Penalties for abusing "the system"

Jill - posted on 03/15/2012

The Rich are biggest tax cheat

Ashley - posted on 09/02/2010

I live in BC Canada an by no means what you get for welfare what we call it is enough to survive i would like to see a lot more schooling necessary to be on welfare if no jobs are available if we put more money towards training these people and helping them with daycare which we do have day care sub mabey the cycle would break. I no so meny people who are on welfare and have no hope of getting of of it as rent in my area is 1000 for a bachelor apartment and food well its just outrageous i work full time and barley get by i couldent Imagen living of off what they have to. So should there be penalty's mabey but really i think it needs to be revised for 2010 to help people overcome there situations.

Lise - posted on 07/15/2010

Ugh. I'm bitter about this topic. I used to work with a girl who was offered a $50,000/year job and TURNED IT DOWN to go on unemployment. She played for years and made fun of all of us who actually worked for our cash... These things should be saved for those who need them.

Maureen - posted on 07/15/2010

Just wanted to clarify the Ontario social assistance programs.
There are lots of funds available for returning to employment including extra benefits for clothing and grooming .
The assistance is basic but there are income exemptions 50% for employment. Plus all the health care, drugs, medical transportation benefits are extra too. Children are included in the shelter budget but not the basic portion of entitlement. There is a federal child tax benefit, coupled with a supplement available for min. income families plus an additional provincial monthly benefit - all geared to a families income. Even if you no longer need assistance, the child tax benefits continue.
Definately a hand up.

Amber - posted on 07/12/2010

I think that their should be timelines for those who don't work (but are able to). Those who have jobs, disabilities, or small children should be able to collect until they can get off it on their own. They are trying and it is not their fault.

I do believe that their should be mandatory, random drug testing. My spouse works in an ER. A lot of people come in to see him who have government healthcare and they are on drugs (not all, but a very large number). It is sad that they get these benefits and are spending their own money on drugs.

Another frustration of mine, is that they come in to see him for things that are NON emergency. They have colds, STDs, or minor infections. These are things that you make a regular doctors appointment for. Instead, they use their government aid to go to the ER which costs 3 times as much!! And if he turns one of these patients away, they can sue us for malpractice! How is that right?

Our system needs a major overhaul and these people need to start being penalised for their actions. It may sound harsh, but once they realize that the penalties are serious, I would bet that they stop abusing the system.

Erin - posted on 07/12/2010

I think we need to cut to the root of the problem! EDUCATE! I've already been told before that ppl who scam or abuse the system are not willing to go to school, etc etc... so make it mandatory! You want assisstance you do XYZ I think Drug tests are a good start. I think education and health care should be free... I think that making sure we have a healthy, educated society would benefit everybody, well maybe not the govt. since they wouldn't be able to pull the wool over our eyes if we were all educated, but generally speaking, everyone would benefit. Childcare should also be affordable. I think these things should be available to the entire populace not just the needy.

I don't think there should be a cap on food or housing benefits. Everyone should have a roof over their head and food on their table. There is already a cap on cash benefits for welfare and TANF in my area. However, I do think that if you receive cash benefits and are unemployed you should be required to do community service. I think this could do wonders for your resume as well since you could be learning valuable skills at your CS job, making you more hirable in the $ making sector.

Sherri - posted on 07/12/2010

Bevelynn we had our children before my husband lost his job and our only source of income. What do you suppose we were supposed to do. Oh and by the way we are both college graduates. I worked full time until my oldest was 3 and we decided we didn't want someone else raising our children so we sacrificed for me to stay home to raise our 3 boys. However, my husband lost is job due to the economy and was forced to take a much lower paying job. Yes we went on food stamps. However, we still pay our own rent, utilities, insurance, car pymts, etc. Maybe you shouldn't be so judgmental? Just a thought that you don't know every families situations.

Bevelynn - posted on 07/12/2010

women stop laying down and making all those babies that you would need all those food stamps. i understand everyone would love to have a nice home or apartment to make everyone that lives in that home comfortable. if you able to work go get a job. if you have to stay home moms or dad teach your children how not to be lazy, to learn as much as they can. grow up and be something

Bevelynn - posted on 07/12/2010

tHE PEOPLE THAT CAN WORK, NEED TO GET A JOB. LET THERE CHILDREN REMIND ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE GET FOOD STAMP TO FEED THE CHILDREN. SENT THE PARENTS TO WORK. CATCH UP WITH THE DADS OR MOMS THAT ARE NOT DOING SOMETHING RIGHT. JUST STOP REPEAT THE SAME QUESTION I ANNOY ALREADY. i DON'T HAVE CHILDREN.

