Visit Our Store!
Moochin’ Off the Government. Gimme that Cheese!
Balllinnn! Or Not...
Last week, I wrote a post for Single Black Male about borrowing money from a significant other and the dynamics that play into it (e.g., Pride). One of the points I made was that a lot of (Black) people would rather struggle and work two jobs than ask their significant other—or somebody else of importance in their life—for money. For that matter, a lot of folks wouldn’t even take the money if it was offered without them asking. It was an interesting discussion for those who replied, but one comment, made by Lynnette, stuck with me and got me thinking:
You said something along the lines of, black ppl will work multiple jobs before asking for money and that as a ppl we have a lot of pride (paraphrasing here). Yet, when I read that I immediately thought about all the “urban” black ppl who take full advantage of every hand out the government, mama, papa, their baby’s daddy’s baby mama can give them without a care in the world. Not only will they take it, they have no problem accepting it for years on in especially if it’s money from the government.
I like when people disagree in a non-hostile way. I actually agreed with her point and noted that I should have covered it in the post. Someone else then commented (Lolgirl was the name) that it’s not only “urban” Blacks that take full advantage of the handouts; people in the burbs do it, too. At this point, I started thinking about the stigmas attached to government programs. Some of the “free money” that came to mind for me were the following:
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) aka the New Welfare. I’m guessing they stopped calling it welfare because of the stigma that grew with it. As for food stamps…
- Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) aka them food stamps aka that off-campus meal plan.
- Section 8 aka gimme that free housing!
- Energy Assistance aka gimme that free heat! (No guns)
With the exception of Energy Assistance, which is something I’ve heard more about over recent years with the fluctuation in oil prices, these programs have come with negative connotations or stigmas for decades. Even I have been guilty of hearing one of these terms and then drawing erroneous conclusions about others. I remember when I moved into my last apartment and asked the leasing office if it had “Section 8 Tenants,” and they couldn’t tell me. I was worried about signing a lease, then having to deal with ignorance, kids posting up during school hours, and other foolishness.
For what I was about to pay for a month’s rent, I wasn’t trying to deal with any of that. Yeah. That sounds a bit ignorant and bougie. Stab me now. I’m aware. But imagine coming home from a hard day’s work and kids are sitting on your car everyday and they get mad at you when you ask them to move. Or, imagine bringing your family and friends over and they have to walk through a cloud of weed smoke outside (RCLS may like this) and they give you the side eye for your living decision. Coincidentally, that apartment complex was high in Section 8 and TANF residents. I wasn’t looking for a repeat.
Off Campus Dining
SNAP/Foodstamps/EBT Cards have carried a negative, but not as negative, stigma over the years. Most of us have a family member or friend that has paid cash to get a hold of food stamps or sold their food stamps in exchange for money. I remember the food stamp jokes that used to be made in elementary school; I still chuckle heartily at them. I’ve always steered clear of these programs because I didn’t want to be associated with government funding programs that weren’t specifically tied to my education and employment opportunities. But as I learned in college, food stamps were common among students. Everybody knew how to fill out the paperwork to get that off-campus meal plan. Most of my closest friends were on the food stamp plan. I never jumped on wagon though—partially, because I didn’t want to ever have to put that on a job application. This isn’t to say that I didn’t eat the food that was a result of the stamps/cards of others.
Post college, I know people, myself included actually, who have manipulated their way into free healthcare. I’m on my current company’s plan now but can remember going to the free spot next door for a few months when I took my first job in the area. I didn’t consider that freeloading, and given the present climate, I don’t think most people in support of universal healthcare would think so either. I’ve also recently learned that Section 8 is what’s hot in the streets, if one can qualify. This was news to me, and I still wouldn’t do it…ever. I’ve had to adjust my thinking a lot with regard to these programs. Seems like a lot more people who aren’t particularly “hood” or “lazy” are jumping at ‘em.
What are your thoughts on some of these programs that have carried negative connotations? Have you utilized any of them and aren’t afraid to say it? Do you know others who are manipulating the system or their families for financial gain, even though they aren’t financially struggling? Are their other “more acceptable” programs that you’re trying to hop on now? Any other thoughts? Speak on it!
The Tuition Assistance Program is Cool,
83 Responses to “Moochin’ Off the Government. Gimme that Cheese!”
Comments
Read below or add a comment...
Leave A Comment...
RSS & Twitter
-
“But as I learned in college, food stamps were common among students.”
What you know about those food stamps? Food stamps were a way of life for the average black college student (none of my melanin deficient bretheren had food stamps). A lot of my friends were using food stamps in college. I was too lazy to apply. Shame on me. I could have been dining in style and not living off Ramen noodles: the poor man’s sphaghetti.
