Are YOU To "Proud" 4 Welfare?
 

I have two friends who are unemployed, and to 'proud' to go out welfare or apply to any type of aid.

One is out of work for two years now, divorced, three kids (2/4/6) and had to move back to his parents house. The other, out of work 2-3 months, can't find work. Parents deceased, no safety net. She went back to school. She is not paying rent because the rental she is living is foreclosed (owner filed 4 bankruptcy) and has a child (5).

Both are struggling big time, and being forced to sell off their boats, furniture among other things that you accumulate over a lifetime. Neither will apply for aid because, 'they are to proud', or, 'are to good', for welfare.

Given the same circumstances, are YOU to proud also?
:helpme

Not too proud but I feel much better earning than being a parasite.

You make it sound like they are too proud to do menial work as well as too proud for welfare.

can't eat pride.

The guy living at home with his parents and his three kids is living the life right now, he might as well go all in a collect a check.

No mortgage AND his parents probably doing most of the child care.

Fuck...where do I sign up? I'd GLADLY sell my boat. :1orglaugh

I have no part in their life decisions. Including what you call 'menial work'.

I am trying to understand their logic. They claim they can't find any work, and even the low end places like MceeDees would not consider them because they are "over qualified". So with the shitty job market, they claim they can't find work. Nor will accept welfare. Instead pawning off, or selling, all their shit.

I would think selling off decades worth of your life belongings would be last resort.

injured at work in '99... on disability for 2 years then offered social security for the rest of my life ($1200-$1400 a month, can't really remember), food stamps, welfare housing etc... turned it down and started shooting content.

I would be willing to bet that neither of these people applied at McDonald's...because they don't say that shit.

Anyone who manages one of those places would KILL for over qualified than have to deal with the typical Fast Food worker.

My thoughts exactly.

I can see being single, proud, and not wanting a welfare check I suppose. But when you have kids to feed?!?!? It just seems very reckless to me. I have my pride as well, but pride does not pay the bills or feed children.

Hell no, my whole gameplan at the moment is to make it to fall layoff and get on the EI gravy train for as long as i can milk it. Sit on my ass smoking dope on the taxpayer's dime. BOOOYAKASHA!

Good for your friends. I have been so broke I was struggling just to feed myself, but now, around 12 or 13 years later, I'm pretty much set for life. I have never and will never EVER go on welfare and that includes unemployment. I would rather scrub toilets as a temporary job than be a leech.

Congrats to both you and BM for your second chance, and success.

Do either of you have children? Or had them at the time you were going through it?

:helpme

as an employable white male with no kids it is academic anyway as there would be no chance in hell that i would ever be able to collect.

i would be stealing shit, dealing drugs or shacking up with fat chicks to survive i guess.

Bullshit. If that is true they should omit their overqualifications from their job application.

What were their previous jobs?

I've been paying into employment insurance for damn near a decade, as do a lot of people, why not milk it for a while I say. :2 cents:

They are talking out of their arse - doubt they have even applied.

This is what I meant about being too proud to do menial work. They think working in McDonalds is beneath them because you could get a job there without qualifications.

Valid point, but I still would not do it.

1. Corporate controller for some company.
2. I want to say forklift driver and loader for some paper company.

Stick it to the system if there's an opportunity. Look at all the rigpigs and oilfield workers up in alberta who work 4-5 months of the year, pocket $100k, then live on employment insurance for the other 7 months of the year. It's a way of life in soviet Canada...

thats just wrong but im sure alot of people wont accept welfare. some people are just ignorant if you have been working a full time job you paid into welfare. :2 cents:

Could be. Dunno, honestly do not care.

My point is that they have CHILDREN to feed and look after. Pride does not handle it.

:2 cents:

They are just 'things' though... Personally, a sense of self worth, personal pride, morality and ethics are worth much more than just 'Stuff'...

No, because I knew I was not in a place in my life where I could provide a stable environment to raise kids. My Mom had several kids and went through this same shit when I was growing up and never took a handout ever. She worked in some god awful jobs too when I was young, but worked her way up to being a VP at a huge company.

I did not know I could feed children, or pay for housing, with those things.

I'll let them know.
:winkwink:

what's wrong? i get a roof over my head and they get a nutsack buffet. fair trade imho. :2 cents:

:1orglaugh yeah right then she asks you to give her a sponge bath. :Oh crap

Yeah, but you didn't say in your OP that the children are not being fed. You said that the people were selling their possessions, to feed the kids, as opposed to keeping them, and claiming welfare.

I doubt that the proudest person in the world, wouldn't accept welfare if there were no other options. But these guys apparently do have options (The Possessions) which they are choosing to use up, before admitting they need help.

Fair play to them.

Likewise though, if they said fuck it, and instantly claimed everything they are entitled to right away... Thats fine as well...

Either / Or...

Its their life, so until the kids are NOT getting fed... I say dont worry about it :)

I thought he meant random possessions were unnecessary compared to food.

yep, had a 12 year old daughter to support at the time... lost everything and had to start from zip

Congrats to BM.

As for the others, nah. I simply think that if there were children involved. I would want to get the state health care, food, and assistance for housing. Even living at home with his parents does not give them health care. Plus I am sure his parents would like some money for food to feed three kids.

if they need immediate help tell them to go the salvation army. they are the best in that area.

It's very possible that they do have health care.

At least here in NY they would definitely be covered. Even when we do have insurance coverage, the state has benefits for children and picks up part of the tab. These benefits for kids programs are pretty much widespread, so I'd guess if NY has it...Michigan has something similar.

i have paid thousands in social and unemployment insurance over the years, so of course i would take it if i needed. but i would also make sure to be back on my own feet as fast possible.

