Disability, Unemployment, Welfare, Public Assistance, WIC....

I am on disability, I have epilepsy and I don't think being disabled takes advantage because I have an associates degree in health care management and when my condition improves I Hope, I plan on getting a job of my dreams, alot of people here I notice take advantage of the welfare system, they are people on welfare that have 5 kids, if you cannot afford one kid you should not have any other, accidents happen but I've heard words people saying they get more money if they have more kids, there is a new law that they will only pay for 2 children, I guess they caught on to the scheme.

I have no problem with my tax dollars supporting any of the programs that you mentioned. The issue for me is when the programs are abused by those 'navigating' the system and 'living off the government.' I have a neighbor who is 32 years old, in perfect health, has 5 children and brags that she has "never worked a day in my life." Her husband only recently went to work. They live in a middle class neighborhood, drive an expensive SUV, buy all name-brand clothing and food and get so much public assistance that I get delirious trying to keep it all straight. It is cases such as this that make my blood boil!

I would not flame you or anyone on these issues, I know many people do abuse the system,but there are many that have disabilities that do not always show. I am one of these,I suffer from sever clinical depression,and am able to work for short periods of time,but cannot hold any job for long as when the depression is at its worse,I can and do get quite violent, I am taking medication for it and am able to handle crowds and people a bit better,but it will never be cured. Unfortunatly,the scammers are the ones that stops the government from having the money needed to allow the truely disabled to get an amout to actually live a decent life. have a good day.

Well WIC is suppose to be good for baby and mommy. So I'm all for that. The welfare system is good, it helps a lot of families that can't afford food, houseing, and maybe even daycare costs. It's kind of hard to cheat the welfare system no a days. It's all based on income. And I know they do check ups in most states, and if not, then they should. Because I think it's wrong to cheat the system. To many families need the help. As for people on disability, well, I know they go through a BIG process. You have to have proof of health problems and all that good ole stuff. It's also hard to cheat that system. I can understand what you are talking about though, he is on disability, but yet he is lifting a heavy TV, but maybe he just had no other choice? Maybe he can't lift things like that everyday. I don't know. I'm sure there are people out there that do milk it, but I also know that it's a big process to go through and they don't accept people so easily. You have to have proof to be on disability. :) That is my opinion.

I think they are all really great programs, but like any government program, they can be abused. I hate when people that are pefectly capable of living without it, abuse the system. So, I think better measures should be put into effect to make sure abusers don't get the chance to really screw with the systems too much.

lots of people "milk the system" as you state. BUT i try to believe there are a lot of people who are credible. BUT i personally know several who AREN'T and ARE living off the system. i guess i just don't have that mindset, to try to use our government that way. very tired of the welfare and how people have more and more kids JUST to get government help. if you can't take care of your kids, WHY have more and more AND more, like that story you shared about that 20 year old and her twins, and more twins and THEN another set....wowsers....and they're unemployed? why isn't he at least working at mcdonald's or something to TRY to support the family?? he's only 21, he's young and strong. i don't get THAT. i like the WIC program. i think many mother's and children have benefitted from that, and that's hard to get onto i've heard. i dunno. i think these programs are there for people who truly need it, but everything is so abused anymore, it's not fair. and the people who come over to our country and REFUSE to speak/learn english, c'mon, YET they're getting help...and i can't cuz my hubby "makes too much". please. we live paycheck to paycheck and sometimes put off phone payment or electricity to make sure our son has food. i dunno, i'll quit here, cuz i'll just get upset.

to me it seems that people who need help from some of these can't get help but people who dont need it are on it and taking away from the people who need these options

Wow—this is a touchy topic here on mylot- I’ll have to check back to see if you have started anything- : ) I see nothing wrong with any of them- if they are not abused- Everything in moderation. I know a lot of disabled people that still work- they don’t want to be labeled disabled- I’m glad to know that if and when they decide enough is enough it is there for them- WIC—is great – it helps the innocent children- Children cannot help who their parents are- and if their parents do not work and cannot afford to buy formula, milk, etc. I’m glad that there is help so the kids get proper nutrition. Unemployment- I think this is a great thing! You can only get it for 26 weeks—Do you know how hard it is to find a job that pays enough in this economy- I’ve used it once- for a short time- and it saved me- I didn’t abuse it- and I’m glad it’s there for people who need it.

Disability is a double edge sword. My sister in law gets it. It is only her and her hubby and he makes more than my hubby. Yet we no longer qualify for SSI for my son because my hubby apparently makes too much money. I don't understand at all. I can't get it either even though I can no longer work. Welfare is ok when people need it but I have seen it abused more times than I care to count. WIC is a great program for those who need it and qualify. Unemployment is only available for 6 months so people can't stay on it. I do know those who work long enough to get credits so that they can go back on it. That I wish could be stopped.

Disability is a cause for concern.Able person can go anywhere and find job.Government should come forward and make more easy jobs for them.