Bevelynn - posted on 07/12/2010

YOU KNOW I HAVE NEVER BEEN ON WELFARE BUT i WORK AND WENT ON SSI BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF. THEY SHUT DOWN SECTION 8 I WOULD BE WILL TO PAY MY WAY IF I COULD GET OUT OF THIS BOX WHICH THEY CALL A STUDIO, I NEED A ONE BEDROOM WHY ARE THEY MAKE THIS APARTMENT SO SMALL FOR SINGLE PEOPLE WITH NO CHILDREN I DON'T THINK THIS IS VERY FAIR. DON'T MAKE THE CHILDREN THAT DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT GOING ON SUFFER WHO EVER IS DO THIS IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY AND YOUR DON'T WANT TO PAY THE TAXS.

Bevelynn - posted on 07/12/2010

WHO IS TO SAY, NOT EVERYONE THAT ON PUBLIC SYSTEM AND HAS TO HAVE THERE RENT PAID AND GET FOOD STAMP IS USING THE SYSTEM. SOME PEOPLE JUST HAD A LOT CHILDREN AT YOUNG AGE THAT WHAT WAS OFFERED TO THEM. i WORK BUT i WISH i COULD HAVE SOME FOOD STAMP. bUT IT ALL OK I BEEN WORK FOR 3 YEARS AND I DON'T MISS SSI I HATE THAT THEY MAKE ME PAY THEM 7,753.00 BECAUSE SAID I WAIT TO LATE TO TELL I GOT A JOB. YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD BE HAPPY THAT I TRY TO HELP MYSELF. I STILL HAVE A CANE, SEIZURE AND OTHER PROBLEM BUT I JUST WAS SICK AND TIRED OF BE LABEL.

Bevelynn - posted on 07/12/2010

The children

Jennifer - posted on 07/04/2010

This is kinda going off topic as I live in the UK but the problem we have over here is that the illegal immigrants seem to be eligible for more benefits than British families where one parent is working...it's a disgrace!

Andrea - posted on 07/03/2010

I love what you said.

Jessica - posted on 07/03/2010

”What I really wanted to know is”

If there are penalties or provisions who is affected, the parent(s) or the child(ren)? – There can be civil and criminal penalties for committing fraud. This can also include what basically amounts to a lifetime ban from receiving public assistance. These penalties affect the entire family children included because even if jail time is not levied against the parent the lifetime loss of benefits for the family can be devastating. Not that I have a heck of a lot of sympathy for the parents but, it is too bad that their children are put in that position. There are work and job search requirements attached to receiving public assistance.

Would it benefit us if our food stamp program were run like our Tanf program? – If by this you mean should there be time limits. Then I have to say no because there are many families where all of the parents in the home are working full time where they still have to have food stamps to feed their families. Minimum wage is not a lot even if you live in a State that established a minimum over that of the federal rate.

Should there be a limitation set on the time you can be in public housing? – Once again I would say no to this for the same reasons as my previous answer. There are families who, even with both parents working, would be homeless because of the cost of housing versus income.

If penalties and provisions don't work, should that family be removed for receiving public assistance forever? – This can happen.

Which brings me back to my first, and most important questions, who is really affected by penalties, the parent(s) or the child(ren)? – Probably the children because it is not their crap choices that put them in the position. Parents who scam will continue to scam. The same parents who open credit cards in their kid’s names so that by the time the kid turns 18 their credit is shot. That being said, the actual rates of “welfare fraud” are lower than what we perceive them to be because it is such an emotional hot button issue with the perception of people “getting something for nothing”. In the same way that social services constitute somewhere less than 4% of the federal budget but it feels like we are spending more on these services.

Meghan - posted on 07/03/2010

min. wage in BC is 8.00...it's kinda hard to raise a family flipping burgers for 8.00 an hour

*edit* Even if you work 2 jobs as a single parent (or a household where both people are working) then you get into day care costs...which for me ends up costing more than I make. Day care substody is available but that's a "hand out" too right? To say that you can make a living flipping burgers in ridiculous!! Not all of us went to school and had a career before having children. In my case I was promised I wouldn't have to work ever again. Yes it was my own fault for not taking care of myself...but it doesn't make me a bad mother/person or lazy because I need a bit of help. I know you all have said that not everyone is abusing the system, and I fully agree a lot of people do. But it's better for my son to see me ask for help when I need it in order to make a life for us then have too much pride and end up on the streets and have him taken away from me...just sayin

Sherri - posted on 07/03/2010

You CAN'T just flip burgers and be off it. My husband works 50hrs and week and we still get food stamps. Qualifications are based on income not if you have a job!!