Well, they have to APPLY for WIC, or Health care, Food Stamps, housing, day care, and whatever else the state offers. If you do not apply for even health care for the kids, you do not get it by automatic default. I would think you would at least want them covered just in case.

They simply have not applied for anything. Nor want to accept anything as a 'hand out'.

about 20 years ago I had to take advantage of 'welfare'. I hated it... every second of it felt shameful to me. I can think of no greater motivator then that. However, one look into my son's eyes (he was very very young then) definitely forced my hand to use those programs. I think they are great and should be financed more so that when people really need it they are there to help. We pay for it so it is there when we need it....

I wonder if your friend would refuse an insurance payment after an accident... or is he too good for that as well?

:2 cents:

Nah. He took advantage of that.

During deer season, apparently he thought he would hunt them with his Trailblazer instead of his rifle. He hit two of them. He paid the deductible, and had the insurance company fix dat shit.

:winkwink:

If my kid was suffering, I would absolutely get whatever kind of assistance I could. Alone with no one suffering but me, hell no. I lived on ramen noodles in college and I could do it again.

I feel you hoss.

I have zero sympathy for kids today who cry about not being able to work, and go to school. When I was in college, I worked three jobs plus took 18 credit hours, per semester, for three years. Including classes in the summer.

I worked in retail out at the mall, I was radio station manager for my college station (as well as a DJ), plus worked at an area radio station. That does not even get into Union Board and all that other bullshit I had to do for free because of the station budgets, and b.s.. I also managed to fit in some internships, unpaid, in the summer months.

I was working like 60 hours a week, plus 18 hours per semester (required), trying to handle my car, credit card, and other living expenses. Sure, it was not so enjoyable, and I can remember a lot of booze or partying when I actually did have a few hours to my self.

However, it can be done. You simply have to make a sacrifice.

:winkwink:
Yup, the social programs are there for a reason. We pay into them so if we need them then I have to say they should be used, especially by people like your 2 friends who have done nothing except been unlucky and they have kids to think about. I know there is massive abuse in the system and a lot of arguments to be made about fairness of them. I consider it social insurance that we all pay for and they should use it until they are able to catch their breath and get back on their feet.

I pay plenty for those programs in taxes every week. I wouldn't consider it shameful, just money in the bank for rainy days.

What is shameful is people who want to live on welfare, not use them as a way through hard times while getting back to work and on their feet. welfare is temporary, not a way of life.

Agree completely.
:thumbsup

:2 cents::thumbsup

If they paid taxes in the past, they have nothing to be shamed of. That's what taxes are for, they are not dependant on others but the money they already paid.
Becoming criminal or sacrifice family welfare because of "luxury problems" instead, is nothing to be proud of. I'd rather join the line of weekly check than the line in court.

I would avoid it all costs, it's one step above filing for bankruptcy, kinda a sign you've hit rock bottom... but I guess if it really came down to it, would beat begging for food on the streets... :2 cents:

There's a big difference between circumstances forcing you to rely on the system for a time, and someone who is content to rely on the system ALL the time. Nothing at all wrong with going on welfare for a time, as long as you also have the drive and determination to get yourself off of it and back in the workforce at some point. There are government programs in most cities that are designed to help people to regroup, get retrained if needed, and eventually get back to being a productive member of society.

Fact is I was in such a situation myself. Back in '97 I injured my back at work and could no longer do the job I was doing. Went on Worker's Comp, then joined a gov't sponsored Job Re-entry program which was geared mostly for people on wellfare. They accepted me anyway, it's where I got all my initial computer training as a matter of fact.


Anyone saying you're automatically a "leach" for going on welfare is an idiot. Too proud? (yes, the word you're looking for Footsies is "too", not "to") I'd be too proud to move home and burden my parents further, personally.

What about having to go on gov't disability? Something happens to you, you develop a debilitating condition or have an accident and it prevents you from functioning well enough to earn a living. Too proud then? Ridiculous.

BF, I had trouble believing that someone could look and not find a damn job in 2 years. Pump gas, work at a movie rental place, be a sandwich artist at Subway for christ sake. Something. There are always low-end jobs to be had, and plenty of owners of those businesses would love to have an older person that really needs the job rather than some irresponsible kid that may or may not show up for work Saturday morning.

Hard core. I bar backed for about 5 hours a night 3 nights a week and worked the door at a titty bar a couple of nights a week. Funny, I always had money for beer but could never afford food. :1orglaugh

I agree. He claims he has only had a dozen interviews, or call backs, in all that time.

:thumbsup

Well, luckily the college fed me back then. So you just had to make sure to grab your breakfast, lunch and din. It was awesome. Like Old Country Buffet, but a shade or two better.

Then you were free to spend all your extra money on booze.
:winkwink:

Automatically no, but:

1) I don't think it's the government's job to take care of me.

2) Anyone who is not working because they can not find a job they like or that pays them enough money and would rather go on welfare instead is a leech.

This is the new normal folks and it is not going to change anytime soon. In a few years it will not be strange to see someone with an MBA working at McDonald's or Wal Mart or someone with a Master's degree cutting grass for a living.

People raised to think the government will be there to help them when they really need it are going to be in for a shock.

"can find work"

Look deeper into this... Have you ever tried to find work that you can not only do, but pays enough to actually go and do it if you have kids that require care? Take my wife for example, She took a job as an office manager, and they paid 10 bucks an hour, which is shit pay but they best she can get around here. After paying daycare for 2 kids while she worked and covering just the gas in the car to pick the kids up and get to work she was actually negative 10-15 bucks a week. This is not even including wear and tear on the car, insurance, food, or any other bills that a working parent should be able to cover like electric etc.

So the whole "you could get a job at McDonalds" and make it is bullshit. I actually make more money having her NOT work and stay home with the kids.

Here we pay so much tax, 60%, that everyone working depend on welfare. :1orglaugh