Government Aid
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
United States
December 16, 2008 10:43am CST
Have you ever been on government assistance? Many of us have, it's wonderful that it's there for those who need it.
But lately I've been noticing that there are people on government aid that really don't need it, or shouldn't be on it. Do you know anyone like that?
We've never gotten government cash assistance, but we have gotten food stamps. When we were getting food stamps, hubby was working full time, even 2 full time jobs at one point. If he wasn't working 2 jobs, then I was working. For a time I was working part time opposite his hours so we didn't have to pay for child care, but when times got real tough I got a full time overnight job, and watched my kids during the day. This was when my twins were about 2 years old that I was doing this. Hubby worked 12 hour shifts everyday, and I worked 8 hours overnight, then stayed up all day with the kids. It was very tough on me, I hardly slept. Luckily I didn't have to do it for long because hubby got a promotion with his job.
Right now hubby is making enough to cover our bills and give us a little left over, but if things got tough, I'd gladly find a job working opposite his hours, so that our kids wouldn't have to be with a sitter, but I'd still help with the finances.
We're in a better place now due to all our hard work. But considering what we've been through, it really irritates me when people recieve government assistance when I feel they could be doing something to help themselves. If a person is capable of working, and has the opportunity to work, I think they should, even if it is only minimum wage, it's better than nothing.
Government aid isn't meant to support someone who doesn't want to work, it's meant to help those who aren't capable of helping themselves, or who are doing the best they can, but still falling short.
1 person likes this
10 responses
@hotsummer (13837)
• Philippines
17 Dec 08
i totally agree that people should not abuse the government aid. while they can still find good or decent job out there and if they get to ask for government aid, it shouod be temporary only and not the means to earn a living and avoid earning their own salaries.
1 person likes this
@kitttenskysong (676)
• United States
16 Dec 08
i'm one of those people doing the best i can but falling short, but i can't get any help. You have to be disabled, or have kids. Or this is the one that kills me have gone to prison. So if I have a kid I won't be able to afford to take care of (poor kid) or break the law i can get help?
Goverment Aide is stupid.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
16 Dec 08
That makes things even worse. I think there are far too many people out there who are undeserving of government help, but getting it anyways. I know a person who worked full time, but was paid under the table, and was able to get cash assistance. And there are far too many people out there who actually need the help but can't get it.
@kitttenskysong (676)
• United States
16 Dec 08
I went and asked for help and they gave me a list of homeless shelters now i'm living with my mom who needs me to help clean house and run errands since she can't hardly walk anymore and I still can't get assitance. I heard there was a government rpogram to help caretakers but I can't get any info on it.
Not that I believe it.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
16 Dec 08
I think there's a lot of different government programs out there that we know very little about. But the part that sucks is it's so difficult to apply for these programs anyways. You have to jump through a million hoops, and do things on their schedule. Even when we were eligable for assistance, we couldn't get it because it would mean hubby would have to take time off work to go down there for their interviews... what's the sense of applying for help if you have to miss work in order to do so?
Attempting to get government aid is a full time job in and of itself.
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
17 Dec 08
It's funny. I just wrote a blog about this last night. I'm glad, of course, that the government is around to help people who can't for whatever reason manage to survive. I get disability benefits (cash) and foodstamps as well as healthcare. I feel like I deserve all these things and try to be a good citizen so I can feel worthy of them. Some people, however, are an embarrassment to those of us who actually need the services. They don't try to better themselves and work on their problems so that they will need less help. I don't like those people, honestly.
I know I'm always going to need some form of government assistance, at least with healthcare. Ideally, I would like to get off government cash assistance someday and I would also like to be able to purchase my own food without their help. I know this is a long time away, but I'm working on it. And I'm making progress. For example, I know I earned much more money this year than I did last year. We've all got to start somewhere and we all need a little bit of help sometimes. I'm just sorry for the people that are completely reliant on that help and don't seek to better themselves. Maybe they need to see therapists and work on their issues.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
17 Dec 08
My biological mother went blind when I was a teenager. Before this she had a full time job, making somewhat decent money, although she was still getting food stamps to help out. She was a single mom of 3, and my siblins were still infants at this time.