Based on my job, I qualify for some govt. assistance programs (reporter=poor). While apartment hunting, I was even told about some section 8 homes. I guess my foolish pride keeps me from applying. That and sheer embarrassment. And I refuse to step foot in the hood unless it’s to cover a story. My city is too small for people to know if I’m on govt. assistance. One degree and two years later, I should not still be poor. If only I had majored in something more lucrative.
Sadly many people, such as some of my cousins, have no shame in their game for using govt. assistance. They have kid after kid after kid, don’t have job the first and feast on garlic crabs and ribs every other day.
I think if someone really needs to use govt. assistance and are actively working to do better and get off of it, then by all means get on it. Don’t just sit around without a care in the world while the govt. hands out the dough.
Reply
Still Water Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Not sure where you live, but in Detroit, Section 8 can be used in different ways. There is project based housing and “tenant-based” aid. This means that they will give you a voucher of up to a certain amount and you can choose to lease anywhere. The voucher is based on your income.
We had tenants who received a monthly voucher worth $800. They only had to pay us $125 out of pocket. Think they paid? 5 years went by and they paid rent 7 times.
You may want to check out what’s available to you cuz with what you are paying now, you might be able to rent a sweet condo…
Reply
As boughie as it may sound, Slim, I also have the same stigma (re: section 8 tenants)… when looking for an apt, I made sure that was not blasted on the profile page of rent.com.
When I was a kid, my parents got “commodoties,” which is stuff like free cheese, powdered milk (ECK!), etc. I was embarassed as hell to admit that then, but we’ve come a long way from then.
I know a girl who is taking full advantage of the system and it pisses me off.. she has worked prolly a couple of weeks in her full 27 year old LIFE and her rent is something ig’nant, like $1. Now I wouldn’t have an issue, if she really needed it, but her a$$ his triflin.
She goes overboard with the spending… the flat screens in her home, the numerous big wheels that was purchased for her child before he could even sit up!!! COME ON NOW.
It just pisses me off how some people get advantages over fully working people. I know people with jobs who have to make arrangements for their children because they cannot afford daycare. It’s ridiculous.
Reply
Anna Nimous Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 10:11 am
Throat punch. This is the type of ish to make me really mad – I pay a lot (and I do mean a lot) of taxes.
Reply
Nicki Sunshine Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Me too girl… she is such a loser (IMO).
Reply
At various points in my life, I or my family have encountered everyone of the programs you mentioned. Growing up were I did, it was pretty likely that the neighbors to the left, right and across the hall, and damn near all the folks I went to high school with did too. And yep, lots of them (or their parents) were lifers- getting that check on the reg, eating good and having the bills damn near all paid by the Man.
I do think that there are lots of people who take that route, but there are plenty who only do so to get a solid foundation for a bit, and break out. It’s easy to buy into the steretypes about the “welfare queen” and all that, but when you know folks who work, get government aid, and still barely get by, then it becomes a bit more real and understandable why someone would opt to hold on to dem good government dollars.
That said, I smh at people who free load just because they can. Laziness is not what’s up.
I miss my food stamps. I was well fed in undergrad.
Reply
My gram receives food stamps and SSI . She’s 90 and doesn’t get around all that well so when either I or my mom go food shopping you should see the looks we get when we pull out that card. They see the well dressed women using food stamps and instantly curl up their lips without knowing a damn thing about who or why….but I digress, there are abusers of the system, but for every one abuser you see there are five more people who use because ends aren’t meeting.
Just like the post yesterday and like the people who said that ‘they don’t represent me’ the stereotypical moocher doesn’t represent everyone who gets assistance.
Reply
I have never had any form of public assistance. I do have family members that had EBT cards, or back in the day would buy food stamps off people. In college some friends had foodstamps and one qualified for WIC when she got pregnant and of course we would eat good off that sometimes. I was mostly of a eat in the caf meal plan kinda girl, If I wanted really good food, I would just go home. LOL.
When I was in the process of moving after grad school I looked into a lot of apartments that wouldnt’ take me because I made too much money. They had a range chart per persons in household, I didn’t realize that meant it was set up for low incomes, and since some of these spots were GORGEOUS I was jealous. When I moved to FL I encountered the same, but I would see all the bad chirrens playing and realized it wasn’t the place for me, low income or not.
Reply
Tatica Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 9:40 am
I was also turned down for a beautiful place recently, but here they do a lot mixed housing so, about 20 out of the 200 spots were ‘affordable’ (but not really) and the rest are market rent. I’m not gonna lie, I’m still sad about it…
Reply
olivya23 Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Market rent in “mixed income” neighborhoods are super expensive! A one-bedroom simplex could be $600 for affordable and $950 for market. And they have and in- unit washer and dryer! (a must have) It just doesn’t make ANY sense.
Reply
Nicki Sunshine Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 11:39 am
It’s the same here. I went to a place and they said you couldn’t make more than $24,000 a year, but the rent was $550… I was perplexed bc how can you afford that kind of rent with that amount of income?
