At what point would you seek public assistance?

That's one of the main problems with entitlement programs. People apply for them and take assistance when they don't really need it. They figure it's ok to get some of the "free government money" whenever they can. Except that it's not free. We all pick up the tab. While some people do whatever they need to do to support themselves, others first thought is to turn to the government for a handout. I've never taken a dime in government assistance. Not even unemployment when I didn't have a job. I mowed lawns and cleaned swimming pools to earn enough to survive. I've had to work two jobs to make ends meet. I know how to cut back or eliminate non-essentials when I need to. But some people don't have their priorities straight. They don't look at things that way, they just stick their hand out and say gimme. I know people who have been on the government dole. They milk it for every dime they can get. One person lost her job and went on unemployment. When it ran out she filed for an extension. All the while she was looking for a job and she had job after job to chose from but she didn't take them as long as she could get the government check. Why work when you can get paid for doing nothing? When it finally ran out and she couldn't get any more, she took a job. She could have been working the whole time. I'm not saying this is the case with everyone that takes government money but these programs encourage people to sit back, do nothing and draw the check. There's no real incentive to get off of it until they absolutely have to and that's what happens a lot of the time. I don't have a problem with helping people that are truly in need of it but I can't abide people that take advantage and cheat the system. It ultimately deprives the people that need it a lot worse than they do. I guess that's one of the reasons why I've never tried to get it. I figure there's always someone that's worse off than me and I'm not going to take it away from them. I would have to be pretty bad off to ever ask for charity.

Dragon- Did you read the story? The way the article was written this woman lost her job a year ago and went all year without asking for any assistance. It's only now that she's found her bills to be getting too much. I'm sorry, but she probably had those items when she had a job and I don't think that anyone should be asked to suddenly give up their entire house just because they lost their job. And from personal experience I can tell you that a pawn shop is not going to give you more than twenty to thirty bucks for that television and Wii-game. And that isn't anything and not worth it. Even selling those items in a garage sale isn't going to bring in more than that either. We're living in very tough times right now with people losing their jobs, but I don't think anyone should be asked to simply give up everything simply because they need a little extra help. That sort of logic would mean that everyone who gets medical assistance, food stamps, WIC, or what not should not live in a nice home, have a few nice things, and basically be on the street. To me, people need help before they are on the streets. Namaste-Anora

I do not know if I would sell stuff, perhaps I would. I have in the past.I have had a couple of occasions in the last few years where various utilities have been budget breakers. At one point we elected to have natural gas service shut off at our house for five months while we caught up with the bill. That was the year that natural gas went way up.However it was mostly summer months when we had the heat off. WE had electric stove and heated water for showers and dishes or we showered at the Y or at the lake. Thankfully it has come down some. Another time, just this year, because of a water leak we ended up with a $400 water bill on top of all other utilities, and we had to do some figuring and juggling of things to deal with the bill. There is a local charity that would have paid half of it, but we had money we could access in a couple of days and I felt others needed those limited resources more than we did.I had a friend who pitched a tent for awhile as well. I think some things vary from community to community, but I do know that using those electronics will run up the bill. I accept that she will probably not be able to get enough money for her bills if she sells them, but I do not think it is any more unfair for her bill not to get paid than the next guy. From what I hear the weather is unusually cold in Georgia this year and the need is great.

I agree that some abuse the system & then there are those who truly need assistance & can't seem to get it!!! I cannot judge the woman in the piece as I have not been there to see what she's going through!!!! The picture makes it appear that she has her priorities misplaced, but pictures don't always tell the whole story. Remember, you are dealing with an untrustworthy press there!!! One of my Mom's friends has a son that just won't work. His wife claims she is Bipolar & can't work. They have a child under 10 years old. The son somehow manages to get unemployment over & over. His benefits seems to never run out. How I don't understand as he never works. The daughter-in-law is on disability because she can't work due to being Bipolar, but offer to pay her "cash" & she will work her butt off!!! Then I had a young lady I worked with for over 20 years trying to help her get on disability because she had "real" problems. She couldn't maintain a job because her disability was obvious to her employer, yet she was being constantly turned down for SSD because her disability wasn't obvious to those making the decisions. She was denied Unemployment because they said she lost her jobs due to her own fault. She didn't want on unemployment or disability as she felt she wasn't entitled. I work for a man who is quite wealthy. His brother-in-law (who earns over $250,000 a year working for a state government agency) & his sister-in-law (who is a stay at home wife), went to Florida to spend a week at their condo. While there, they were riding their bicycles for exercise. The wife fell & scraped up her leg pretty bad. The husband went & got the car then came back & took her to the hospital. He took her in & dropped her off telling the hospital that she was a stranger he had found injured on the side of the road. Then she told them she didn't know where her husband was (she didn't because he just drove off) & she had no job & no insurance (a partial lie she could justify in her own mind as the insurance was in her husband's name). The hospital treated her & wrote off the entire expense to Medicaid. Now my boss loves telling this story as his way to tell how poor, indigent people can easily get care if they want it, yet he's the first to complain about his taxes going to the poor; but it's funny when his rich in-laws abused the system!!!. I said all that to say the system is broken. Too much is given out to those who don't truly need it & then denied to those who truly do!!! I've heard too many people say..."It's there for the taking & I'm going to take my part." There needs to be a better way of screening!!! I don't know what that better way is, so I try & keep my mouth shut.