When she first went blind she tried to keep her job, and there was an organization that came to her job and set everything up so that she would continue to work. They put in a new phone with large numbers and brail on the buttons. They changed the computer system, all for free so that she could keep her job.
In the end she said it was too difficult to take the bus, even though since she was disabled she could get the bus service to pick her up at the house, it was just an inconvenience on her because it ran at a particular schedule that didn't meet her schedule.
So she quit working. Since that time she has lived off disability, food stamps, cash assistance, and health benefits. While I was still home I was forced to quit school and work full time to support the entire family, including her and my siblings. She then lied to the welfare program claiming I didn't live there so they wouldn't count my income.
People like her give welfare recipients a bad name.
I'm glad to see you at least have the desire to better yourself, and with the right help, you should be able to do so.
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
16 Dec 08
I have never been on any government assistance, and it bothers me, too! My daughter tried to get food stamps when her son was 1, but they told her that she and her husband made $9 too much! Yet, there were people in that office getting stamps that were driving NEW Cadillacs, I kid you not! She couldn't even afford an automobile, yet they were denied stamps. AND, to beat that, the man that they rented their mobile home spot from (it was a double wide they had bought on the spot) told her he knew how to get them because HE DID! HE told her where to go out of county and lie! She told him she didn't need them that much! They never have been on assistance and she's raised 4 kids the last 9 years by herself. She's had some tough times, but she's made it, with one son now 20 and an 18 year old daughter.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
16 Dec 08
I was 8 months pregnant with my youngest (now 11 months old) the last time we applied for food stamps. Hubby had been demoted, but at first his company didn't change his pay. When they figured out they were overpaying him, they wanted to be paid back, so were taking extra money out of his check every week. On top of that we were paying bills that had judgements against us, soon to the point they were going to start deducting thier money straight from hubby's check.
I obviously could not work, being 8 months pregnant and not having worked in quite awhile, how was I to find a job?
So we went down to foodstamps. They didn't take the deductions into account, nor the bills that had judgements against us. Only our heat and rent bills. According to them we were $2 over the limit. They told us to come back after the baby was born and we'd get food stamps. By then we didn't need it because the deductions were no longer coming out. Although we probably could have gotten them anyways, we chose not to. A couple months later he was promoted again anyways.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
16 Dec 08
This is an excellent posting Katsmeow. I don't live in a country where there is an unemployment benefit - just a woefully small pension plan for retirees and a health scheme for all - just for basic care.
But if I was working so hard and someone got benefit as they couldn't be bothered to work then I too would be so cross about it all.
You have done so well and have worked so hard to make a home for your family. As you rightly say, minimum wage is better than nothing. and who knows where even alow paying job can lead to if the person is hard working.
Of ocurse, many people ar getting laid off now who would wish to work if they had the opportunity. Blessings
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
16 Dec 08
Unemployment benefits are a totally different matter, as is pensions etc. Do you not have Welfare in your country? Because that's what I'm talking about.
Someone who gets laid off is a prime candidate for government benefits until they can find another job. That is why Welfare exists, for people who's situations change due to no fault of their own.
But there are too many people in this country who don't work, or work minimal hours, but expect the government to support them anyways. Granted not everyone is capable of working, but those who are should, and should not expect the government to support them.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
16 Dec 08
No we don't have welfare - this is why the recession that is just trickling down to us is so terrible. But we don't have snow and most people have help from their families until they get back on their feet. Our govt. has just announced that if you lose yor job then you will not lose your home until you get work but there is no welfare payment at all.
But people ar kind and exchange what they grow in their garedens with one another and help each other out in times of need. Thi is not o say that we don't have homeless people on the streets - we do. Blessings
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
16 Dec 08
That's a nice place you live then. I wish Americans were more like that. Unfortunatly this country is quite the opposite. Nobody wants to help each other, heck, most people won't even help themselves. It's a sad world we live in. But I do hope your country comes up with some sort of Welfare program to help people through the recession until the whole world gets back on it's feet.