Reply
I believe that if you qualify and really need the help, you should take it, your tax dollars are also funding those programs. Why struggle more than you have to?
I am prudent with my money, maintain a budget, save and all that good stuff, but some days idk…
Before the economy went to he!! this time around, there were people who were to proud to take unemployment. Seriously? You paid for that too suckers!
I am actually getting more involved in advocating for affordable housing in my city, because we need more than section 8, there’s whole other level of people who are hurting with the cost of housing ’round here.
I am too appalled by the abuse of the system, like the situation Nicki mentioned and many others who thinks it’s cool to just hang out and wait for that check or whatever. I think my first (shocked) look at welfare abuse was when I read the “Women of Brewster Place”, I really had no idea people would do that.
When my parents divorced and subsenquently lived in different countries, my family did receive food stamps and affordable housing, and my mom always worked full time and my older sister also worked after school.
And in college I remember a classmate admitting that her mother (also a single mom) had to get in line at a food bank and often couldn’t afford to pay heat, and all those 2520 girls were looking shocked as could be.
You do what you have to do to make it to the other side.
Reply
Slim Jackson Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Not familiar with the book. What’s the basis? You don’t gotta type out a full summary though.lol. I’m just curious.
Reply
Tatica Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 10:34 am
The book follows several characters and one of them is a stereotypical welfare mom who just kept on popping out kids and had never worked a day in her life, nor did she take care of the kids. Her mother and grandmother had also relied completely on the system.
It was shocking to me because anyone I knew at the time with any type of assistance worked, I guess I thought everyone did.
Reply
Reecie Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 10:46 am
I never read the book, but I loved the movie. I should buy the DVD, havent’ seen it in prob like 10-15 years!
Reply
Tatica Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 10:52 am
I never saw the movie, I think I’ll Netflix it
Reply
Nicki Sunshine Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 11:42 am
The movie is great…. I’ve read the book too though.
Reply
Anna Nimous Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 11:00 am
It’s been so long since I saw the movie, but I still quote it: “I seent cha!”
That ole nosey woman killed me that day.
Reply
I was one of Slim’s cohorts in Undergrad. I actually discovered, via a wise Upperclassman, foodstamps were open to college students.
My mother wisely advised me against going on food stamps (probably the best advice she ever given me), those high profile jobs don’t want that on your record. And she clearly put, “we dont do that.” My single immigrant mother raised a family on her own, coming from HAITI. I have little sympathy for those on welfare, however I do understand the importance of it. I do believe that balling on welfare should be felony. Not just making false claims on your welfare form, however if you are in ownership of a certain amount of goods you should be forced to sell off your luxury items before you go on welfare.
If I was Obama I would make some serious changes to welfare. I think there should be a flate household amount given out, it should not be a system based on how many kids you have… if you can’t afford to go raw, use a C!
Reply
Nicki Sunshine Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 11:44 am
“I do believe that balling on welfare should be felony.”
I agree.. I also think there should be a limit for how long you can get it… and if you can’t find a job, you need proof that you are out there lookin.
Reply
Seattle Washington Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
This may be a big generalization, but I find that West Indian and African immigrants are more hesitant to take government aid. Maybe it’s pride and the hard work ethic, either way it’s just what I’ve noticed.
Reply
CHeeKZ Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Probably b/c we know what bad government would do to the population.
We appreciate it more.
My mom always talks down to African Americans… yall don’t know how lucky you have it. Slavery got nothing on imperialism (YEAH I SAID IT!)
Reply
Still Water Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
The difference is that you and yours are chillin’ in a different country than the one that brought you here, enslaved you, oppressed you and then made you hate yourself and YOUR own people AND still holds all the power.
We don’t know how lucky we have it? …aignt.
Go back to Haiti and talk that smack from over there…
(No offense to your Mom. None of that statement was directed at her.)
Reply
CHeeKZ Reply:
September 17th, 2009 at 2:50 am
Boooooooooooo
Still Water some where there is a Franco-Haitian book with your name on it sister.
Me and mines are chilling? chilling?! In Haiti?! You have seen one too many “come to Jamaica” ads and thought sh!t was sweet.
I will raise you your oppression in the form on continued slave labor due to unfair American corp/Haitian government LIFETIME contracts than double down with Tropicana ruining the agriculture of our land “we are just chilling in,” and when we tried to cancel these bad contracts the American government seized our national banks. .. and just 4 fun I’ll throw in some mudpies that the woman are forced to feed their children and AIDS (brought to my country by untested American blood donations).
I have Uncles who are missing part of their feet b/c of Rats gnawed at them when they slept. But they came here saw what you called oppression and became millionaires (no lie).
Whiny Self Centered Americans. Why should I go back to Haiti? I appreciate these opportunities.
