There Is No Hope.....

[Meeko]

Conversation overheard between the kids at lunch:

DCB 1 (9yrs) When my mom gets the money on her card, we're going to the movies.

DCB 2(6yrs) What does that mean?

DCB 1 My mom gets money put on a special card and when it gets there, we go do special stuff like movies, and swimming and skiing and get fun stuff......

He's talking about his mothers Horizon card....her welfare card.

Nice to see my tax dollars providing life's necessities for the needy.........she bought a new iphone with the last deposit.

[Oneluckymom]

They can use it any way they like? You mean there are no restrictions on how it can be spent? Thats kinda of sad. We can't afford to go to the movies and we aren't on welfare ! Seems like there are a lot of people out there scamming the system. I have seen people on welfare with nice cars and blackberry's, etc. It's horrible !!

[Heidi]

They can use it any way they like? You mean there are no restrictions on how it can be spent? Thats kinda of sad. We can't afford to go to the movies and we aren't on welfare ! Seems like there are a lot of people out there scamming the system. I have seen people on welfare with nice cars and blackberry's, etc. It's horrible !!

In Wisconsin, they did away with "welfare" for that very reason. You can get food stamps, you can get childcare assistance or rental assistance, but you almost never get cash. Of course, many people still find ways around that, and there is a real problem because there are actually non-food items people need. Like toilet paper or diapers. So they are motivated to try to sell their food that they get from food stamps so that they can buy those items...and a few more.

I don't know what the answer is, but there's got to be a creative solution! Chances are, if anyone came up with it the politicians would argue it to death so long, it would never happen. If it did, it would be in affect for about 6 months, then get tied up in appeals and court rulings. sheesh..

[daycarediva]

UGH! One day care family that I had in the past is the SOLE REASON I no longer accept subsidized care. Brand new iphone, new car, beautiful clothes, food stamps and free day care.

[Daycarelady1979]

Could it possibly be a child support card?? Or maybe even just her debit card? Maybe she explained it to him that way, "mommy doesn't have any money in the bank so I can't use my card, but when my check is deposited there will be money on the card again" or something like that...

I know even the Children's Hunger Alliance food program now pays their providers with a debit card...so maybe its not what you think??

[dave4him]

You know why they post signs in animal parks telling you not to feed the animals? They would become dependant on handouts and not know how to make it on their own! ....... ah the irony.

[cheerfuldom]

You know why they post signs in animal parks telling you not to feed the animals? They would become dependant on handouts and not know how to make it on their own! ....... ah the irony.

i agree. I am sure there are people out there that desperately need the help but I dont know of a single person on welfare that is not milking the system. Its really sad and maybe it is just the people that I know but still.....

did you know that welfare was originally created where you use what you need temporarily and then PAY BACK the services when you can? My mom had 9 children (thats right people, nine!) and put herself through college and paid back what she had received during the time that she did have to take assistance.

it was never meant to be a way of life, just a way up. but a lot of people do not have the motivation to use it in an appropriate way.

I can think of several moms right now, that timed TTC having children around the services they would receive, it wasnt like these children were surprises and they needed help as single moms

[Heidi]

i agree. I am sure there are people out there that desperately need the help but I dont know of a single person on welfare that is not milking the system. Its really sad and maybe it is just the people that I know but still.....

did you know that welfare was originally created where you use what you need temporarily and then PAY BACK the services when you can? My mom had 9 children (thats right people, nine!) and put herself through college and paid back what she had received during the time that she did have to take assistance.

it was never meant to be a way of life, just a way up. but a lot of people do not have the motivation to use it in an appropriate way.

I can think of several moms right now, that timed TTC having children around the services they would receive, it wasnt like these children were surprises and they needed help as single moms

yes, but it's also pretty much designed to keep people dependent. In our state, at least, you can't get childcare subsidy for time you are in college, for instance. Not even an associate's degree. You can be in an approved training program...like CNA. If you're a CNA, you'll probably still be eligible for childcare funding.

Once you make 1 cent more than whatever the cut-off is, you loose everything. Food stamps, childcare funding, scholarships for low income, scholarships for your kids to go to camp or learning programs, free lunch at school, and medical assistance. So, what's the incentive to get "off" the system? A few people do it, and then end up being worse off than when they were on it...