I can't believe, but I guess I should looking at the state of affairs in the U.S., that people think they are "owed" some kind of entitlement. TVs and even computers are luxuries. Sure it would be a pain without a computer, but I lived fine without one before. I'm with you, Dragon! About 40% of this Nation needs an attitude adjustment.

I understand what you are saying as this is what I have been doing for 11 months: I have worked since I have been 11 years old, and for the very first time in my life I am unemployed. Due to no fault of anyone of us at work no one received unemployment. This is a job that I have held for 19 years. I tried withing all my power and might to keep everything together, paying minimum balances on my bills, college loans and mortgage. Well 6 months later I ran out of savings. Lost the home and my immaculate credit score, and savings. I have yet to seek public assistance, however does not mean that one should not seek for help. I am completely broke and lost everything I have ever worked for.. I do not consider it pride as I still have a place to sleep, and hopeful to get back and not make this my way of living. I cannot speak for the woman you are discussing, however every penny I had went to my obligations.. I went without eating by the way as the bills were first and not having an income I was hoping to get back on my feet. So yes, all resources and last resorts have been utilized at least in my case and well let's just say this well overqualified person can't get even a receptionist job because I am labeled as way over qualified. So after owning my own home for 21 years to now living in a very tiny apartment has left me with no other resources. Yet I have done a great many things online and independent tiny jobs to pay rent and be able to have a meal. I have read some of the responses and although some seem to be harsh, no one truly knows what is going on in other lives and what their needs are. So I do agree to a certain extent as to what you are saying as yes, there are some days that I am without proper eating but I am still hoping to land on my feet and yes I would sell everything and anything it takes to survive.. Things are things I am so hoping that I never resort to public assistance as I am still doing what it takes to land on my own feet and not get accustomed to living this way.

My husband and I live on $1145 a month, half that goes to mortgage. Hubby has to have the internet as his job require him to have it and a cell phone or he would not be able to work. He is a substitute on call teacher. I am disabled and live at home a homemaker. We do not have cable or dish t.v we have a converter box, antenna and old old t.v. We do not have magazines or newspapers. We have sold items we could live and do without. I do not have any medical and pay out of pocket. Right now need $3500 for dental care asap. Do not have it and so will make do. We eat but not well. I see a lot of people on food stamps who fill their carts up with pizza, soda, chips, ice cream and boxed prepackaged foods with little nutritional value. My husband and I buy fresh, bulk and I cook from scratch. We do without many things until we have to break down and get them like socks or underware or clothing that does wear out or shoes. We do not have a lot left after utilities, mortgage, auto insurance, and gas for the car. We juggle and some months we get auto license, others household cleaners and hygeine products. We try and put a small amount about $20 aside for holidays and gifts for grandkids and we shop at thrift stores, dollar stores and yard sales as able. We use freecycle and go to food banks. We will be asking for energy assistance in January as we just do not have enough for electric this year. Hubby shops around and goes to junk yards for second hand car parts and does his own mechaninic jobs and fixes a lot of our machines, washer, dryer, microwave, cars, it helps. I take surveys and do things on may social sites like Mylot to help out. I sell things we no longer need on Craigslist or other places. We make do or do without and so far have not needed public assistance or food stamps. You are right there are a lot of things people can live without including electricity. If we must we will run our generator for the internet and well and fridge for a short time then shut it off for awhile but will use candles and kerosene if need. We will use one cell phone and one car if need. We will get rid of the dogs and cats if need we do have a couple we feed. We will close of more rooms and if need use one or two rooms to sleep and live in during winter to conserve heat. We already make our trips to town count and do many thing at once time in town and are done for a week or two. Except when he has to go to work. We already recycle and trade, barter things. But if we need we will ask. The two of us can get by and let others have help like families. Right now we have our home for sale to move to a smaller closer in home and we hope to have a garden area which will help. So yes people can do without a lot more than they think they can.

