Would You Turn Someone In For Welfare Fraud?
By ShawnDay
@ShawnDay (227)
June 7, 2007 1:25pm CST
If you knew someone was on welfare and had been for years even though they were more than capable of working, would you report them if you found out they were "cheating" the system and making money selling items online, or even on a site that pays to post?
Would the amount matter? If they were making $500 a year would you be less likely to report it than if they were making $5,000 a year and not reporting it?
What if they had children and you were worried the children would suffer because they are already living in poverty, even with the extra cash?
Just for the record, I don't think welfare pays people enough to live a decent life, but I also think many people get in the "welfare mentality" and feel they are entitled not to work, and live on the taxpayer's money. I've seen married couples go years without working and there's no reason other than the fact they're lazy and they don't have to work.
I think it sets a terrible example for children, because I think they need to see a parent acting like a responsible, independent, reliable, self-efficient adult, otherwise they're more likely to fail themselves.
1 person likes this
2 responses
@pallidyne (858)
• United States
7 Jun 07
Actually an even greater problem is when folks are penalized for trying to improve themselves and get work. I used to do some work for my church in the Bronx and am reminded of a family there.
Single mom, 5 kids. She was a great mother, and was recovering from a bad relationship and some bad habits. Was making some really good progress. Every once in a while members of the church would buy some food and give it to members of families in the congregation who weren't as well off.
This poor woman almost lost significant amounts of her benefits when she was turned in by a neighbor because of this. Please note this was for 3-4 bags of groceries every 5-6 months or so.
She attended a FREE class trying to make herself computer literate. Again, she was penalized what her case worker thought the value of the class was from her benefits. (It was a FREE Class.)
This woman wants to get off welfare. She just can't do it in one step. The system is designed to disenfranchise her to the point where she is better off never trying to improve herself or get a job. This is supposed to be assistance to help people get onto their feet and is so radically screwed that it ends up doing more harm than good.
@ShawnDay (227)
•
7 Jun 07
A friend of my mothers can only work 15 hours a week, even though she wanted to work full time. Her daughter has bad asthma and the meds would be up to $1500 a month. She had to stay on welfare so they would pay for it, because even working full time, coming up with an extra chunk of cash that big would be difficult.
@MJLami (1173)
• United States
7 Jun 07
Yes, I would - in a heartbeat! I've met too many cheaters, scammers, whatever we want to call them and there is no excuse for their lifestyle at all - it's not right that my tax payments enable them to not work when I can't qualify for assistance even when needed and when temporarily unemployed.
@ShawnDay (227)
•
7 Jun 07
I hear that a lot. There's never any money when someone is just in a really tight spot temporarily, but there's plenty of money to keep people at home who have no scrupples or ambition. And I mentioned, my mother's friend can't work, or they'll take away the medicare and she'd never be able to afford all those inhalers, and stuff. If I ruled the world things would be very different.
