government assistance?
- Thread starter nancy2394
- Start date
I am disabled and on assistance. And I will not hold my head down in shame for it. It took my doctor several years to convince me to go on assistance. I had a husband at the time who sort of worked but I didn't beleive in going on assistance if there was any other way. But when I found out my husband was a drug addict, acholoic, gambling addict and he finally refused to go to work we had no income. I was a stay at home mom to 3 kids and felt I had no choice. Now I am so thankful for that doctor. He saved me and my kids. Going on disability made it so I could get away from my abusive husband. Who has now been in jail several times for assualt agianst me. Has it been easy on assistance? No. Do I have a ton of luxturies. No. Do I have money for extra's. No. I am happy to get to the end of the month with milk and bread in the fridge. But even with so little I am happy because I am away from the toxic person. I am happy to know I and my children are safe.
Getting on assistance is different in each area. For me I had to see several doctors and psychiatrists before they agreed to put me on it. Personally ending up in the situation I am in thanks to my husband, his lies, his abuse and his addictions has given me the ability to not judge others and the situation they are in. No one can say without being them how they got in their situation. And making assumtions about people without the whole pictures just makes an --- out of all of us.
Are there frauds? Yup. There is in every type of assistance you can think of. But I am not their keeper. I am focused on myself and my family. Not someone elses. I will let the people who make the decisions about assistance and who gets it take care of others and what they are doing. I don't need any more stress in my life.
Getting on assistance is different in each area. For me I had to see several doctors and psychiatrists before they agreed to put me on it. Personally ending up in the situation I am in thanks to my husband, his lies, his abuse and his addictions has given me the ability to not judge others and the situation they are in. No one can say without being them how they got in their situation. And making assumtions about people without the whole pictures just makes an --- out of all of us.
Are there frauds? Yup. There is in every type of assistance you can think of. But I am not their keeper. I am focused on myself and my family. Not someone elses. I will let the people who make the decisions about assistance and who gets it take care of others and what they are doing. I don't need any more stress in my life.
Exactly what I was trying to get across in my post. If anyone is lucky enough in real life not to have met frauds who are on assistance you must be living in a different world than we do. No matter how hard the system tries to rectify the abusers there are just too many loopholes .
I didn't find that there were any judges here, only people relating what they knew. As for the people on assistance that chose to identify themselves we've all known for a long time they were more than deserving and were the honest ones we want to be able to help. I didn't find they were demeaning themselves at all, when someone is honest you can generally read between the lines and the same applies for the frauds.
I, like Cooper wish there was a way to weed out the frauds and help the truly deserving get more than what they do get, unfortunately I don't think this will ever happen.
Some of the reforms have helped weed out frauds, but made it more difficult for everyone else. Unfortunatley, short of catching someone in an active lie, or following them around 24 hours a day, its pretty hard to know when someone is gaming the system, when they are doing their best, even if that best is not very good at all, and when someone is honestly just totally out of luck and has done anything anyone can do. We can't know what's in people's hearts and minds. Sure, their friends and neighbors might know, at least know a lot . . . but how does the person at the welfare office tell?
I can't quite say I'm disappointed with those who game the system . . . because I expect it. Its not that I am not angry that they are taking advantage of the system and making it harder for those who really need help, it just that its such a human thing to do. If there is a chance at a free lunch, someone will take it. I also recognize that need can be relative . . . I've known some real losers. Some of those people, without a doubt, were taking advantage of everything they could because they were just bone-lazy . . . but some of them . . . their position many people could have done better . . . I'm just not sure that that individual could. And I have no idea what to do about that.
I do wish it was easier for the clearcut cases though . . . we do a lot of social security/disability cases pro bono at the firm, and its really rough for those people.
I can't quite say I'm disappointed with those who game the system . . . because I expect it. Its not that I am not angry that they are taking advantage of the system and making it harder for those who really need help, it just that its such a human thing to do. If there is a chance at a free lunch, someone will take it. I also recognize that need can be relative . . . I've known some real losers. Some of those people, without a doubt, were taking advantage of everything they could because they were just bone-lazy . . . but some of them . . . their position many people could have done better . . . I'm just not sure that that individual could. And I have no idea what to do about that.
I do wish it was easier for the clearcut cases though . . . we do a lot of social security/disability cases pro bono at the firm, and its really rough for those people.
I think that sums up the whole thread for me. I've yet to see one person say
"I don't want to work and give money to ANYONE.....whether they need it or not" The consensus seems to be, if you need it for hard times, please take it. If you WANT it so you don't need to contribute or work, it's wrong.
Some of the people in this thread who may have taken offense, well, I don't understand why. WHY would you be upset the WE are upset with those who would fraud the system?
If YOU are on assistance because you are struggling and doing your best.........YOU are not the ones people in this thread take exception to. Not at all. YOU are the very ones we are happy has a small safety net to catch you.
Any single one of us could be in need at any time in our lives. I would NEVER want someone's child to go to bed hungry if I could change it..........and I don't know anyone else who would like that either.
"I don't want to work and give money to ANYONE.....whether they need it or not" The consensus seems to be, if you need it for hard times, please take it. If you WANT it so you don't need to contribute or work, it's wrong.
Some of the people in this thread who may have taken offense, well, I don't understand why. WHY would you be upset the WE are upset with those who would fraud the system?
If YOU are on assistance because you are struggling and doing your best.........YOU are not the ones people in this thread take exception to. Not at all. YOU are the very ones we are happy has a small safety net to catch you.
Any single one of us could be in need at any time in our lives. I would NEVER want someone's child to go to bed hungry if I could change it..........and I don't know anyone else who would like that either.