Katchya - posted on 07/03/2010

This is a very hard topic to debate. It comes down to humans are not like they use to be. (Not all) Most of them do not think as us. NO MATTER WHAT THE CHILDREN are the ones that pay the price. Its just sad. They have to see more then a child should. I was raised not to live off the system and make something of my self. I know of a hand full of people who down right abuse the system. "It's ezer to get someone to give me food then it is to work for it." One person told me this and I just wanted to blast them in the face! We as humans need to get back to basics and teach the next generation better. I do think we ALL need help at one point or another. But did you try ALL other options b4 getting "free" things from the government. Do you have pride in yourself? If you said yes then you NEED the help not want it. I think their should be drug tests. You can flip food and get paid. To get off of it. It use to burn my butt knowing people on food stamps eat better then we do. But now I know a time limit just needs to be put on it. I would say NO more then 6mothss to a year of help. If you can not do it in a year then you need to get your butt in gear.I was set up to help people for a short time not for people to live off of it.

Sherri - posted on 07/02/2010

There are quite strict guidelines for getting any help. We basically had to sell the soul of my first born. We had supply all pay stubs for the past 5 wks, checking acct., all birth certificates for all family members originals no copies allowed, drivers licenses, all vehicles you own and loan agreements, certified letters from landlord on amount you pay each month for rent or mortgage paperwork, All utility bills. We don't get any insurance or any cash money this was just for food stamps. It took my husband over an hour to eat his pride and even to be able to walk into the office we have never been so mortified in all our lives but we literally had no options. Even with my husband working a full time job as a CDL B truck driver he took a $300 dollar a week pay cut due to the economy but we wanted off of unemployment so we did it. However, they are allowing people to stay on unemployment for 2+ years we were on it for only 6 mo's and it was hell. My husband hated being home 24/7 and I couldn't stand him pacing all day long. So we did what we needed to do.

Amanda - posted on 07/02/2010

I guess I'm really mean, because I think like atleast 75% of the people that do get the help, don't need it .... they are just lazy and don't want to do shit and screw over all the people that would actually use the help the way it's meant to be used, who end up not being able to get it because of those low-lives. I think other than if you are disabled or for some other reason not physically able to work, then you should have a deadline for how long you can receive help, maybe like two years at most. Long enough to get some type of an education going and get a decent job(don't get a job at mcdonalds and get pissed that you can't afford everything you need lol). It shouldn't be the government's job to baby everyone that feels they don't need to work hard for what they want. I'm all for helping someone in their time of need, especially the way the economy is right now, but it makes me SO mad every time I hear someone talking about how they're on food stamps and they get money every month, and they don't do ANYTHING, and they don't try to get a job or an education, and spend their welfare money on drugs, or new clothes they don't need, or whatever else, but yet their kids look like they are from third world countries.... that's the end of my raving for now I guess... only ten more weeks to go till due date and I'm becoming exhausted lately lol

Meghan - posted on 07/02/2010

ok...I am on income assistance in BC canada! First of all, I also work and live with my mom...I don't ever ask my mom to cover bills or help out which is the reason I am on income assistance (which is different than welfare.) Between my job and income assistance I generally make 400.00 a month (lately anyway)...when my ex pays child support I live off of 750.00 a month. Thank god for my mom offering a roof over our heads for free, becuase how in the HELL can someone raise a child on (best case) 750.00 a month? I have bank loans (started while I was married and are in my name *smacks head against the table*), insurance, gorceries, clothes, gas, diapers, lawyers fee's (messy divorce and custody) etc and whatever IS left over DOES go to my mom. Oh and I am starting school in the fall so there is student loans I am going to have to pay..I don't have medical or dental coverage (actually that's a lie...I do, it's just emergency dental and medical)
What does piss me off is people on drugs who "can't" work or who do claim to be singlewhen they really aren't do get more help and more money (1100.00 a month) than a single mom who is just trying to get on their feet and in my case start over and make something of themselves. There are too many people who abuse the system and while I realize that there are people who "need" it more than I do...I don't sit on my ass doing nothing waiting for a cheque from the government. I pay taxes, I take care of my responsibilties. Do I like having to have help..NO! And social assistantce programs ARE there to help people during low points. Drug tests and looking into debt loads would probably make things easier.

