Able bodied single adults on food stamps?

[Anonymous]

I attend a recovery meeting for an issue I want to get under control.

During therapy time there was a 25 year old young man who revealed he was on food stamps.

He told a recent story about how he was tempted to buy groceries with a credit card because he was too embarrassed to use food stamps given he felt attracted to the cashier. He said he ended up using his food stamps anyways.

Anyway I know he doesn’t have kids. He appeared 100% able bodied and he spoke very eloquently. I try not to judge but I know much older people who are have limitations both physically and mentally who are struggling to make ends met and YET they don’t indulge tax payer funded services.

And I would have to imagine that nobody really feels “proud” for milking the system. Even the young man admitted he felt embarrassed.

But seriously why are able bodied young adults getting away with this? I do realize there are occasional extreme circumstances. Let’s say someone got in a car accident and couldn’t work nor claim disability might have no other choice. But I highly doubt this was this guys situation.

[Ez-Bri-Z_v2]

My wife and I had to get on food stamps when we were both starting out living together. We both worked but weren't making enough to cover our bills (no we weren't living extravagantly. Her dad screwed us over with a promise to pay on a car we needed, but backed out after we got it).

We only received $25 a month which wasn't a lot but helped with groceries. We only did it for a short time and are in a much better place now often giving money to friends who are in desperate need of it because we've been there and know what it's like to go without food at times.

So basically what I'm saying is that sometimes able bodied people do need it. Although there is also silent disabilities where you may not see it outwardly, but they do have something that prevents them from working.

It does bother me though when I hear people intentionally milking the system and it leads me to believe we should be limiting the system to stop it from happening.

[Asker]

Well I am glad you didn’t stay dependent on the system.

The problem I am seeing is there a growing sense of entitlement for “free stuff” in our culture. There is NO SUCH THING AS “FREE”. So when politicians like Bernie Sanders yell sound bites like “free healthcare! free education!” Free this free that I get pissed.

Also they keep saying “oh we will make the wealthy and greedy corporations pay” ah that Robin Hood bullshit never works. I know my state taxes went up and I am paying an additional $500 to $1000 a year now and I am NOT rich. I’m fledging between middle and upper middle class. But they say “oh if you won’t see your taxes go up if you make less than $400k and I yell bs.

So when I see freeloaders like I described above I get pissed. Sure he might be only getting a few hundred bucks a month in subsidies but when large swathes of people have this attitude?

[Anonymous]

I don’t get it either. They always seem to have plenty of money for liquor, tobacco, tattoos and piercings.

[Asker]

Of course of course. But how are they qualifying for these hand outs to begin with?

[Opinion Owner]

I don’t know but apparently they have it figured out.

[Asker]

They have little or no shame for it either.

[BetaBucks]

My family seems pretty proud about milking the system. They joke and call it the "family business" because they're all on different forms of welfare. Besides my dad and I.

Anyways, I think a good society maintains a safety net for those that are most in need. I also think that a majority of Americans on social programs are millers. It's just the way it is. I appreciate one state that mandated that single, able bodied adults were required to volunteer at a non-prof for 10 hours a week to maintain their welfare benefits. It forces people to contribute to society, instead of acting like slave masters or royalty.

[BetaBucks]

*milkers

[Astarlessnightsky]

Prices for rent, groceries and everything else are getting higher and higher, while the salaries are staying the same. If you have a shitty job you will end up poor and relying on welfare.

Here in germany we got the "Bürgergeld" (Citizen money) its money mainly paid to unemployed, poor, long term sick people and their children. And lots of them are relying on this money even though they are working fulltime. People are working full time and still earn so shitty they still qualify for the little help the government offers.

[NamerOfStars]

Go to a job website. Pick 100 jobs at random and apply to all of them. See how many responses you get.

THAT'S why. Don't pretend health magically grants you employment.

[Asker]

Job website? Just walk into any random cafe, barista, restaurant, store, etc. and there is only help wanted somewhere. It might not be the job you want but it’s a step up from being a lazy freeloading oxygen wasting worthless piece of sh*t mooching off tax dollars (that people pay into via actual work).

And it’s temporary. When you got a job it motivates you to find a better job.

[NamerOfStars]

Then apply to 100 of THOSE. The result will be the same. It's not a matter of "not doing the job you want", it's a matter of "not getting calls back at all".

Believe me, if lack of motivation was the problem, unemployment, and the ensuing poverty, would solve it VERY quickly. This is just Republican nonsense.

[Asker]

I have a very hard time believing that young man I encountered last week doesn’t have the capacity to find work to pay for his own food. He probably is doing work somewhere and getting paid under the table so he can milk the system.

I’ve been in financial dire straights before and I know what it’s like. But I worked two jobs to myself out the whole vs. looking for bail outs. I’ve never taken a penny of tax payer funded entitlement programs. Also I was NOT raised in a rich family either.

This would all be a different story if he had some sort of legitimate disability, was recovering from a car wreck, was 60+ years old, has 5 kids, etc. But I don’t think this is what’s it’s about. And he did feel shame because he was worried about impressing someone. But he’s not worried about impressing himself.