Would you report a mother for welfare fraud?
By babykay
@babykay (2131)
Ireland
April 19, 2007 7:17pm CST
Just curious to see other people's points of view on this. A separated mother of 2 who claims welfare/benefit from the Department of Social Services on the grounds of being a lone parent saying she has no other income, but she does receive some child support from her ex. She also works a few hours a week to supplement her income from welfare.
Basically, she gets money from the father of her kids, but not always on time and the job she has pays her money "under the table" and is not well paid or secure. So, basically only her welfare money is guaranteed. Some people believe that fraud is fraud and should not be tolerated - what do you think?
5 people like this
4 responses
@Kaeli72 (1229)
• United States
22 Apr 07
No, I wouldn't report her. I too was on welfare and it was rather embarrasing. I was on food stamps when they had those brightly coloured "money" that you had to pull out of your wallet and tear out. Then, for the change they had to give you FS back. Right before I got off it was when they went to the card.
I had child support coming in, but the ex hardely ever paied his dues. My father would give me some cash to buy non-food items that I really needed. So, her situation is no different than what I went through.
It's sad that those who really need the money are stuck out under a torn umbrella: we're sheltered, but still get wet.
1 person likes this
@Tir_Na_nOg (508)
• Ireland
20 Apr 07
In my country, the welfare payments mady by the state are sometimes not enough to survive on. As you say, the woman is seperated and she probably doesn't receive much support from her ex. Taking care of two children can be quite costly so I wouldn't blame her for taking a job which pays under the table, at least she is working for the money. As long as she is taking good care of the children and spending the money on them, then I would not report her. There are people who are much better off than she is, who are claiming much more more money from the state.
@kitchenwitchoftupper (2290)
• United States
22 Apr 07
I gave you a plus for your discussion as it is a great topic. For this sort of fraud, no, I would not report it. She has learned to manipulate the system and as someone who lives on a fixed income, I promise you what the government thinks you are able to live on is not exactly what you are able to live on.
If the question you asked was would I report her for child abuse - in one flat second!
The reason that I say no to the first without feeling guilty, is because you have no way of knowing how steadily money is coming in from men or if it is coming in in the form of cash, food, clothing, or what. As far as the "under the table" money, you also probably have no actual proof to back up the exact amount she is getting; and unfortunately the staff in the Family Services field keeps getting cut back and it is (in my opinion) much more imperative to see that the physical, mental, emotional, verbal, and neglectful abusers are the ones that have the top priority in the workers' case loads
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
20 Apr 07
You must know my sister she has done that. Wlfare is living under the poverty level. I did not turn my sister in when she did it I do not know if I would turn in someone else. Is this women living high on the hog, does she have lots of money or is she bairly getting by? I know fraud is fraud but she is trying to make a difference in her childrens life. What ever she makes will it make a big difference in her welfare income? I do not know that because I have never had to use welfare.