When I was newly divorced, I did apply for medical assistance, and my kids got free hot lunch. When I met my new hubby, I would have been better off NOT getting married. . His income put us over the limits. My kids would have been able to go to university programs free, not pay hot lunch at $50 a month per child, and we wouldn't have had to pay for family health insurance. oh well....

[youretooloud]

I have a daycare kid who gets her child support put onto a special debit card each month. The Dad hasn't paid in FOREVER... suddenly, she got $4000 on the card all at once. The girl has no idea about this card, but I bet there are parents who share more information than other parents do.

Perhaps he was talking about that?

[Countrygal]

Milwaukee county had a solution that worked pretty well, from what I understood. The people who were able had to work for their welfare money. They got "paid" below minimum wage and paid in welfare money. It was incentive for them to get a job and kept the city parks and streets really clean! Most of the jobs were picking up litter, cleaning park bathrooms, things like that. There was a lot of stink about it, but the program seemed good to me. I could understand that someone who had kids could not afford to work for welfare money, but single guys/women without kids or couples who were both on welfare certainly would be able to. I don't think the program is still in effect, because there were too many problems and too many politicians were against it.

In Wisconsin, they did away with "welfare" for that very reason. You can get food stamps, you can get childcare assistance or rental assistance, but you almost never get cash. Of course, many people still find ways around that, and there is a real problem because there are actually non-food items people need. Like toilet paper or diapers. So they are motivated to try to sell their food that they get from food stamps so that they can buy those items...and a few more.

I don't know what the answer is, but there's got to be a creative solution! Chances are, if anyone came up with it the politicians would argue it to death so long, it would never happen. If it did, it would be in affect for about 6 months, then get tied up in appeals and court rulings. sheesh..

[spud912]

My dh said that he has a coworker that lived a better life living on welfare than her current state of affairs. She currently makes $50,000 a year before taxes and deductions plus child support.

I used to work in the regulatory field and frequently came across families with several children where nobody worked in the household. I can't say what their circumstances were, but I do know that they used food stamps and their housing was free. These families had new brand-name clothing, television with cable, the newest and latest video game systems, tons of newer toys for the kids, newer furniture, brand new cell phones, newer vehicles, etc. Again, I do not know all of their circumstances and they could have received a lot in the way of donations, but I do have to say that they had more "stuff" than we did (and my dh and I lived on 2 decent incomes and no children at the time).

[Blackcat31]

Nice to see my tax dollars providing life's necessities for the needy.........she bought a new iphone with the last deposit.

The cards here are called EBT cards but are often refered to as "Everybody's Taxes Cards".

I had two DCM's last year who went to Disneyland for all of Spring Break.......both were on assistance (cash/food/child care and medical). One even left her 12 month old behind with grandma and grandma still brought him to daycare everyday.....all paid for by child care assistance too. :confused:

I have a client right now that is going on her 15th year of assistance. We have a 5 yr lifetime limit here but there are apparently loopholes that negate that rule.

I am all for a hand up but am getting really tired of the handout.

I can only provide for so many people and my tax dollars are not stretching very far anymore. FWIW~ I have NEVER been to Disneyland either.

[Bugsworthy]

I am all for a hand up but am getting really tired of the handout.

I can only provide for so many people and my tax dollars are not stretching very far anymore.

My husband was raised by a single mom who worked two jobs to provide for her two children. She refused to go on welfare, and always taught him to work for what you get. To this day, I am grateful for her example. My husband has a fabulous work ethic, and makes me very proud!

[Kaddidle Care]

Conversation overheard between the kids at lunch:

DCB 1 (9yrs) When my mom gets the money on her card, we're going to the movies.

DCB 2(6yrs) What does that mean?

DCB 1 My mom gets money put on a special card and when it gets there, we go do special stuff like movies, and swimming and skiing and get fun stuff......

He's talking about his mothers Horizon card....her welfare card.

Nice to see my tax dollars providing life's necessities for the needy.........she bought a new iphone with the last deposit.

If it's on a card like that, the State has record of where the $$'s have been spent. There is no excuse for that sort of blatent frivolous spending.

It's time to start asking the officials why this is allowed.

Perhaps it's not the Welfare card but like someone else suggested something else set up for Child Support. Again.. cards are wonderfully trackable and it may be a system set up to get rid of the rotton eggs.

[KEG123]

I didn't read all the comments, but how do we know it's not her paycheck direct deposited into mom's checking account, which therefor is used on her debit card?? Seems a bit rude of your to assume that it's a cash welfare card. Just my 2cents.