I don't have a problem with people who truly need the assistance. But for the most part I think that we should make sure that the people who are receiving the help truly do need it and aren't abusing it. I also think that we need to make sure that they are legal citizens. I think that there should be stiffer penalties for those who are defrauding the system. If you are caught falseifying your income to receive benefits then you should be banned from getting benefits ever again. Maybe if we put something like this in place people will stop to think about what lying will cost them .

While each of these benefits are valuable...it is a shame when people abuse the system....I feel that there is a need for all of these.... I also think that many are critical of others who utilize these programs and do not always understand the reasoning behind their use...... I want people who need these things to have them available and for them to use them when they are needed...I do not understand milking the system....if more felt that way...it would be better for everyone... I find no shame in the use of these benfits either....I can understnd anyone needing help from time to time in their lifes and family can not always absorb all that is needed...that is why societies have developed these benefits, in my opinion...

Disability really bothers me. I know people that are on it for depression and things like that. Well I have suffered from depression sense I was a teen and I'm not on any disability. I think some just milk it.

Apperently my response to this discussion got delted which boggles my mind because I can't see why anyone would report it. So I'll respond again. I have no real issues with people who use the system for what its needed for. I don't think anyone can abuse the unemployment system because you can only get out of it what you've paid in. As far as disability goes sometimes people have disabilities that aren't always visiable. I hear people complaining about those that are clinicaly depressed being on disability because they don't feel the people need to be on it. Well unless you've lived that persons life or walked in their shoes we have no right to judge how bad they really are. I have an older brother who has sever PTSD and anxity disorder. He can't be around more than 4 people outside of family and close friends without freaking out. He can't work a real job no matter how much he wants to. He does the best he can to support his family but without SSI he'd pretty much be screwed. He isn't abusing the system nor are the ones like him that need the help. He is just not capable of handling society anymore. He's had really bad traumatic things happen to him so much so that he is no longer mentally able to deal. People are so quick to judge others based off of outward apperences. Just because someone has had something or been through something doesn't mean it holds true for everyone having that problem.

I think that disability is good for those that really need it also. Wic is a big help for the lower income that needs formula for their babies. Unemployment is necessary, jobs are getting very unpredictable and good ones are hard to come by. Public assistance needs to start helping people that are helping themselves. They need to give more assistance to caregiving, helping get them to jobs, and helping them get on their feet and quit helping the ones that will not even try.

I think all of these programs are intended to be crutches. Crutches can be very necessary in some situations. Usually crutches are a temporary aid to recovery. Sometimes they are required for a permanent disability. I think that too many people believe they need a crutch when they could use a cane. In other words, sometimes people choose not to recover because it is easier than walking unaided. The problem with the system is that it is too big. If cases could be considered with greater scrutiny and care, more people would get only the help they need while they are involved in recovery. I think civic organizations could do more to help people recover and get off welfare, etc. That would help make the system healthier.

I really do not think that unemployment is widely abused like disability is. You have to work a certain number of months to qualify, you have to meet certain standards such as you were fired, displaced, or laid off - and you have to be actively searching for work *(unless you were laid off) in order to continue receiving it. you do not even get the first 2 weeks. unemployment is not easy to live on either. in some states if you have a military pension you do not even qualify for unemployment - or they give you a reduced rate. I think that is totally discriminatory! oh yes, with unemployment there is a maximum limit to your benefit and once that is reached it is sianara - no more money coming in for you.

The rules here in Australia for things like disability are stricter - i have a bad back & hip but they don't see that as being bad enough to be on it so i guess things work better here with not being able to raught the systems. I could never work full time because of my back but they don't see it that way (maybe i have to be a complete vegetable or something) & still made me look for work - i'm a SAHM for the moment though. Here you can be on unemployment indefinitely coz the system is a little lenient but i don't agree with being on it just for the hell of it. Unfortunately, being on unemployment means you can sometimes get more money than working part time so that's why some people tend to stay on it rather than working. I cant comment on WIC coz i'm not sure what it is but i think it's to do with being on a low income & getting assistance - am i close? If that's the case then it would be helpful but we don't have that here.

I think in theory these are all good programs, unfortunately we have many that milk the system because they don't want to work and want to get something for nothing. Sure if you worked hard and got genuinely hurt and need the assistance, definitely go for it, but I see many people who aren't genuinely hrut and sue for disability and end up doing money jobs on the side or as you said, moving a 50 inch tv because they want to. If you have the ability to do that then you have the ability to work like the rest of us. I have been on WIC, I qualified for it and I also worked full time. I feel that if the people who didnt abuse the system would be honest for once and give the people who really need the assistance the opportunity we would be in better shape.

I have known a person who did abuse the welfare system to get food stamps. She didn't claim her husbands income because she knew that she wouldn't qualify for food stamps if she did. When the welfare office finally came after her for the money she blamed her husband for her not claiming his income. She was charged with a felony and made to pay back the money that her family was over paid. She has since left her husband so guess what. Now she receives four hundred dollars child support, over six hundred dollars from social security a month for their youngest child, works under the table for her current boyfriends parents and she just got approved for food stamps again!!! She was bragging about how she has the system beat. Yes, I realize that there are people who actually do need help but the ones who take advantage of the system really tick me off. We need to figure out a way to fix things and fast.