at some point on that income, then so what?

Also, most people on assistance do not get cash assistance, and there are limits to the amount of time you can get cash. Most people get Medicaid or WIC or food stamps.

I get WIC, as the income limits are really not that low and I'm a student so we only have my husband's income. I have a Wii and drive a decent car (with a loan). Yes, I had these things before I was on WIC, but some people seem to think I should now sell them because I "need" WIC. I didn't even apply for it, though, as you need a doctor referral and my doctor just sent it to WIC and I got a letter in the mail saying to come in. Yes, I could have turned it down, but if I qualify rightfully why?

I would love to think that most people are honest and don't deliberately "hide" income when applying for these funds, but it happens more often than we know. I think in theory the government assistance program is good. But it would be nice if they could find a way to only provide it to those who are TRULY in need of it.

I think there's a difference when someone manages to save money they got to purchase a luxury item verses someone who has a live in boyfriend not listed on the application who is working and contributing to the household while they reap the benefits of the government as well. I can't even begin to tell you how often I've seen this scenerio.

And what about the medicaid people who have child after child on the tax payers tab? This is another thing that upsets me. I am all for people being able to receive medical coverage. But shouldn't there be a limit to how many babies you can have if you are receiving this "free" help? We just had a 19 year old momma give birth to her 4th child and she's had all 4 deliveries paid for by medicaid. She was in her hospital room talking on her fancy cell phone telling her friend she couldn't wait to get down to the welfare office with the proof of birth so she can get her increase in money and food stamps. I'm sorry, but that does kind of rub me the wrong way. Oh, and did I mention that she was hoarding and stealing our linen, diapers, wipes and formula? She even had the nerve to think we would supply her with a carseat. She said she couldn't afford any formula and that her wic appointment wasn't until monday... but yet she was out smoking every couple of hours around the clock without missing a beat.

She was pregnant for 9 months, why could she not smoke maybe one pack less of butts a week and put that money aside for a carseat? It's things like that... that bother me. It makes it difficult for people not to stereotype those who receive funds when so many people take advantage. So, the ones that truly need it and are honest people who have fallen on hard times are often looked down upon just because of the bad taste the others leave in the tax payers mouths.

 

[Criosphynx]

I've had WIC and the state paid for the birth of my daughter...

that said... I did become irritated at WIC meeting when people had say...5 kids and were pregnant with a 6th and needed assistance to feed their kids... not saying it should be denied, but its irritating that people who need assistance go out and have so many kids.

 

[Pam111]

I'm only talking about people that are not "scamming", though, and do disclose all income and assets and are not lying about where they live or anything.
I don't qualify for food stamps because I am a student and here you cannot be a student and qualify unless you are also working. However, the welfare office actually told us she could just keep me off the application and only put on my husband and baby and they would qualify. I said I didn't need to do that since we can afford food and that seemed weird and wrong to me.

 

[bubbatd]

I recent it when I see people using food stamps for junk food and drive a newer car than mine . Those who are down and out should be helped out. Especially where there are kids involved . Those who are out of work should do some community service .

 

[nancy2394]

I think the wic program is wonderful. It provides a great deal of help to a lot of people. I think anyone who qualifies should be able to receive the help. I often tell my new momma's to go ahead and apply even if they work full time because their income levels are higher than one would expect.

We also have a nice free book club program we offer that gives a free book every month for the first year to those families who meet the criteria.

 

[Angel Chicken]

I used to be on assistance...

Since then Rob has gotten a significant pay raise, and we can actually afford having all of us on his insurance, pay rent, and afford food.

When I was on assistance, we absolutely could not. He wasn't making enough money to support us all. I did it LEGALLY, and got my assistance LEGALLY. I was on it for 2 years. By the end of 2007, I was off of it again.

The specific time they are talking of in my thread, was a vacation. I went on a 4 day trip to the beach with Rob and the boys.The game system they are talking about? That was a GIFT. The pool was bought with OUR own money.

Do you even know what you are subject to in my state for screwing the system? A friend of my mom's got hammered HARD for screwing the system.

I can understand why they are pissed.

I wasn't on assistance because I could be. I wasn't on assistance to mooch. I was on assistance because there was NO WAY Rob could afford us without me working, and he wanted me to be a SAHM. I couldn't go back home with my 'rents and the drinking and the drugs... I would NOT have my son around it.

So, I took the initiate and got myself and my son on assistance so we could receive proper health care and food (seriously, I kept "my" food separate from Rob's, as that's the way it HAD to be done. Workers could come in check our cabinets to see if it was being done this way.).

If people think wrong of me for that, so be it.

 

[Pam111]

I recent it when I see people using food stamps for junk food and drive a newer car than mine . Those who are down and out should be helped out. Especially where there are kids involved . Those who are out of work should do some community service .

But we can't make snap judgments. The person may have a nice car. Like I said, I drive a decent 2005 vehicle that I have a loan on and get WIC. However, people are hitting hard times right now and you can't just get out of a car loan just like that. They may be paying half of their income every month on that car but can't just get rid of it. We don't know people's situation and I hate to see everyone being judged on every single thing they do.
Also, a lot of people who need assistance are just not educated about nutrition and may not know what to buy. And even if they do, maybe they are buying some junk food for their kid's birthday party or something and we are going to judge them for having that little luxury? We just can't assume anything

 

[nancy2394]

I had a fairly decent car (at least to me..lol) when I applied for assistance many years ago and they told me you were only allowed to have a car valued at like 2500 bucks or something ridiculously low. they said if my car was over that amount that I would have to sell it in order to receive assistance. Luckily my car had high mileage and it just barely squeaked under the amount allowed.