Ramona - posted on 07/02/2010

Jennifer-- not all people on assistance "just sit around". There are many who do, but there are also many who dont. Sure, when you are lower income you have to do without some luxuries-- I agree completely. But to say they all just sit around is just not accurate. I get WIC and healthcare for my baby because I am in school. I assure you, there is no "just sitting around" with 400 level courses and an internship (which is unpaid). I have also been paying taxes since I was 16 years old and plan to pay them every year for the rest of my life.

CLARISSA - posted on 07/01/2010

We have internet, cable and, and cellphones. The total on our bill comes to around $100 a month. Whenever the is an article in the newspaper about public housing, the first thing people say is "well instead of having cellphones and internet, they should put that toward something else!" Or "I can barely afford to pay my bills, why should they have cellphones and cable and I don't?" It's the samething I talked about before, I don't know why people believe that you deserve less, or don't deserve to have anything, because they can't. I don't like driving a 1992 Toyota, I want to have a car just like the people who aren't doing as good as I am, but I don't. That's just life.



I really do wish that they would do drug test before you can recieve assistance. In my area, there are people who use their assistance to (barely) cover their bills, and then there are the others. The ones that always seem to have the latest clothes, games, and are able to keep up their drinking/ drug habit. That would force a lot of people who do sit around to actually sober up,and do something aside from sitting on their porches all day (it happens A LOT where I live).



In Georgia, there are a lot of programs that help parents get training, child care services, and anything else that may be needed to start the process of getting off public assistance. The only thing is, you have to be on public assistance to be at the front of the line for these services; recieving TANF mainly. Since I don't recieve TANF, only W.I.C., it's next to impossible to get childcare to do anything.





I could sign up for TANF but to me, if I only need childcare and training, I don't understand why I have to sign up for TANF to be considered ahead of everyone else.

Sherri - posted on 07/01/2010

I am on food stamps and I have all the above as well although we pay privately for our health insurance through my husbands job and pay over $100 a wk for it. We are not sitting at home either we get food stamps and my husband works about 50 hrs a week as a truck driver. However, we had to take a substantial pay cut when the economy tanked and the company he was working for shut there doors with no notice. So we had all the above before he lost his job we are locked into a 2 yr contract with the phones if we stopped paying we would still owe the money as the early termination fee is larger than our bill will be in two years and it would ruin our credit. We are in a bundle for the phone, internet and cable and it is $99 dollars a month just phone alone was costing us $60 and we don't even get even one single channel without cable so for $40 a month we got cable and internet.

Jennifer - posted on 07/01/2010

I just get annoyed that most of the people on assistance (not all) in my area have cable, internet, cell phones, and health coverage for their families while my husband and I are both working and can't afford health insurance, cable or internet. How is this fair? They sit at home while I work.

Ramona - posted on 07/01/2010

Kati- I agree about universal healthcare, if for no other reason than if people don't have health coverage, they are far less likely to get vaccinated against various illnesses, which puts EVERYONE at a risk for getting sick.

Ramona - posted on 07/01/2010

I agree with Tammy. There is nothing wrong with a little assistance when it's needed for a short time to get back on your feet.

However, if you talk to anyone who works in a welfare office, there are, in fact, more people who use it their entire lives as a way to get out of actually having to WORK to put food on their table. And I don't completely blame them; in Kentucky at least the state makes it easier for them to receive assistance to support their families than to actually work to do so. Plus, when it's something the whole family does people are raised believing it's just what you do.

Many of these people (not all, I know) who live off the system their entire lives do drugs and take up society's resources that way as well because they get arrested. The assumption some people make that is the the minority is just not true. I think drug testing should be mandatory, because if you can afford drugs then you can sure as hell afford food.

Maybe less people would use the system that way, and then families that actually NEED the assistance because of hard times, or because they are hard working and just cannot make enough to live would actually GET the help they need.

I am a single mom in school who has paid my taxes since I was 16 and have received minimal assistance. I don't think there's anything wrong with helping someone who is trying to better themslves so they can actually be moms and students. I just don't think it's the best use of government resources to give people food money when they are not functional members of society, such as the type of people mentioned above.

I don't think people who are doing drugs are suitable parents; the children of the people I have described are just in a bad situation all the way around, but it wouldn't just be because their food stamps and other benefits would be cut off if mom and dad couldn't pass a drug test. It's because they are already around harmful influences to start with. I really wish we had a better foster care system because these kids WOULD be left out in the dust if provisions such as drug testing were added and mom and/or dad continued to use. It is them who would hurt in that situation, not that they aren't already....