Reply
Still Water Reply:
September 17th, 2009 at 7:11 am
lol. I meant that you are chilling in the US, reaping the benefits of 400 years of slavery, oppression and injustice. You don’t have the pervasive mentality of inferiority, “I don’t deserve” “this is just the way things are” or “why try?”.
No, most Black immigrants are able to start here fresh, with a sense of hope and determination – a luxury that was taken from African Americans back when our languages, names, families and cultures were yanked from us as well. I think its pretty bad that you feel its OK to talk down to African Americans when you played no part in OUR struggle. Heck yeah, you appreciate these opportunities. You just popped up as soon as you saw the coast was clear.
pun intended.
BTW: Your uncle is a heavy a55 sleeper, yo.
Reply
CHeeKZ Reply:
September 17th, 2009 at 9:55 am
“a luxury that was taken from African Americans back when our languages, names, families and cultures were yanked from us as well.”
Yeah ummm… that happened to us too!
What you think Jean Jacque Claude-Peirre is my tribal name? I taught myself french, croissant are some african treat and magically we appear on this side of the damn globe.
Damn Americans.
BTW: Yeah we snore. Trust me.
Reply
Great post!
People do take advantage of the system and that is sad because it is those people you remember and not the people who need it…
However I ask that you think of the image of a govt moocher…who do you think of?
I think of my homegirls with multiple children…why? two reasons:
1) I am from an area where al large group use some type of public assistance
2) Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton’s administration respectively also created that ideology as well
A more realistic image would be rural 2520s…they have been on these programs longer than anyone else. By the way, the programs were also created with them in mind not BP. We use it and then suddenly become the poster people, when their mooching is even more extensive.
One of the most successful and largest government assistance programs was the GI Bill, which 2520s are still benefiting from. Can you name a successful government program that was created with the intention of BP? (Don’t say Affirmative Action, it was created because of a Jewish woman and white women are the main benefactors of the program)
I think we need to start framing the conversation by the actual realities, instead of only using what we see around us and what is also spoonfeed to us by pundits. When Conservatives talk about cutting off funding for these programs the focus is on inner city cest pools of moochers and financial waste and conveniently overlooks rural neighborhoods that were built and MAINTAINED by govt assistance, and believe you me the scams they run are not even within our imagination scope.
People are wrong to scam but lets equally address it along the lines…
thanks Miss Jenkins and Slim for encouraging me to repost!
Reply
Slim Jackson Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Yayyy! You did it! (re-crafted your comment)
Reply
CHeeKZ Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 10:24 am
wait..
Why are we throwing the G.I. Bill under the bus for being a 2520 program. It was created for our soldiers. Now adays our people make up a greater percentage of the arm forces than 2520s compared to the general population.
And unlike welfare.. its successful. They are only given a year of unemployment (which they earned b/c they gave up their jobs). And unlike welfare they earn it.
The GI Bill isn’t meant to subplant capitalism. It encourages veterns to do that opposite, open a business or go to school.
I’m all for equal attacks on 2520s… but gotta keep em honest.
Reply
Sadly this bring back sad memories..and I’ll explain my personal reasons for never doing it
My dad passed when I was seven, He was in the navy. My greedy grandmother took me from my paternal grandparents house and immediately applied for assistance as my guardian raising me (my mom was running the streets).
She recieved 500 dollars a month for me PLUS medicaid. She barely had to come out of pocket to spend for me.
College came around and not only was I forced to apply for financial aid, she didn’t even help me pay for my books and made me get a job and pay her rent. Mind you, 500 dollars a month for 10 years = 60,000. I never saw a dime of that money.
Soon after I started college..she paid cash for a brand new car. I was stuck on the metro going back and forth (I had moved out by then)
Later when I divorced my husband, I got into a car accident. I asked for her assistance again and she refused…but went and bought yet another new car and paid in cash.
I think accepting govt handouts without needing them is GREEDY and SELFISH.
I have had to use the govt once when I had to get unemployment and food stamps..but that was short lived and I was always honest when I found employment.
I hate HATE abusing the system..cause it abuses other people in the long run.
And I can relate to the section 8 people..I have this obese heffa eyeballing me everyday and saying slick stuff when I come home..I have to dodge kids playing around …my neighborhood isn’t THAT BAD when it comes to that…but its still annoying..GET A JOB OR SOMETHING
Reply
Nicki Sunshine Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Wooooww. Your stepmama sounds like a greedy beast.
I’m sorry to hear this.
Reply
Like hadtosay said, white folks been using gov’t assistance programs and there are more of them on it than black folks.
Ever since that woman Reagan held up as the poster child for welfare abusers (who was black, and abusing the system) it’s all been our fault.
What kills me is the push (albeit small… right now) to force recipients of government assistance to take a drug test. I know that the Governor of WV wanted to implement something like that. The levels folks will stoop to to embarrass folks who need a little help astounds me.