@mindym (978)
• United States
17 Dec 08
Thanks for posting this discussion. I have not been on government assistance, but I just recently applied and was DENIED for emergency cash assistance, food stamps, etc. I work for a federal education program and receive a "living stipend", which let me tell you that after taxes are taken out, it isn't much at all. I have been looking and applying for a second job since September to no avail. I just needed a little assistance to help me with rent. It is so disappointing to know that I have been working and paying taxes since I was 15 years old and that tax money is helping others who are not working and should be working. Now I know there are people who need the assistance, but there are definitely people who are capable of working who are on it and should not be. My rejection letter said I didn't qualify because "there is not an eligible refugee living in my home; there are no eligible members in your home" and there were a couple of others. I am still looking for a second job. When I was growing up, both my parents worked two jobs each. But the governement encourages people to work limited hours, if at all, in order to stay on assistance. So, why would they want to work a minimum wage job when they get more from the government? It is soooooetc, frustrating! Take care!
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
17 Dec 08
When I was first out on my own, trying to raise a small son, I couldn't cover my bills, but I was making decent money. I was working 30 hours a week as a pizza delivery driver, earning tips. They said I couldn't get any assistance unless I worked at least 35 hours. The pizza place could not give me more hours, and I didn't want to quit and lose the tips. I ended up losing my apartment and moving back in with my mom. Being that I was a single mother at the time I couldn't exactly get another full time job because I had to be with my son sometimes too. Moving back home was a better choice for us. The next time I moved out of home was to move in with my husband.
@onesiobhan (1327)
• Canada
16 Dec 08
I've been on assistance. It isn't really enough to live on, my rent ate up all the money and then I had to go to food banks to eat.
I think there are different reasons why people can't work. In my case I just couldn't find a job because I was very young. I have known people to be unemployed through depression or because they hurt themselves and couldn't work. I wouldn't like to see people go hungry because of that.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
16 Dec 08
I was referring to people who are capable of working, but choose not to. Welfare and government assistance is meant for those who are incapable of work or finding a job, not for those who CHOOSE not to work.
And no, it really isn't much, which is why when we were forced to get on assistance, we did everything we could to help ourselves, by getting a 2nd job or working overnights or whatever we had to do.
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
16 Dec 08
I think you are right. We are in the process of filing for food stamps. I stay at home because daycare for our kids would take any money I would make anyways. I'm applying for daycare assistance now too. We need the extra money so I'm trying to go back to work. If I can get assistance paying daycare then it would work. My husbands cousins are the type that make everyone look down on people who are getting assistance. They have been on welfare for as long as I've known them. They kept having kids and now have 3 kids and neither one of them have jobs. It drives my husband crazy to see them driving around in a vehicle better than him because the government helps them and the don't work. We really need this assistance and my husband works very hard but it isn't enough to cover the bills. His cousins both could be working. They just would rather be lazy. It is sad that money is going to them when it could be going to hard working people that really need it.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
16 Dec 08
My point exactly. I know people who are on government assistance and they have cell phones and home phones, wear designer clothes, drive nice cars etc etc while I sit here hardly able to afford my home phone, wearing salvation army or walmart clothes, and my car is in desperate need of repair and won't even pass inspection. I am fortunate to have what I have, but I'm sick just thinking of all those undeserving people living better than me just because they're lazy!
@robert19ph (4577)
• Philippines
17 Dec 08
hello katsmeow1213,
Good for you guys that you have government aid. Here in our country, our government doesn't give that even the food stamps. The only problem there is that, others who are capable of working are not force to find a job anymore because of that benefit. It's like unfair for those who work really hard and doing their responsibilities for their family. It's okey to give assistance from the government for as long as they truly deserve it.
Wish we can have like that too here in our country to help those who really are in need.
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
17 Dec 08
Having been on assistance in the past, I will not be going down that route again. Now that my kids are old enough and both have jobs it does help to keep us going. The last time I took any assistance was in 2004. If my children were still small I would be more inclined to ask for assistance. They aren't and I don't.
We certainly struggle through. Christmas for the past few years has been celebrated without gifts. Tax refund is when I buy their gifts because they are older and understand they have to wait. When I shop for groceries it is when there isn't anything to make meals with. Homemade pancakes always seem to be the last thing I make before shopping.