The system definitely needs a revamp and I don't even know where we would start....

Lyndsay - posted on 07/01/2010

To answer your first question, I think it would be the children who are affected by penalties. But, at the same time, if you don't instill penalties then what is to encourage these people to seek something different? The cycle of poverty is a hard one to break, and if you just allow a family to collect a monthly welfare check for their entire lives, thats what their children are going to do when they grow up.

I live in Ontario, Canada, and we don't have any food stamps or this TANF you speak of. A monthly welfare check for a family with one child is somewhere in the $900-$1000 range, though it depends on the rent the parents are paying. There are some programs and services where you can apply to get gift cards to grocery stores, but they are usually only $10 and you can only go once a month or so.

I don't think there should be a limitation set on the time a family can be in public housing, but I think there should be a limitation on the time a family can recieve social assistance. Here, parents aren't required to seek work until their children are of school age. That's fine, I think. But once the children start school, the only thing the parents have to do is submit a list of places they've handed in resumes every 3 months. Even if they don't hand in resumes, they can just create a list of random places and hand it in. This is supposed to be "job seeking". Yeah, right.

Personally, I think they should stop trying to make living on social assistance easier for people by creating all different types of services and work harder on encouraging people to seek employment or education. At first it may be difficult to live on such limited means, but after awhile people figure out how the system really works and they settle into a comfortable little bubble of poverty. Sure, they may complain... but do they do anything about it? No way. They just continue to feed off of the social service system, and complain that they're not getting enough.

(PS: I realize this post may sound a little harsh. By no means am I saying that everyone who recieves social assistance in any form is like this, but I've known many many people in my time who are exactly the way I've described and it just disgusts me.)

Sherri - posted on 06/30/2010

We are on Food Stamps but my husband works full time and I stay at home with the kids because in order to put all of them in daycare would cost over $310 a week and I wouldn't even make that working full time. I can't even work around my husbands schedule and work nights because he is a truck driver and doesn't have set hours so one day he could be home at 3pm and the next day 8pm plus he gets up to leave anywhere between 3:30am and 5am. we never know day to day. We could nailed by the economy and he ended up taking a $3 a hour pay cut to get off of unemployment. So now we don't even make enough to cover all our bills. So I have no idea what the answer is??

SHELLE - posted on 06/30/2010

Laura i'm in NJ and they have a lot to offer someone that has to depend on the sysytem to live, everything you stated they offer you, with some its madatory for school and job training. I have a girlfriend that was on the system and they paid for school, and when she graduated they gave her jiob placement as a teachers assistant, and her youngest at the time was 2 and he was able to go to the school until he was 8yrs old, My point is some people need the system, but some make it work for them. Parents do what they have to do to make things work for there family.

Chatty - posted on 06/30/2010

I'm in BC, Canada.....and I completely agree with Laura! P.S. Laura, I didn't realize you were Canadian too! There's quite a few of us on here, eh?!! ;)

Isobel - posted on 06/30/2010

My point was simply that if you gave people enough money to live with dignity...they would be more inclined to have enough respect for themselves to try to get off welfare.



I live in Canada (Toronto to be exact) so there is no breaking up of cash and food...there's just cash, you feed yourself with it.



I just feel that it becomes impossible to get off the system when you can't afford a decent outfit or make up to go to an interview...let alone if you are uneducated.



There should be MANDATORY job training (full time with free daycare) and then job placement. Still with affordable daycare and healthcare.



And where I am, we have the best program in the world, I think... if you are a single mom you get WAY more for the cost of living if you go to college instead of going on welfare...yes you have to pay back a portion of the student loans (a fairly large number) but you are able to do it because you have a degree at the end of it. It is the closest to eliminating the cycle of poverty that I have seen.

SHELLE - posted on 06/30/2010

The children, I could say more but I'm not. Just that they need to rethink on how they determine who really needs it.

CLARISSA - posted on 06/30/2010

In Georgia, you can only be on TANF for five years, I believe, not sure, and if you have more kids while on TANF you can't recieve more money for them. I heard that they were thinking of doing testing for those that recieve TANF and food stamps but nothing came of it. I believe that housing should be regulated also. We have a lot of crime situated around public housing, it's not the people that live in public housing, it's their guest and family/friends staying with them but are not on the lease.



I would love to see the program just revamped, but I don't know if it would really affected the people that violate the rules. I have heard of DFACS removing a parent from recieving their portion of stamps, but they still have food to eat (Not realizing they are taking food out of their kids mouths). Testing to recieve public assistance would be great. It would force parents who abuse the system to stand up and be accounted for their actions.