When I was in high school, my mom reluctantly elected to recieve food stamps while she was in school and not able to work full time. She got on and off as quickly as she could. I think a lot of it for her was embarrassment and I was a bit naive in those matters so I didn’t get the problem.
I thought about getting food stamps in college, but like Cheekz was just too lazy to go fill out the paperwork and the truth was, I would’ve been doing it to be greedy, not because I needed it. Plus, the rumor was it would cut into our financial aid… and since, like I said, I wasn’t starving… I didn’t do it.
Meanwhile, a friend of mine has sent her EBT card all over the country to family and friends to use. I shake my head because I understand that the government is big and to a lot of people is an endless pot of money, but that’s not the case and it’s not fair to the taxpayer or to others who need it for people to recklessly abuse the system.
Reply
During a hard time that my mommy was going through, I remember her trying to get some government assisstance. There were five children and only one income was coming to the house. We were denied because it seemed from our appearance that we were not in need.
I can remember the lady saying that I looked too clean so my mommy really couldn’t be struggling all that bad. Ever since then I’ve had a stigma albeit an unfair one with government assisstance.
Reply
Slim Jackson Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 10:21 am
I think that’s an interesting perspective when someone has been denied when they clearly deserved and needed the funds while someone who was scheming the system got through. I felt that way at times about the amount of financial aid I got in college, though I ended up being in good shape when all was said and done.
Reply
ladycakes Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 10:33 am
Our neighbors seemed to breed kids to get on Section 8 and get foodstamps it seems. It seems like as soon a family members hit puberty they pop out kids and continue the cycle. I remember my mom telling her our story and he was like, Your daughter was too clean, her hair was done and she spoke “too good” English. She continued to say how much of the state’s money went to ancillary items in her household. I’m still appalled.
Reply
Slim Jackson Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 11:36 am
The cycle of popping out babies is a completely different issue in itself. Oh man…
Reply
Scams and fraud come in all shapes, sizes and governments. (Bernie Madolf, Enron, tobacco) but I digress. I work with clients who use public assistance, and as a former case manager I can honestly say that the majority of people who use those services actually need them.
There will always be people who scam their way into the system.
Section 8 isn’t free housing, you still pay a portion of your rent, granted a very small portion if your income is low. TANF benefits are usually tied to a service plan, so you must be doing something to receive the benefit, for example, job searching, volunteer, education and other things along that line.
Foodstamps are only contingent on your income. Do they really ask if you ever received such a benefit in job applications now? What does that have to do with employment?
Reply
Slim Jackson Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 10:27 am
It is a legitimate question on some job applications. I’m not sure what the point is persay, but I have seen it on job applications before. There are also companies out there that won’t hire someone that has collected unemployment. They only want people who are currently working.
Reply
insomN.I.A. Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 11:28 am
well, based on all of the unemployment is this country right now, a lot of people will continue to be out of work. that’s very unfortunate.
Reply
CHeeKZ Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 11:35 am
that is fine….
take the unemployment.
But don’t get mad when I want to hire the dude who didn’t take it over you.
Reply
insomN.I.A. Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 11:46 am
so you would hire the dude who is unemployed, but instead of taking assistance to take care of his family, sat on his ass at home waiting for you to call? b/c that’s the type of man you want working for you? sorry, CheeKz, but that is not fine. too many people are unemployed in this country.
Reply
Nicki Sunshine Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 11:50 am
I agree. Some people are using unemployment because they need it… you don’t plan to get laid off.
I think different states have different requirements though. Like here, periodically they make you prove you’ve been looking for employment.
Reply
CHeeKZ Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
As an inspiring businessman, I want the guy who has never taken the food stamps b/c I think he took more pride in earning his money and not taking from the pot despite the fact that he qualified.
He wasn’t a freeloader. Its a better indicator that he will be working hard for me instead of being on threeways all damn day hollering at Cheekie (what up boo boo!).
I’m not saying the leech on welfare isn’t a good canidate. But if they are tied.. I am taking the resourceful canidate….. or hiring the hot chick I can sexual harass.
Reply
insomN.I.A. Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
getting laid off doesn’t make you less resourceful. it means your former company cut jobs to save money, or your former job went out of business, like we’ve seen with several American jobs this past year.
Reply
Tonda Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
So if they are not currently collecting unemployment, are they still disqualified for a job for having collected it in the past?
What kind of jobs are these?
Reply
Slim Jackson Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Some companies make the assumption that if a person is currently collecting unemployment that they must not be that good at what they do otherwise they would be employed. It’s sh*tty, but it does happen more than people thing.
Reply
Tonda Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
You’re right, it is sh*tty. Unemployment is the highest it’s been in 20 years, are they serious? They are aware of the recession right?