I am starting to get tired of Americans regarding a television as luxury. However, you should know that if you use electricity, you will need to pay for it. And the biggest electricity guzzler are electric heaters ans air-conditionning. So find a cheaper alternative. I find it a bit rich when people do not save on electricity and expect charity to pay their bills.

Well, if this lady has worked her then she has paid her tax money into the system the same as everyone else and now that she needs the help she should ask for it. She should not have to sell everything that she owns to be able to live. It is not her fault that the economy has gone downhill like it has and she should not be judged by saying that she needs help. My family and I have had a tough year and Christmas is going to be lousy this year for us. We have sold a lot of our stuff to make ends meet and if I have to ask for help to feed my child, then I will. I have had to use the food pantry a few times and I am not ashamed of that as we pay our taxes the same as everyone else. My husband was working in millwright work making almost $4,000 or more per month and I was working part time making about $1,000 a month and we have both been without work all year. I have been off due to an injury and he has been out of work due to companies cancelling work. All beyond our hands. It is the time of the year that we should be willing to help others if we can not judge them!!

I agree. It rubs me the wrong way when people with so many luxuries ask for handouts. I was brought up to only buy what we can afford. I believe that the country is weakened when people begin to look to the state to take care of them.

i just dont understand about people. dont she realise that if they give her help there may be children out there very poor that wont get any heat help? if i lived alone without children, i most certainly would consider that. geesh. she could sell that stuff and buy her a pc and get on to making online like we do to help pay for things i dont even have a tv that nice. i still have an old tv ive had since 2000. its only 21 inch screen. but i pay a little extra i make here and other places for cable. so i can still watch it. my son has bought a large flat screen for the living room, but i hardly ever sit and watch in there and its not as big as this womans.

That's a difficult situation to be in. If she is worried about her bills and so forth then it's probably right that she should be making some cut backs like getting rid of that huge television and probably opting for a much smaller set, this is definitely a luxury item and I would think that it's far more important to stay warm in this cold weather. I suppose we all have different views about things though and some of us cannot picture a life without those huge televisions! I don't have one myself although I would love to have a television like that. I'm just grateful that I am able to keep warm though during this harsh winter. Andrew

When you need it, you should seek it. There is nothing wrong with that. She should even go on welfare. They would give you everything and even housing.

Hi dragon54u, Yes, I am afraid I wholeheartedly agree with you, TV's and gaming systems are not necessary, and as they will burn more power in your house they are better to be sold when you have money worries rather than asking for a handout. Just like you I hope the woman is able to sort out her money worries but I do wish that there could be a little more help in using the old grey matter that we already have and which is quite useful in helping us sort our own problems out. Well done for shooting those squirrels while sorting your own financial problems out, I am not being sarcastic here, I really do admire the pioneer spirit in anyone, but especially nowadays when we all feel the need for so much useless stuff.

There is nothing rong for asking for a little help when it is needed. i would ask for help if I saw it as an option that would benefit my family. i would not ask for the help if i desperately did not need it. My family is important to me. If public would be something to greatly help my family in a time of need, i would ask for it.

Dragon54u, I am with you I would sell everything. I mean everything before I took an entitlement. Five years ago I got cancer. We had money in the bank. Before long all was gone we could not pay all our bills because all my medicine was not covered. We sold my jewelry. We lost our house because the medical bills kept piling up after the insurance paid. Then we finally start recovering from that and my husband loses his job. He did the unemployment thing and looked and begged for a job, he has now taken a job that pays 200 a week less than unemployment. We now live off 35,000 less a year. We really tough it but we keep on plugging. I scrape to buy oil and my house is at a temperature that is uncomfortably cold, we dress layers and use blankets. It is to easy in this world to take entitlements. And I will remind all the taxpayers that we are paying for this while most of these people live better than we do. I am all for the person that truly needs help. But if you have things of value then why should I be paying for anything. There is an old saying help yourself before you ask others to help you. Oh and I have children and they are learning to make sacrafices when it has to be done to survive.