I believe that yo can make it work without cheating the system. And that it should be set up as to help us elevate our standards of living, not keep us in the same place for years and years at a time.

Holly - posted on 06/30/2010

That's right Kati!!! I feel the same exact way!

Rosie - posted on 06/30/2010

i feel the system is set up in a way where it keeps people on it. however there are those families that CAN'T work, disabled, or whatever, and will never be able to work again.

the only revamping of the system that i think is needed is to have more patroling of situations. there are people i know claiming kids that they don't have living with them, or lying about their boyfriend living with them or something so they can receive more benefits. that type of stuff.

what REALLY needs to be changed is the reason why people are put on assistance in the first place. lack of education-i say we make it a hell of a lot easier, and less costly to go to college. there is NOTHING being done to dead beat dads. put their asses in jail, penalize them for something or else they will continue to do it. i know that if i were to break the law and wouldn't get penalized for it, i'd be hard pressed to change my actions. drug and alcohol rehab programs, or drug testing to be on assistance. i do not wish to have people using the governments money on drugs or alcohol. and the big one for me would be universal healthcare. my children are on a government program for their health and dental care. without this program, there is no way in HELL that i could pay for my childrens medical care. my oldest son, apart from his birth, has racked up approximately $100,000 in healthcare. my other 2 aren't quite that high, but still waaaaay more than i could ever dream of paying off in a lifetime. i'd have to be a friggin CEO or something to pay for their expenses. everybody should have insurance provided for them.we all expect to have a fireman put out our fires, or a policeman help us if we need it, but the most important thing-our health- is ignored. i just don't understand how our society thinks that it's working out great when soooo many families are uninsured.

Jackie - posted on 06/30/2010

I def. agree with those of you saying their should be penalties. I do agree with Marsha that it will be a trickle down affect to hurt the kids too which is unfortunate...but if you weren't abusing the system they wouldn't get affected. Follow the rules and they will be fine...which equals, if your child gets affected its your own fault. Maybe if there were some actual guidelines people would stop abusing it.

Marsha - posted on 06/30/2010

the kids are affected when the parents aren't working,can't work,won't work, whatever the case may be. i think all parents should have to follow the rules to be in the system. the rules are there for a reason to help everyone get what they need until they can get back on their feet. if the parent's can't follow the rules and get suspended or removed from the system then yes the kids are affected but you can't have people cheating the system and ruining it for everyone that is trying to use it for what it was intended for temporary help, not something permament. it's a shame that a few ruin the programs for the people who have put something into the system from time in the job market to those who have never held a job and feel intitled that the governement or others should pick up the slack for them.

Tammy - posted on 06/30/2010

Oh yeah, about the penalties, I think they should be strict with the rules, and the consequences for breaking those rules. A lot of people need help some time in their lives....there is nothing wrong with that. But, dont lie about it, follow the rules like everyone else has to. That's life!!

Tammy - posted on 06/30/2010

If you want more than $950/month, than I would suggest working. I know some people work and barely make that! I am not putting people down that need help, I have been there! But it is supposed to be temporary, helping you get back on your feet. Why do people cheat the system? It makes everyone look bad. I never cheated, I did it all the right way, yea I had to work a little harder, but I feel better because of it. And I taught my children a very valuable lesson about work ethic, honesty, and most important (in my opinion) that if you want something, work for it, and dont expect it to be handed to you.

Holly - posted on 06/29/2010

Where do you live Laura? In California, my husband and I, along with our 3 kids (2 of which are under 3 years old) had to go on assistance last year because of economic reasons (he's an independent painting contractor and A LOT of people skipped out on paying their bills and we just can't afford to go after them all) and we only get $720 per month in cash aid and $700 a month in food (the food is actually more than enough, but the cash is no where near what we need - not that I have much room to complain, at least it's something to help!). I have worked since I was 16, so I don't feel guilty one bit (I have put a lot of MY money into the system too!), but I feel that the whole system needs to be looked at again.



Honestly, I don't know what changes need to be made, but a revamp may not be a bad idea...

Isobel - posted on 06/29/2010

I would FAR prefer a system that allowed people to live like human beings for a limited time (six months to one year) than force them to live like animals forever...

Isobel - posted on 06/29/2010

Where I live, social assistance pays a mother of 1 $950, the average bachelor apartment runs approximately $750, exactly how do you expect people to survive without "cheating" the system?