Need help responding to FB post re: welfare

[ceile]

I had posted a photo not judging a mom on welfare- "my bag is knock off, the car is my mom's, my phone was a gift...sorry I don't dress poor enough to view your view of poverty..etc"
This is what I get from my best friend. This is the kind of crap her part time working, mooching off her boyfriend spews- only more civil. I don't want to call her out, but I need to respond to this. Any thoughts?

"No way....I know how much some people get for food stamps....and it's about $900 for a mom and 5 kids (all of whom receive child support from their various fathers, so they are getting their new Jordans this week--- for sure...was said right from the kid's mouth....and why can't MY son have new Jordans with the money I am using to buy food?????). I have close, close relatives on disability....it's about $500 per month. I am NOT against social programs...as you well know, my job IS a social program. I bought my house with my earnings from special education funding. I support social programs. I GET WHY WE NEED SOCIAL PROGRAMS.....for those who REALLY need it. Not those who feel like they don't have to work because mom or dad or grandma or aunt or whomever also chose not to work, but to live off the public dole....as far as the racist card....who said I was speaking of any certain color? Can't white girls get weaves (like the one in the nail salon??)??? And, it just so happens that the two times this has happened to me at the SAME nail salon, both women were in really hot cars (one caddie, one lincoln)....it's not a stereotype when it happens in real life right in my face. I guess maybe you and I should go get our nails done at my place so you can get a glimpse. Not trying to kill the system....trying to clean it up so that those who truly need it can use it for what it was made for --- to help people get back on their feet so they can work, feed and house their families, and live life pursuing happiness."

[Glitterati]

1. Here's a real life example

My sister has custody of her niece and nephew - our sister's children. Their mother is in jail, and their father is in jail.

Now the sister who has custody gets medicaid and food stamps for the niece and nephew.

Is there anyone on this planet that doesn't think she SHOULD get that assistance in raising children who are not hers?

She goes to a salon, her daughter goes to the salon, and occasionally, the niece goes to the salon as well.

Would anyone deny my sister and her daughter nice clothes, a nice car and a nice home because she gets food stamps for her niece and nephew?

[cynatnite]

2. Wow! It's so hard to know where to start...

She may not be against social programs, but it sounds she is against anyone who is on them.

[bowens43]

3. This is your best friend?

remove the comment from the post and say nothing.

[noamnety]

4. I suspect she doesn't have her facts right.

She seems to be quoting the maximum amount a family of 6 can receive, but that would be reduced by child support received, because it's counted as income.

Aside from that, it sounds like she's having her own issues with budgeting which is not the fault of any other women in the nail salon. If she can't afford food and manicures and jordans for her kid, she needs to figure out whether her nails are more important than sneakers for her child, and figure out why she cares about name brand shoes for her son. Maybe if her money is tight, she should drop her own nail treatments since it's clear she views them as an unnecessary luxury anyway.

My view is if you have extra money for regular manicures, you aren't in a position to whine that you can't afford to pay taxes for people to get food assistance.

[JaneyVee]

5. Tell her to sign up for food stamps if she's having trouble making ends meet.

[Horse with no Name]

6. So, she deserves her social programs to get a house but someone else can't buy shoes?

To start with, a family of 6 will receive more benefits. There are more mouths to feed.
If the mother is receiving child support for each of her children, that income goes against what she receives in food stamp benefits.
The child support is to be used for the child. Maybe that kid wanted some Jordans so the Dad ponied up a little extra that month so his kid could have them. Maybe Mom and Dad shared the expense?
(My daughter wanted a nicer coat for her child than she could afford so she and the father split the cost).
These things happen.
But, all of the income is figured in when determining food stamps.
She is not getting more than her share--the lady with the house just doesn't like how she is spending it.

People that get disability can also qualify for food stamps--as can your friend with the house if she thinks she is getting cheated.

But the people that apply for them and receive them don't get any more or any less than the income determines.

[treestar]

7. This sounds like one you could just agree with

There are a few frauds, as there all for any social program. She sounds like she is not against it. Just against anyone who defrauds it. So challenge her with: "how much fraud is there - your anecdotes remain unproven, and what are the statistics on welfare fraud? And there are programs to detect and eliminate it. So it sounds like you're just fine with what we now have in this country."

[krispos42]

8. When Ann Romney was accused of never having a job...

...many conservatives rose up on anger and cried out "raising kids is a full-time job" and wrung their hands over such disrespect.


Funny how only rich people can call "homemaker" full-time employment, eh?


And, again, if the public dole is so great, then why is she wasting her time working?

[bhikkhu]

9. The number of people on welfare is very small, and shrinking since the 90's

It's about 1.4% now.

Besides that, there's various food stamp programs - which have traditionally enjoyed strong bipartisan support, and strong food-industry support. Usually that's part of the farm bill legislation.

If anyone in office really wanted to oppose food assistance, fine, but they should "come out" about it and vote accordingly. Don't let random people hating on their neighbors get to you, as that sounds like about all it is.

[sinkingfeeling]

10. Child support is considered income in all states. The child support, aka, total income

the mother has according to your friend must fall under a state defined maximum monthly amount in order to receive food stamps (SNAP). So if your friend believes she knows somebody who is 'unfairly' getting $900 a month by not declaring the child support, she should report it as fraud.

I have no idea what she's talking about with weaves and nail salons.

[ceile]

12. That's where she claims to have overheard someone on the phone

trying to get WIC and SSDI for her children. The woman "drove a hot car, was well dressed and had an expensive weave." Yes, I called her out on her the typical welfare queen stereotype...

[ceile]

11. Thanks everyone.

I think I have enough to work with.

[gollygee]

13. Foster parents get food stamps to feed the foster kids, don't they?

Should foster parents take a vow of poverty?

You never know what all is going on. If the car was bought before the financial problems that caused a need for food stamps. If the woman is a nail tech and she and the other nail techs do each other's nails for free. If the cell phone was a gift from a parent so the parent can keep track of their kid and grandkids. You just have no idea and we shouldn't judge people based on assumptions.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

14. Licensed foster parents (at least here in Indiana) get a per diem (or stipend)

They're expected to be able to meet their own family's needs and then utilize the per diem for caring for foster children (they are automatically covered by Medicaid). Relative caregivers can, however, apply for public assistance for the children in their care but can also become licensed and receive per diem.

[mercuryblues]

15. Send her a link

to her state's welfare fraud reporting. That usually shuts them up about fraud.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

16. What I hate most about posts like this (not the OP but what they quoted)

is that people automatically assume they know what goes in other people's households when they don't but go ahead and judge away.

[vinny9698]

17. Who really gets free stuff, the 1%

Oil subsidies, tax loopholes, no bid contracts, 15% capital gains tax, tax rebates,GE and Bank of America get tax refunds, while their CEOs get millions in salaries, banks commit fraud and get away with it and get a bonus to boot.
So who are the real benefits of the free stuff.