LOL
Reply
Nyela Goodness Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
I was on food stamps in college, and I happen to know why and how companies ask this, since I worked corporately throughout. First, they don’t ask, specifically, about food stamps. Second, the question is typically limited to a certain amount of time. For example, an application will ask something like “Have you received any type of government assistance within the last 6 months?”
Contrary to everyone’s perception, checking “yes” may actually work to your advantage. It’s an HR question, and the company usually gets a federal credit when they hire someone who’s had assistance. Also, your direct employer/boss does not find out your answer, because it’s kept confidential; it’s only a Human Resources thing.
Reply
Tatica Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
See that makes so much more sense, thanks for explaining that Nyela.
Reply
Tonda Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Thank you for the explanation, I was wondering about the whole asking about food stamps specifically, that’s a bit much. Thanks again for clearing that up.
Reply
When I was a young bol, my ppl were on the WIC, the food stamps and the government give aways (cheese, eggs, bread) and me and my brother were FORCED to eat free lunch in the summer times. My mom used it when she was first starting off and we eventually got off of all of that. That doesnt mean we would stop using them. My mom would send me to the store with a list of $20 worth of groceries and she would give me a $10 bill. She would said “Go find Pookie, you know she selling her stamps and you better bring me back at least $5 change”. So needless to say at 10 and 11 years old I became skilled at bartering w/ base heads.
I made my return to public assistance in college. Junior I ate well, and def would not have crossed had it not been for the State of PA and their assistance. My homie (read: boo piece for semester) was grubbing hard body. Her gma would give her card to buy food (remember there are no more stamps) and then she had her own. We were feasting for that semester.
Reply
Miss Jenkins Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 11:45 am
stop saying young bol
Reply
I’ve never been on public assistance before, but I wouldn’t hesitate to use it if I needed to. Won’t even see it as a “hand out”. Uncle Sam has his hand so deep in my pocket I’m about to file sexual harassmant. Or make him my man, whatever. I look forward to accepting a helping hand wherever I qualify – first time homebuyer assistance, tax breaks for college, unemployment, etc.
I grew up middle class – you know, those folks who make too much to qualify for help but too little to really be comfortable. Working hard is just par for the course with us. And yes, it sucks to put in a full day’s work at more than one job just to come home to see hood activities. The loitering, kids out when the streetlights are on, vandalism – all very frustrating. I don’t even think that they’re on welfare – some people are just in love with doing hood shyt. (work cite: Kanye)
Reply
Tatica Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 11:42 am
“I’ve never been on public assistance before, but I wouldn’t hesitate to use it if I needed to. Won’t even see it as a “hand out”. Uncle Sam has his hand so deep in my pocket I’m about to file sexual harassmant.”
And that’s the thing, if you’ve contributed to the system, why would you see it as a handout?
Reply
Anna Nimous Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
I see it as benfiting from programs that I pay for. It’s like insurance for my brokeness.
Reply
Nicki Sunshine Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 11:52 am
“I grew up middle class – you know, those folks who make too much to qualify for help but too little to really be comfortable”
This is the perfect description of middle class.
Reply
Still Water Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
OH! How I would have loved some food stamps in college or some extra financial aid!
Instead I was buying Ramen with my private loans…sigh.
Reply
Reecie Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
yep to all of this. especially “I grew up middle class – you know, those folks who make too much to qualify for help but too little to really be comfortable. “
Reply
Seattle Washington Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Co-sign.
Reply
Tonda Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
LOL! If the banks and car companies can get a bailout then dammit I need one too, just bail me out of my student loans, that’s all I’m asking…
Reply
I think my mother working for the State cut off my opportunity for benefits.
Even now I don’t have healthcare and I have not the first clue on how to get some assistance. I would just as soon pay the doctor’s office cash out of my pocket than fill all this paperwork to wait 5 months.
AS for Section 8, etc…my mom once rented a piece of property to Section 8 tenants…the rent was $13 and the lady couldn’t even do that…and she had a MALE who was WORKING living in her home. That’s when it gets ridiculous to me…
Also, I was living in NOLA during Katrina..I didn’t even get FEMA or RED CROSS anything…when I moved back to Alabama to go to school they were always trying to give me this or give me that and I was like look I have a home 15 minutes away from here…seriously give that to someone else…only to get back to school and find that everybody and their mama had got the money.
…and took the cards to Victoria’s Secret and Abercrombie & Fitch…
No thanks…I pass..nothing negative against those who do but it’s just not for me.
Reply
As a rich white girl, I have no comment that won’t get me e-shot. =)
Honestly, my family is split right down the middle. Both my parents came from rough situations, but my (black) dad’s family all rose above the Germantown streets and made pretty good lives for themselves using other means, such as scholarships, GI BILL (yeah, gotta disagree with had to say and cosign my e-sancho CheekZ on this one), and worked they @$$es off to get that cheddar cheese.