I totally understand people may have already had some of these nice items prior to falling on hard times... we definately shouldn't assume otherwise. But it's the ones that are so obviously going out and wasting government money on non essential items and then bragging about it..lol

I guess I just see a lot of the ones that take advantage of the system for every free hand out they can get because of the job I have. I see these families over and over again. Unfortunately they are the majority, where as the honest people just needing a helping hand to get over tough times are seemingly becoming the minority. This is just based on what I see on a regular basis here.

 

[nancy2394]

But we can't make snap judgments. The person may have a nice car. Like I said, I drive a decent 2005 vehicle that I have a loan on and get WIC. However, people are hitting hard times right now and you can't just get out of a car loan just like that. They may be paying half of their income every month on that car but can't just get rid of it. We don't know people's situation and I hate to see everyone being judged on every single thing they do.
Also, a lot of people who need assistance are just not educated about nutrition and may not know what to buy. And even if they do, maybe they are buying some junk food for their kid's birthday party or something and we are going to judge them for having that little luxury? We just can't assume anything

I used to buy mac and cheese and oodles of noodles because they were cheap and I was trying to stretch the food stamps to buy more quantity rather than quality..lol

 

[sparks19]

I think the welfare program is flawed. YES there are people that REALLY do need it and it should be available for those times. but I do NOT think they should be handed a check to cash. Food stamps, rent vouchers, utility vouchers... NOT cash.

an example that really burns my arse....

my mom works for a property management company. many of the people in many of these buildings are in low income housing so they get discounted rent. no problem. but one lady in particular pays $130 in rent a MONTH... that's it. fine. Then one day there was a delivery truck delivering a 52 inch plasma TV to her. NOT cool. Now she is mad because this particular purchase was reported and ontario assistance is either trying to make her return it or up her rent.

I don't nessecarily believe that those on assistance should never be able to buy material things... but I think there needs to be a limit. when someone is on FULL assistance then there is NO need to buy a brand new 52 inch tv. there just isn't. IF you were able to save up that kind of money while on welfare (which I really don't see how if you are on full assistance) then that money needs to be spent more responsibly. but if you prove that you cannot use the money you are getting responsibly then perhaps the amount you get needs to be adjusted. When you receive public funds you have a responsibility to use it for nessecities and not just to buy the big material items. it's a matter of WANT and NEED. Because if they buy those items and then can't pay their rent... what happens? they don't get evicted ... the money comes in from somewhere to cover it. it practically takes an act of GOD to evict a person on assistance.

I can undertand the buying of junk food while on food stamps... junk food is cheap. not good for you but you can buy more of it for the cost. sometimes quantity really does win out over quality.

 

[bubbatd]

Agree to a point .....but when an obese family's cart if filled with chips , sodas , cookies , pizza and candy .....I draw my line !

 

[Pam111]

I had a fairly decent car (at least to me..lol) when I applied for assistance many years ago and they told me you were only allowed to have a car valued at like 2500 bucks or something ridiculously low. they said if my car was over that amount that I would have to sell it in order to receive assistance. Luckily my car had high mileage and it just barely squeaked under the amount allowed.

I totally understand people may have already had some of these nice items prior to falling on hard times... we definately shouldn't assume otherwise. But it's the ones that are so obviously going out and wasting government money on non essential items and then bragging about it..lol

I guess I just see a lot of the ones that take advantage of the system for every free hand out they can get because of the job I have. I see these families over and over again. Unfortunately they are the majority, where as the honest people just needing a helping hand to get over tough times are seemingly becoming the minority. This is just based on what I see on a regular basis here.

Yeah, you can usually only have a certain amount of assets, but with a car loan, you generally do not have over the limit in equity. A lot of these people even owe more on the car than it is worth, so they are in no way over the asset limit and can still have a very nice car

 

[Gempress]

My biggest pet peeve EVER when it comes to public assistance--and I've heard it many times--are the mothers who go on public assistance and say, "I decided to put my children first and stay at home with them" or "I wanted to be a stay-at-home-mom."

W.T.F.

That is the most selfish thing I have ever heard of. There are single mothers out there working two jobs to provide for their families. How nice of them to pay their taxes so other mothers can afford to sit home with their children. You have your heart set on being stay-at-home parent with your kids? Fine. Plan your budget around it. Don't sit back and let other taxpayers pay for a lifestyle that many working moms would kill to have.

 

[sparks19]

My biggest pet peeve EVER when it comes to public assistance--and I've heard it many times--are the mothers who go on public assistance and say, "I decided to put my children first and stay at home with them" or "I wanted to be a stay-at-home-mom."

W.T.F.

That is the most selfish thing I have ever heard of. There are single mothers out there working two jobs to provide for their families. How nice of them to pay their taxes so other mothers can afford to sit home with their children. You have your heart set on being stay-at-home parent with your kids? Fine. Plan your budget around it. Don't sit back and let other taxpayers pay for a lifestyle that many working moms would kill to have.

WOW... I'm definitely with you there. that is crazy

 

[MafiaPrincess]

Agree to a point .....but when an obese family's cart if filled with chips , sodas , cookies , pizza and candy .....I draw my line !

Sadly junk is cheap. Fresh foods are expensive. It's an endless cycle for some because it's easier to stretch a budget on varying types of junk.

 

[Renee750il]

Or, Gem, how about the ones like some people who lived across the street in a rent subsidized house. Couple with three kids. He had a great job, made really good money. She stayed home "with the kids" and drew welfare, food stamps for her and the kids, TennCare, Medicare, etc. She bragged about how they didn't get married because as long as they weren't married she could draw, but if they did marry, they'd have to live off his income or she'd have to go to work . . . and she didn't see any point in losing her "free money." :wall: