Quoted Text

Public assistance recipients shouldn’t be seen as freeloaders

    Re Ed Dixon’s Feb. 23 letter, “Welfare programs unfair to middle class”: I’m not sure what salary freezes, municipal consolidations and employees being asked to pay more for health care has to do with “welfare programs doing more harm than good.” Is he making a connection that state and federal budget deficits, and the economic downturn that caused private companies to tighten their belts, have something to do with those who receive public assistance (known as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, TANF), food stamps and low-income home energy assistance?
    What Mr. Dixon may not know is that in order to receive TANF cash or safety net [assistance] for individuals, you must meet work requirements of 30 hours per week. If you do not, you receive a sanction from your cash assistance. There are waivers if you are a victim of domestic violence or disabled, but this is the exception, not the norm.
    Those who receive “free health care,” known as Medicaid, must meet very low income levels. For example, the federal poverty guideline for a family of four is $22,350 gross annually. Many people who qualify are working full-time. Most who qualify for these programs are disabled, children or elderly.
    Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus are paid for by the family on a sliding scale based on income, so again these families are working. No one receives free child care unless they are very lowincome and working full-time. Food stamps and heating assistance are also provided to low-income folks. For example, a family of four earning up to $4,094 a month — 150 percent of the poverty level — will qualify for only $400 in HEAP for an entire heating season ($600 for oil, propane, or another non-utility fuel).
    I know many hardworking people who qualify for this assistance. There are many hardworking people who, for the first time, have turned to these supports due to unemployment in the tough economy. Few are “collecting money for doing nothing” with “absolutely no expectation of anything in return.” Not only do these subsidies help hardworking, taxpaying families, they provide an infusion of revenue to local businesses.
    Mr. Dixon is likely a hardworking man who is frustrated by some of the rhetoric he’s heard about how lazy the average recipient of welfare is. This type of hype is a disservice to hardworking people everywhere who receive public assistance to make ends meet and diverts our attention from real solutions.

    DEB SCHIMPF
    Schenectady
The writer is executive director for Schenectady Community Action Program Inc.

http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00902&AppName=1

every time the government offers 'assistance' the companys get a free non-podium puck 'subsidy'....WTF.....they know the government will do it so the
elected can get elected as the 'feel good dudes'......they get a feel for your pocket and have power at the same time......I guess we all like to
have our elected 'cop-a-feel'........it's like saying no tax but a 'fee' is acceptable.......DORKS.....

The writer doesn't include those on welfare who were offered a job but refuse it because they make more on welfare with a lot less work involved.

...Or the writer doesn't include the person that applies for welfare and is told the are a few dollars above the minimum earnings and don't qualify, so they tell their employer they can only work part time, or they go out on comp or disability to reduce their income, or quit their job all together.  I've witnessed it - it happens.

Hi Shadow: There really is no way a person can make more on welfare then working.  It isn't as much as you think.  

What you probably are thinking about is those on SSI Social Security that also get Medicaid, Foodstamps and HEAP.  Now I have a problem with 75%% of those folks.  

They scam the system being alcoholics and drug addicts things recognized as diseases but SS does not require them to clean up their act in order to continue getting the money.  They drink and drug their money away in a couple weeks then they head out to the  food pantry's and places that offer free meals for the rest of the month.  Those folks find getting that check easier then working although that isn't much either I think around  $770 but then they get the rent subsidy from Sec 8 to so with the Food Stamps, and HEAP they got it made.  It turns my stomach.  

The other 25% have serious disabilities that truly interfere with being able to work even with supports in rehabilitation or finding jobs within what they are capable doing.

I'm talking about the whole ball of wax in benefits that they receive like rent assistance, food stamps, heap, welfare, and medicaid. When I worked in Albany there were people on welfare that were supposed to be a single parents whose husband really lived with them and worked odd jobs under the table with a couple of kids collecting full benefits, drove a 2 year old Cadillac, and had a big color TV when I couldn't even afford one. Welfare should be a hand up not a permanent hand out.

It's well known that many people from downstate come to Schenectady for the handouts. No one wants to say it, but the fact is, the City has turned into the welfare capital of the State. There are people that need help, but in the City, I would bet that the majority are taking advantage of the funds. Many have PO Boxes, some have duel residences, etc.

A moritorium should be imposed and a thorough investigation of ALL cases should be reviewed. For those people taking advantage of the system, they should be put in jail and pay restitution.  

Quoted from Cel

Hi Shadow: There really is no way a person can make more on welfare then working.  It isn't as much as you think.  

What you probably are thinking about is those on SSI Social Security that also get Medicaid, Foodstamps and HEAP.  Now I have a problem with 75%% of those folks.  

They scam the system being alcoholics and drug addicts things recognized as diseases but SS does not require them to clean up their act in order to continue getting the money.  They drink and drug their money away in a couple weeks then they head out to the  food pantry's and places that offer free meals for the rest of the month.  Those folks find getting that check easier then working although that isn't much either I think around  $770 but then they get the rent subsidy from Sec 8 to so with the Food Stamps, and HEAP they got it made.  It turns my stomach.  

The other 25% have serious disabilities that truly interfere with being able to work even with supports in rehabilitation or finding jobs within what they are capable doing.

they weigh out the work involved....and sometimes it just ain't worth the $2.00 more/hour to work....you know dealing with crappy
bosses, commitment for hours worked, daycare, travel etc etc......and you might need a car WITH insurance and WITH gas.....and
if not a car the 1- 1 1/2 hour bus/taxi commute just to get to the crappy job.....

so yeah,,,,welfare would be the better value.

This is a tough issue.   Some work somewhat, and others don't.

But the total of what a family gets in a month is not as low as most will claim.   THose who claim it's "oh SO low" really speak only of the cash and fail to consider the value of all the other "benefits"

If someone is working, say making $600 a month, and if they have section 8 rent, I think the maximum rent they pay is 1/3 of their income, so they would pay rent of $200, and if the flat, apt, or house has a rent of 700, the landlord get's paid that other amount.  So, there is is $500 a month, or $6,000 a year from the taxpayers tax free.

We have some friends, an unmarried couple living together, neither works,  They were showing us the letters they just got about a reduction in food stamps, they didn't understand the stimulus expiring, they were getting reduced to $190 each per month.  

Heap can provide roughly $400 a year, maybe more, variable conditions.

Medical. well, put it this way, the better half and I pay about 25% of the premium (roughly $3,500 per year is the 35% for our insurance (employer sponsored).  It has a $1,000 deductible on hospital, it has a $500 deductible on the doctor charges, and then the reimbursement is 75% generally.  It has prescription coverage with generally $30 co-pay for generics, more for brand names, for 30 day supply.  People on medicaid pay no premium cost and and no deductibles and little if anything in the way of co-pays.  I was waiting in line one day at the pharmacy to pick up a $55 co-pay med and another was a $30 co-pay.  The woman who was ahead of me, with elaborate art work on the fingernails, several tatoos, and standing there talking on the cell phone, it's her turn to go to the counter.  Would have never known except she caused a scene of sorts when she was told she had I think a $3 co-pay.  I guess the pharmacy helper was new, and the pharmacist came over, but it was quite obvious, the woman claimed she could not afford to pay the $3, I wonder how she has money for fingernails, for tatoos, and for a cell phone?   But as I got done and went to pay my Nat Grid bill, there she was at the courtesy desk buying about $40 in lottery!  

Now, how much would a health insurance plan cost, i.e., what would be the total premium (both employer and employee share) cost for a plan that covers everything virtually 100%, no dedctibles, etc?   Considering my plan is roughly $15,000 a year with high deductibles and less than full reimbursement above the deductible, and high co-pays for Rx, then I would say $20,000 to $25,000 per year for a family.  And they would have coverage for nursing homes; we working people have no such coverage.  