My mom’s (Mexican) family, on the other hand, all pretty much stayed in their original poverse habitats and lifestyles without getting out the hood. However, both families believe in hard work and not accepting handouts, though they approach it in diff ways. My mom’s fam refuses to accept govt assistance, so they bust they @$$ working shitty jobs that no one else wants, just to live like paupers basically. I feel like, I have respect for both sides either way for not taking any handouts.
And allow me to reiterate that the GI bill is not a handout. Not when my job consists of documenting and analyzing war injuries/casualties of ppl who gave their limbs/skin/lives for our country. NOTHING we do for them could be enough for what they do for us. Nothing.
Reply
CHeeKZ Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 11:33 am
**Slow Clap**
**Picks up the pace**
**Standing O**
Reply
I dont personally see anything wrong with it to help you temporarily..its the lifetime abusers and manipulaters that bother me…
and its nothing to be ashamed of to use when you are down and out..
I just hate greed..I really do
Reply
Personally, I don’t see government aid as a hand out. Our current economic situation has shown us that there are real people in need. Unfortunately, there have always been poor and lower middle class people in need, but now that it’s affecting the people whom some don’t usually associate with gov’t aid, it’s an American crisis that we need to do something about.
And, yes, a few people abuse the system, but the overwhelming majority do not. I think the first step in eradicating the stigma is to stop thinking of it as a “handout.” If you’re a practicing Christian, clothing the naked and feeding the hungry should be a part of your practice, and you wouldn’t see it as a “handout.” Besides, we are all paying taxes for these benefits, including the people taking advantage of them.
Reply
CHeeKZ Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Don’t ever use a Christian term to describe a need for a government program……….
thank you.
**cold chill runs up my back**
and just to clarify we don’t all pay taxes… The majority of our taxes are paid by the rich who never used unemployment or SSA.
Reply
The Award Winning RightCoastLexSteele, Just Cashed My Sec. 8 Check Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Sorry bro, this is a Christian nation built on Christian principles, so you’re gonna smelling that stench for a while.
Reply
CHeeKZ Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
lex stop that… you know better.
This is an open country built on Greek principles. The major founding fathers were deist if you read their writing. That myth of this being a christian country is a lie spread by the right. They had to beg Thomas Jefferson to include the word ‘God’ in the Declaration of Independence.
The only thing Christian about this govt is the symbolism that we put in our traditions (pledge, on our money.. all of which I am trying to remove as a member of “Americans United for Separation fo Church and State” http://www.auohio.org).. than again we have more free mason symbolism than christian symbolism, so who has to get use to who?
Reply
The Award Winning RightCoastLexSteele, Just Cashed My Sec. 8 Check Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Idk…I’m just still salty over the Barbancour vs. Cruzan Rum incident. There I said it.
Reply
CHeeKZ Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
lmao! hahahaha….
I never knew you even read that. I said it at the end of the day….
Slim bought me a bottle for my 25th that I never cracked. Lets crack it.
Reply
insomN.I.A. Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
I’m not using a Christian term to describe a need for government. I’m using it to point of the hypocrisy of some so-called Christians. And to be honest, some people who are so against government “hand-outs” are one paycheck away, one layoff away, one downsizing away from being right in line with those “leeches.”
Reply
“Have you utilized any of them and aren’t afraid to say it?”
Actually, yeah. Especially nowadays. I’m not eligible for Foodstamps/Link Card but I occasionally buy link cards from this lady that could use the cash instead. She sometimes gets too much and doesn’t need all that food, so she sells a set amount to me. And I’m saving money on groceries in the process. I’m seeing more and more folks that you can just TELL don’t get link cards, but use ‘em at the grocery store. Selling that Link is fast becoming a booming business. Get up on that, STAT.
I don’t personally feel bad for taking money from the government (because technically I have since I’ve been to college…grants and such) because I pay effing taxes that don’t go to SH*T I need or want. Why not get that returned to me in one way or another? It’s give and take with a lot of folks.
But yes, some folks just take and use it as a crutch. Not cool. Not so much because I feel sorry for the government (not even a slither of pity), but because I wish te individual would expect more of themselves and take initiative. There’s not a prouder moment than accomplishing or gaining something that you’ve worked hard at yourself.
Reply
Interesting post!
Up in Canada, we have a lot of different types of programs, though I do see some of similarities based on the descriptions. For one, women popping out children for cash. I single-handedly witnessed this too many times to count since a lot of my acquaintances tended to be no-good shysters. All I know is, to have children in this country is like striking oil – if you work the system right, you can be paid. I’m talking bout Career mothers, taking in crazy gov’t checks every month – not to mention the straight cash monies from their BDs or from any side-hustles. It never bothered me as much until I started to get a ‘real’ job and I watched hundreds of dollars disappear off my checks every 2 weeks that support such programs. And though everyone likes to praise Canadian healthcare programs, I would like to announce that I just recently got my healthcare coverage on and poppin after years of being subsidized and basically paying for all my meds and ish (I was a student, lay off). Still, I’m not a fan of the free-loaders.
