I just don't get it.

I have guardianship of my 4 year old niece because my sister is an alcoholic and the kids father isn't much better.

Child protective services was going to take her and place her in group care or a foster home; but I didn't want that to happen so I took her.

I never asked for any assistance, because I was married and we were financially stable. As many of you know, I kicked my loser of a husband out last December, which dramatically decreased my household income. So I asked the state agency for a half-pay daycare voucher. I didn't ask for medical assistance (as she was put on my policy at no extra charge), monetary assistance or even food assistance. I didn't even ask for a full voucher; just half price.

Well, they turned me down.

Now I find out that last week my sister (who is my niece's mother) was allotted welfare benefits! She was turned down by Social Security Disability because in layman's terms they said "You have a drug and alcohol problem. Quit drinking and doing drugs and go get a job". Even though they said it more politically correct, that's what it came down to.

But now welfare has awarded her $300.00 a month, food stamps and a medical plan.
Its called EDA or Emergency Disability Assistance.

I figure I'm saving the state a ton of money in long run by taking in this little girl; instead of letting the state care for her for the next 18 years. And I can't get a lousy daycare voucher for doing a good deed.

But my sister on the other hand has $300.00 a month for drugs and alcohol; food stamps which she'll sell on the street for more money, and she'll use the medical insurance for bogus trips to the ER so she can get painkillers.

Quite frankly, are you fucking kidding me???

Burn their buildings.

Our tax dollars at work. Gotta love that solid slap in the face!

I remember the crap I went through with EI when I got laid off and when I was off work because of an ankle injury. Working my whole adult life and when I needed help, was basically told to go fuck myself! And then I see a bunch of very well dressed people coming out of the place with cheques, climb into a nice brand new car and head out. That car had New York plates. I bet those assholes never worked a day in their lives either.

Don't let those assholes discourage you Debi. You're doing great for your niece and I wish you best of luck.

Oh Rainman; I feel for you my friend! I remember when my dad, who worked over 50 years at General Electric asked for fuel assistance after he retired. He was caring for my mother who was dying at home with a brain tumor because they could no longer afford the co-pays for her to stay in the hospital. He was turned down.

I know there are people who need the assistance, and rightfully so. But shouldn't there be SOMETHING out there for the people who have worked their entire lives, and then experience some unexpected set back?

And I know what you mean about SOME of the recipients of our welfare system. One of the mothers who is lucky enough to have that daycare voucher drops her 4 kids off in her Lexus every morning. Four kids, four different fathers, and SHE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A JOB. How can they possibly give out a day care voucher without proof of employment???

Its just bullshit.

i live in the welfare capitol of New York state. It absolutely kills me how many people are on welfare here, or even better, are on social security because they are 'disabled'. What bullshit.

You aren't the only ones.
A relative of mine is a huge abuser of this system. My sister actually needs SSI and gets it, but he's been faking mental illness for some years now. Actually goes far enough to go to meetings and such for his daughter in a wheelchair because he's too "nervous" to walk.
My sister has bipolar disorder along with schizophrenia, so she's exactly what the system was meant for, but you get idiots like these that don't want to work and live on it forever. It makes me sick because she gets a lousy 700 dollars a month and doesn't take anything she doesn't need from the system. A lot of things she can't get because my mom and I are both her guardians and I make pretty good money as it is. The only thing I can't give her is my major medical insurance because I'm not her full guardian, only if something happens to my mother can I put her on my insurance. The thing that really pissed me off about the whole system for her is that I can't tell them she's the beneficiary of two life insurance policies and my pension. It's not like she can get the money now, but if I tell them and something happens to me, they'll try to recoup the SSI and Medicaid money from that leaving her with nothing. She's the only one that's worthy of being a beneficiary of policies worth up to half a million dollars, along with my retirement, because she actually needs it, because by the time something happens to me, my parents will be gone and there'll be no one to take care of her.
But what Sam says is right...people come to this county to get welfare, they have for decades because the system here is the easiest to apply for and get in the entire State of New York.
It's sad, it really is.

Shael

Posted by Debi I know there are people who need the assistance, and rightfully so. But shouldn't there be SOMETHING out there for the people who have worked their entire lives, and then experience some unexpected set back?

IRA, 401k, there are many things out there...