Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

as everyone else has mentioned, it's a great system for those in need but i hate to see people abusing it. a close family member did this b/c her baby's father worked off the books. she worked part time too. they had enough money for food and milk, etc. they took vacations to disney world!

Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

I think that these programs were put in place to help those who really need it.

what I cannot stand is anyone who is dishonest and would take advantage of these programs.

Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

I am all for it if necessy for a family. They can be great programs for those in need. Although, I do think it's wrong for it to become a lifestyle .

Message edited 12/20/2007 10:23:24 AM.

Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

I think its a GREAT program for those that need it but I think that people that abuse it should be made to repay what they have used. That is the only way to control the abuse of the system....

Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

Thank God their is WIC bc honestly....no matter whether the parent is TOO lazy or using the system etc...the children are still being fed and to me that is what is most important. Its not WIC or welfare that ruins things...its sh!tty people. So in terms of getting rid of WIC/Welfare...no way. In terms of getting rid of sh!tty people...they have 1 person to answer to in the end. I was fortunate never to have to use WIC or welfare but if I did have to I am glad something is out there.

Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

Great program when used correctly but unfortunately it is VERY abused

Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

My SIL was on WIC and they got her into a training program to be a CNA and paid for day care in the beginning. It really helped her when she had my niece. They even got Child Support from the deadbeat father. Once she finished schooling and got a job she was on her own. It does help people, but it stinks that so many abuse it.

Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

Posted by Princessmaris

Someone I know refuses to get a job, because if she did "she would lose her aid"

Message edited 12/20/2007 10:50:33 AM.

Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

I hate the idea that I work so hard and pay taxes and there are dirt bag people who abuse the system.
I was a cashier also and people would use their food stamps and then pull out rolls of $100's to buy beer and such. Give me a break!

Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

I didn't know what WIC was so I just looked it up.
According to this you have to make less than $364 before taxes weekly to be applicable, that is the same rate accross the country. That is insane. Cost of living on Long Island is totally different than other places.
WIC

I think it is a good program for those who don't abuse it but I think that amount does not include enough people who really need it in NY.

Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

While my husband attended stony Brook to finish his masters our first child was born.My husband worked during the day student teaching, and at a dept store on weekends.Between our rent ,gas,diapers and formula there was very very... little left.We went to see if we were eligible for assistance with no intention whatsoever of it defineing us and becoming a way of life.We however were informed that my husbands meager salary was a hair over the amount to qualify.
But our neighbor who had 3 kids from all different fathers(1 was taken away),was in and out of jail constantly and had the cops visiting her often for these intense fights she would have with her family members was granted full assistance.I know this because she told me.She also told me that if i wanted she would teach me how to take advantage of the system.(NO THANKS) karmas a b.
She rented an entire house in smithtown(section 8) had a pool,trampoline,designer clothes,car,and a home full of brand new furniture?????????????We just shook our heads in disgust!

Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

If you need it I see nothing wrong with it, but I come from a family where you do anything and everything in your power to avoid taking a handout. My mom lost her job and couldn't get another one after going on countless interviews. When unemployment ran out she drove a car for car service 6 days a week, 12 hours a day until she could get a better job.

Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

Message edited 12/20/2007 11:51:54 AM.

Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

*hops on a soapbox*
I have mixed feelings. I think WIC & Welfare are both vital but misused from both ends. WIC (Women Infants Children) refused to help my father when my mother divorced him. That was painful. My Stepmother worked at the Food Stamp office when we lived in Texas and I volunteered and saw people who just needed a little help be declined while other who obviously abused it were always approved. I even spent time in the Recovery Unit trying to get back money from those abusers.

Welfare and WIC have such negative stigmas. It’s not just charity and there should be no shame in taking it in. Heck, there are MORE than enough times I wish I qualified in my life. I’ve been declined for owning a car that was a worthless heap of metal but told I could sell it for money? For what, a quick $500? What good does that do when you have no way to work to pay the rent to keep the heat and shelter, when you have no food? I was once declined for having no stove to cook food on. Gimme a break! Instead I was forced to push myself into debt to make ends meet and I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to pay for it. No one (period) should go without food, ever. I’m not saying steak and asparagus, but food is food. No one should wonder if dinner will be possibility or not.

It annoys me that these forms of assistance are considered ‘only for the really poor’ and others look at those to try take the assistance as abusing it. When you have 10 kids and four are the same age and all supposedly yours – THAT’s abuse! When you’re just a college drop out trying to find herself a warm meal while working a full time job and living in the cheapest apt you can find, then help should BE THERE for you!

It makes no sense that my home has an income of XXX,000 annually and we can’t tell you where dinner will come from because we both have old debts to pay when we borrowed from Peter to pay Paul to put food on the table for ourselves or our families.

Where’s our assistance?

*hops down from soapbox*

Venting complete

Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

The only place I see these services not given accordingly is in the developmentally disabled population. I think children and disabled should come before everyone else but they just dont. My dad passed 2 yrs ago leaving my handicapped sister behind with my mom. My dad served in Vietnam and all those benefits went down the tubes bc my sister lives with my mom and my sister gets next to nothing from SSI bc she lives with my mom. Now if she lived in a group home she would have a greater amount of benefits from the system but some families just cant make that move. I think its a shame that she doesnt receive what she is entitled to. its not like my sister can even meet the costs that my mother spends on her. BUT could a mother ever deny their children...no...not at any age. KWIM

Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

I think Wic and Welfare is good for people who really need it. Unfortunately I think there are more people that abuse it than need it though.

Like my SIL who lied and gets WIC even though her and her DH just bought a house and both work. It pizzes me off that my tax dollars are paying for their formula meanwhile I have to shell out $$ for my own DD's formula.

Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

Posted by melbalalala

Posted by racheeeee

I think long term use of these programs is basically abuse, however if you pay your taxes and you work for a living, if you need these benefits, they should be available to you, no problems.

I get a child care allowance from the government for my child, it is about $150 a month, I will get that much for each child I have, and I will continue to get it until the child is 16. This is a benefit that everyone is entitled to, and as far as I know, everyone takes advantage of. If we were a low income family, this money would be invaluable for things like milk, food, clothes and diapers.

Interesting. If everyone gets the $150 credit, does it wind up washing out? Like day care providers can charge $150 more to everyone since that is what everyone is starting at? I'm intrigued...

Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

my parents take great pride in the fact that they came to this country with nothing and never had to ask for help. . . they have passed this down to me so i would have a hard time ever using it.

but as was said before, it would be a different situation if my kids were hungry!

this is a hard situation for me since i work for social security. i see BLATANT fraud and abuse of the system every single day but i also see those who are truly needy and cannot receive help

Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

I work at a pharmacy and i see this too with medicaid. They drive expensive cars but they get their medical/prescription plans through the state

Re: How do you feel about Wic and Welfare?

It is really sad that there is so much "theft" in our system.
The women I am "talking" to are mostly from the mid-west (NOTHING against anyone from the mid-west) and they think there is nothing wrong with taking wic if you qualify and don't need it because it is there to take.
I personally think wic and welfare are for people who REALLY need it. Not for someone who doesn't want to work, ones who don't claim their bf/dh, ones whose bf/dh work off the books or taking it when you know you CAN afford things but want extra.