Side note: Congrats to the 3ways fam on your win!! Whoop Whoop! I’m late I know…but I voted
Reply
BLaCk Bruce WaYnE Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
“It never bothered me as much until I started to get a ‘real’ job and I watched hundreds of dollars disappear off my checks every 2 weeks that support such programs. ”
OMG don’t remind me…LOL! I remember askin my pops to reach out to the lawyer because I thought I was getting ripped off when I first started working. The sharpness of reality set in at that point when my pops said this in our convo:
“You see that 16 year old girl with the stroller? You just paid for her baby’s formula and you didn’t even have sex with her!?!” ….a pure FML moment
Reply
ChokLitFactory Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
FML indeed…Ahhhh it kills me!! Mind you, food stamps sound very intriguing to me and I know I would have liked to benefit from that while in college. I don’t know if you guys have it down there, but you basically get a $300 check every month per child under 18 up here. And the average child support check? I’d say $400 a month per child. And to think, I could have been stuntin’ like a BM this whole time lol
Reply
Slim Jackson Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Thanks for the congrats. I was actually wondering what it’s like up in Canada. Glad you chimed in!
Reply
Tonda Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
So Canada doesn’t have a cap on cash assistance for women with children? I know here in IL there is a max benefit despite the number of children you may have. Cash assistance payments is equivalent to about 3.19 per hour, way less then the IL minimum wage of 7.75. No thanks, but I’d rather have a 9-5.
Reply
WWWOOOWWWW….I’m beyond late to this party and I’m usually aware of the hookups but this area I’m either unfamiliar with or find out very late.
I didn’t realize until senior year, pretty much graduation week that there were a few cats living off the government cheese. I mean they always had a stocked fridge and were never short of a meal! I’m not talking Ramen noodles, I’m talking about fresh steak from the butchers (pause), fresh coldcuts from the deli, actual vegtables and they schemed on having a member of a sorority whip up a magical meal (They were either a memeber of a historically black, latin or white sorority. They were an Equal Opportunity type of Crew). This individual was no where near financially struggling either. The funniest part was he did this with a straight face and was unapologetic for it. LOLOLOL
I think taking advantage of assistance like these could probably bite you in the butt later. Even to this day, I have never been tempted to take advantage of the system.
Reply
The Award Winning RightCoastLexSteele, Just Cashed My Sec. 8 Check Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
My bad Bruce, I knew for a while cats were living like that, but didnt feel to put heads on cuz….well…it just didnt seem right to me. Like seriously…rims and food stamps in college? Just gimme the rims.
Reply
I used to be on section 8, now my section is good!!! (c) Nore.
just wanted to share that quote. lol
Reply
I have no problem with people that use gov’t assistance if that’s their only option and they’re working hard to get off it. But as for the “welfare queens” and the deadbeats, I have no sympathy. I just tried to apply for SNAP not too long ago and was denied because I’m unemployed (I’m a sophomore in UG) and it irritates the hell out of me to see people that aren’t doing a damn thing with their live get everything dropped in their laps while the hard workers have to struggle. But I digress.
This also reminds me of a recent incident my fam dealt with. My mother, my 3 sibs, my 2 stepsister, the baby my mom keeps and I went to the grocery store together. When we were finished checking out and my mother tried to pay with her debit card, it didn’t go through. After about 3 tries, my mom looked up to see that the girl at the register typed my mother’s card in as an EBT/Food Stamps card. My mom had a Wachovia check card. Think about it….
Reply
As a slumlord, I have no problems w/ people poppin out babies to cop a check. The more babies they pop out, the more money the city pours into my LLC so I can keep my fleet of gas guzzling V8′s petro’d up. In addition to providing barely past code living solutions, I am firm believer on leaving my carbon footprint on the planet, cuz let’s face it, either global warming will kill me or I’ll be dead before I care, so might as well ride in style while I’m here. They rape my check for tax money, so I might as well get it back. Thanks NY state for being the leader in welfare handouts. And thank you, the taxpayer for supplying them w/ the bread which they turn around and give to me, which I turn around and to give all sorts of criminals and derilicts (namely Wachovia and Wells Fargo).
“Or, imagine bringing your family and friends over and they have to walk through a cloud of weed smoke outside and they give you the side eye for your living decision.”
Dude…that IS my house. But seeing as it’s a house and not an apt building, if you should so happen to find yourself in the midst of my second hand tree smoke, either hit it or get off the pot, because this is private property and you’re tresspassing, which in NY state depending on the amt of tree you have on you, is punished harsher than me getting caught w/ my baby girl Marilyn Janice. Puff puff give fool.
Reply
Glad my comment could inspire a great post and discussion!
Reply