To me, it seemed like a lot of people were saying that almost everyone on assistance defrauds the system. That is just not true. I work with these people and, I said it before, and I still believe it. For every one person you can talk about who you know who is a fraud, there are probably 9 people who are on assistance legitimately. But we take these anecdotes of the person we know who buys big screen tvs and doesn't really need assistance as the norm.
I am also puzzled why some are taking offense to this thread. I have read most of it and haven't seen anywhere where anyone was saying anything derrogatory toward needy people on assistance.
Is it wrong for me to be upset with those who fraud the system? For every one person who frauds the system... another person who is truly in need may get turned away. Yeah, I know they can't police everyone on assistance to see who is commiting fraud and who is not. I just think it's a shame, that there isn't a simple way to rectify the whole program.
If I've said anything that has offended anyone on assistance, I apologize... it was not my intent. Why would I insult or belittle someone on assistance when I announced that I received assistance at one time in my younger years. I think some people may be taking some of the replies the wrong way, I don't know.
But I stand by my belief that there is nothing wrong with getting a helping hand to get you over life's struggles from time to time... but shame on those who purposely fraud and take advantage of the system for a free hand out just because they don't want to work.
Is it wrong for me to be upset with those who fraud the system? For every one person who frauds the system... another person who is truly in need may get turned away. Yeah, I know they can't police everyone on assistance to see who is commiting fraud and who is not. I just think it's a shame, that there isn't a simple way to rectify the whole program.
If I've said anything that has offended anyone on assistance, I apologize... it was not my intent. Why would I insult or belittle someone on assistance when I announced that I received assistance at one time in my younger years. I think some people may be taking some of the replies the wrong way, I don't know.
But I stand by my belief that there is nothing wrong with getting a helping hand to get you over life's struggles from time to time... but shame on those who purposely fraud and take advantage of the system for a free hand out just because they don't want to work.
((hugs))
Replying to the OP. It asks for our opinions and if I read the 26 pages in front of this Im certain my opinion wouldnt change.
I don't think that the money earned by one person should ever be given to another person without the earners consent. Period. Free people do not have their incomes garnished for what other people think is a good cause. I feel that this has caused a serious decline in family values. People dont have to stay tight with their families any more because there is a government handout and there is no need to face your provider. Without facing the provider corruption is guaranteed. I also believe that if you cant feed them, dont breed them. I have family abusing this system and it sickens me. Money meant for taking care of kids goes to alcohol and cigarettes instead of to ways to get free of the government nipple.
This is where democracy has failed us miserably. When one person is allowed to vote out of the pocket of another we are doomed. When the majority, who have kids, can vote for programs paid by those who dont have kids we are screwed. IMO if you are on the government nipple in any form, WIC, foodstamps, welfare, social security, farm subsidies or anything else you should not be allowed to vote. Your vote is a paid vote.
I am not against charity, but free people get to pick and choose what and who they donate to. If I had my tax dollars to do as I want, I could certainly see giving a good portion of it to friends who could use a boost up. Free people should have that choice. Many people who I think deserve to be helped, never will be because they are too proud to ask. For that they will eat garbage and shiver all winter long while some people I know live much better off than me yet collect government funding. I am sure that the past posts mostly include stuff like "I dont mind helping people, but I dont like when the help is abused." To that I will say that everyone has a different idea of what abuse is and that is why we should have the choice to donate as we individuals see fit.
I don't think that the money earned by one person should ever be given to another person without the earners consent. Period. Free people do not have their incomes garnished for what other people think is a good cause. I feel that this has caused a serious decline in family values. People dont have to stay tight with their families any more because there is a government handout and there is no need to face your provider. Without facing the provider corruption is guaranteed. I also believe that if you cant feed them, dont breed them. I have family abusing this system and it sickens me. Money meant for taking care of kids goes to alcohol and cigarettes instead of to ways to get free of the government nipple.
This is where democracy has failed us miserably. When one person is allowed to vote out of the pocket of another we are doomed. When the majority, who have kids, can vote for programs paid by those who dont have kids we are screwed. IMO if you are on the government nipple in any form, WIC, foodstamps, welfare, social security, farm subsidies or anything else you should not be allowed to vote. Your vote is a paid vote.
I am not against charity, but free people get to pick and choose what and who they donate to. If I had my tax dollars to do as I want, I could certainly see giving a good portion of it to friends who could use a boost up. Free people should have that choice. Many people who I think deserve to be helped, never will be because they are too proud to ask. For that they will eat garbage and shiver all winter long while some people I know live much better off than me yet collect government funding. I am sure that the past posts mostly include stuff like "I dont mind helping people, but I dont like when the help is abused." To that I will say that everyone has a different idea of what abuse is and that is why we should have the choice to donate as we individuals see fit.
Last edited:
Catching some of these people isn't as rare as you might think. Often the system has doubts but can't prove it. But there are ways to weed many frauds out. Neighbours , friends and even relatives do talk, some even call the offices and give out information. I've know some offices send workers to live in the same towns as frauds to collect info on them. Some people are more than willing to spill their guts especially when it's so obvious it makes you want to scream. Off hand I know of 7 families that were discovered and charged and made to pay back what the government thinks they have defrauded. It can't all be done in one day, takes time. It can take a few years to gather the proof "beyond a reasonable doubt" that people are frauds but in the end justice does get served sometimes.
What does make it harder is that some frauds tend to mave around to lose themselves in the shuffle, but once the system has started a check they rarely let it go.
Sad part is that because of able bodied people playing the system, there are those in real need suffering for lack of the basics.
I often wonder how we go applying the NILIF to frauds.