Quote Originally Posted by ToomuchStuff View Post
I know of more bad cases then good. I believe that in a lot of cases, that MAY (doesn't mean is) mean that those who really need it, don't want the stigma of it. (at least locally) A good portion of the abuse cases that I hear, are from generationers (ones who have learned how to abuse the system from their parents/spouses/neighbors/friends). I believe that is the closest your going to find to an answer to your question.
I know what a basic cell phone goes for, as mine, if I started new, would cost $100 a year. Yet in an area that is known for "welfare kings/queens" (a term I had never heard before an above post), the state pays more then that and they have "smart phones" which are a lot more then a basic phone, that is what was supposed to be provided. I frequently hear about the selling food for drug busts, etc. between a friend who works at the grocery store in the middle of that area, as well as local law enforcement.

The ones we think of as abuse cases, are typically nosier (flagrant).
I'm shocked that the government is paying for phones for people. Let alone smart phones. How does this even make sense?!

When I was pregnant with my daughter I was fired from my job...I was 6 months pregnant (I spent a lot of time getting sick in the bathroom and this was not okay with my boss). 2 weeks later my name came up for a brand new townhouse that goes by your income. They told me they wouldn't be able to give it to me without any income and if I wanted the place I needed to go apply for welfare. I did and I got my place. It was an absolute blessing.

After my daughter was born and was 3 months old I decided I wanted to go back to work. I was only receiving $400.00 a month from the state. I knew that I was capable of making this much in a week. I went to the welfare office, thanked them for the help they had given me and asked to cancel it. I was absolutely taken back by how they treated me. I was made to sign some forms and was told that by me signing those forms and asking to be taken off of welfare that they would never, EVER help me again with any sort of help be it food stamps etc. I was so angry and confused! I honestly can not say what I did sign and if this is even true or if they were just trying to scare me. I never looked back and don't plan on it so I guess (hopefully) I will never know if they were bluffing or not I used them as a stepping stone like they were intended. I was 18 years old with a 3 month old child living on my own. I am grateful for the assistance at the time and don't feel a bit guilty about accepting the help.

I get really upset when I hear about people abusing the system. I know a girl that was receiving food stamps for her and her 5 children and her husband, he at the time was collecting unemployment from a union job..he made $750.00 a week on unemployment and they would buy filet mignon and lobster with the food stamps money they would receive. I couldn't for the life of me figure out how they were even eligible for them in the first place!