So, let's see, so far
$22,500     (midway between the figures I used above) for health insurance
$  6,000     Rent paid by taxpayers
$     400     Heat assistance
$  7,200     ballpark amount for food stamps for family of 4   (based on about $200 per person for individual benefit from these friends, but I can't imagine like a flat $200 each person.
$  $1,500    And probably more in WIC annually.  I mean, they get all the baby formula needed in a month, and I look at the canned concentrate and it's like $3.50 per can, that is $3.50 per day which is like $100 month in taxpayer paid benefit - and that's formula alone, then add the cereal, juice, cheese, baby food, wow.

That's like $40,000 annual "income" tax free. AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE "CASH" BENEFIT per month.    Many working couples who pay federal tax, state tax, SS tax, medicare tax, health insurance premiums plus deducibles, car insurance, gas for the car and maintenance, may have an income of $40,000 and then these things have to be ducted out of it.  

And then they seem to have enough money for rent-a-center.  Must be nice to be able to have that much money to spend for all the electronic gadgets

I have not included the many other govt grants and charitable programs, e.g., cars, coats for kids, school supply programs, food pantries, Christmas toys, Thanksgiving baskets, and of course the prom gown.  Not saying these aren't worthy charitable programs because they are good, but just the value of the many assistance programs

That's why I say, no cash, electronic benefit cards only, and cards would be programmed to be able to be used to pay Nat Grid, but not cable and satellite.   Could be used to buy school supplies but not at rent-a-center.   Could be used to buy clothes, but not tatoos and fingernails at the related artwork.  

I have some nice land down by the river to sell you behind Collins Park. A little close to the water on one side of the road but for a few million you should be able to put some nice houses there. There is something similar you can buy near Rotterdam mall down Old River Road that is very dry too.

My ex-step brother was making a killing on welfare.  He had full benefits and also his rent and utilities were paid.  And health care.  He had two kids also getting full benefits.  He was living with his girlfriend and she was getting everything as well.  Funny part was both of them were working under the table jobs.  So there was serious cash in that house.  

The way I look at things is that I barely make just about welfare limits.  My husbands old employer had health insurance for us as a family but there was no dental or vision and a cap on Rx to $1000 a year.  My daughters medications alone killed that in 3 months.  We had to pay out of pocket for the rest of the year for it.  

So there are people that make the cut to get welfare and have dental and vision and all the meds they need ( and dont need).  Plus their rent is paid and free food.  Hmmmmm... Who was getting the better deal?  We work our butts off for nothing while they sit home eating bons bons and doing nothing.  

So now, I get the insurance through where I work.  Im still not making any more money that before.  My husbands new job pays him less and doesnt offer health insurance.  I do get better Rx coverage but Im losing the dental plan and there is no vision.   Are you kidding?  We barely make rent each month.  And usually the extra cash is for gas money to get back and forth to our low paying jobs.  

Once again, who makes out better?  Dont get me wrong.  We both like the jobs we have.  The pay sucks though and so does the benefits.  

So my answer is Yes, welfare people do make out much better than we hard working people do.  

Too many takers and not enough makers.

Quoted from GrahamBonnet

Too many takers and not enough makers.

Stories like Gemini's makes me even more worried for society when the system passes the tipping point, and unemployment skyrockets and all the social services funding dries up due to no one willing to buy municipal bonds.

Very bad things may happen.

Unless the government and both parties take the countries debt seriously and strive to balance the budget there are bad things that will happen in the not so distant future.

Quoted from JackBauer

Stories like Gemini's makes me even more worried for society when the system passes the tipping point, and unemployment skyrockets and all the social services funding dries up due to no one willing to buy municipal bonds.

Very bad things may happen.

that's when everyone shows up at your home to take what they think is 'rightfully' theirs......be prepared....the government made a
bunch of criminals not unlike Gaddafi's 'paid for friends'.......