Politics & Current Events
Dear Community,

Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.

If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.

Thank you.

Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.

These are the welfare stories that make me mad, NYS is to blame for making it too easy.

2»

Re: These are the welfare stories that make me mad, NYS is to blame for making it too easy.

  • imageSaraKathryn:

    imagecookiemdough:
    This seems like it is taking the proper course.  Someone misused the system, it was discovered, he will likely get convicted of a crime for it.  I don't think this means that we should then make it more difficult for the people who really need it as a result.

    Just imagine how many people that aren't getting caught.  There needs to be stricter rules IMO.

    What would stricter rules do? What he did was already against the rules. Making the rules stricter wouldn't have stopped him from....breaking them.

    isn't this like the gun control argument? That we shouldn't have more gun control laws, we should just enforce the ones we already have?
    image
  • imagepixy_stix:
    imagebrideymcbriderson:

    OK, seriously people, read the article.  It's not that long.  7 months.  $4,000 in benefits.  He's been receiving lottery winnings for the last 14 years.

    :oD More coffee for everyone!

    Seriously! Stick out tongue

    Sorry Bridey.

  • imagetartaruga:


    isn't this like the gun control argument? That we shouldn't have more gun control laws, we should just enforce the ones we already have?

    Pretty much, except that the rules in this case were enforced.

    A big old middle finger to you, stupid Nest.
  • imagebrideymcbriderson:
    imagelaurenpetro:
    imagepixy_stix:
    imagebrideymcbriderson:

    OK, seriously people, read the article.  It's not that long.  7 months.  $4,000 in benefits.  He's been receiving lottery winnings for the last 14 years.

    :oD More coffee for everyone!

    Yes

    Coffee

    F you people.  F you all.

    groomy is insisting I cut back on my coffee consumption because we think I have moderate IBS, which is being made worse by my shittastic work environment.

    I've only had 2 cups today, and one was not a full sized cup.  I AM CRANKY.

    pretend it's half-caff?  (sorry!)

    i couldn't drink coffee when i was k/u with the boys,  not doctor imposed, i would just hurl.  that didn't stop me from WANTING it, though.  i'd sit there, all tired and pissy, get up, go look at the pot and bolt for the bathroom.  it was awful.

    proof that i make babies. jack, grace, and ben, in no particular order
    imageimageimage
  • Romney isn't the only one who has a problem relating to people outside of their socio-economic class.

    I honestly feel like a broken record here on the topic of social services but anyway, yes, you can apply for medicaid online. However, you do have to provide verification depending on the information you provided and/or the information already in the system.

    What probably happened here is that he didn't report the bank account where this money was going or he didn't have a bank account in the first place. Maybe he was just cashing it. Also, I wonder if he had any health conditions that he based his application on as most states do not allow a healthy adult to apply except for pregnancy.

    But yeah, he scammed the system and he got caught. Also, you need more than the internet to apply and qualify for cash assistance. I'm actually amazed he went through the trouble. Like what was he thinking that he was all, yanno wut I wanna do today? I think I'll apply for TANF.

    I bet he has kids, not that this make it a-okay but in order for this to work out, I would think he'd have applied on behalf of his children.



    Click me, click me!
    image
  • I have missed Sara Kathryn. She honestly stole my heart when she told that story about it not being fair that low-life crackheads didn't have to pay insurance deductibles for their babies in NICU.
    "HOW many US citizens and ranchers have been decapitated in Arizona by roving bands of paperless aliens, and how will a requirement that I have papers on me make that not happen?"courtesy of SueSue
  • imagelaurenpetro:
    i couldn't drink coffee when i was k/u with the boys,  not doctor imposed, i would just hurl.  that didn't stop me from WANTING it, though.  i'd sit there, all tired and pissy, get up, go look at the pot and bolt for the bathroom.  it was awful.

    That happened when I was ku, too. It's not helping the odds of my kid getting a sibling, tell you what.

    Team Basement Cat imageKnitting&Kitties
  • imagehindsight's_a_biotch:

    I honestly feel like a broken record here on the topic of social services but anyway, yes, you can apply for medicaid online. However, you do have to provide verification depending on the information you provided and/or the information already in the system.

    ...

    Also, you need more than the internet to apply and qualify for cash assistance.

    Thanks, HAB.  I was hoping you'd check in.  This is certainly more illuminating than the glib reference at the end of the article. 

    lauren - UI is a difference ball of wax.  Generally speaking, an employer has what's called an "experience rating" based upon how many former employees collect UI.  IME, the only time someone needs to show up for something is if the employer is contesting the collection of benefits.  An employer is aware that a former employee is collecting so it's not as though one easily slips under the radar. YMMV depending upon state law.

  • imagepixy_stix:

    Hang on. $1k a week = $52k a year, minus taxes (anyone know what these are?). If he's not working and this is his sole income, that's really not a lot of money. He's not rolling around in his millions like Scrooge McDuck.

    (Sorry, I'm really slow this morning. Bad kiddo night, plus dropping my coffee this morning is making me a zombie.)

    ETA: Cause I do math good.

    I'm not sure what the income qualifiers for medicaid are, but I'm pretty sure it's somewhere south of $40k/year, after taxes, which is probably about what he's getting. Also, Orleans county is pretty low COL - it's kind of between Buffalo and Rochester. So the income requirements for benefits are pretty low in NYS in general, since upstate is so much cheaper than the NY city metro area. Like, the minimum wage in NY was still $5.15 until about a year before the feds changed it (and in NYC it was closer to $9/hour). So if he was living in Manhattan on the same amount of money, yeah, he'd really be struggling. Albion, not so much.

    I remember telling my grandmother, "Huh. You could totally live off of $1000/week for life," when they introduced that scratch off game. My grandmother said you could live quite well off $1000/week, but I don't know if she was thinking about taxes. AND she was of the Depression-era and on a fixed income at the time. She and I might disagree about what "living well" entails, but $52k/year before taxes is certainly not poverty level, and definitely better than what many people in the country do.

    my read shelf:
    Meredith's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)
    40/112

    Photobucket
  • imagebrideymcbriderson:

    F you people.  F you all.

    groomy is insisting I cut back on my coffee consumption because we think I have moderate IBS, which is being made worse by my shittastic work environment.

    I've only had 2 cups today, and one was not a full sized cup.  I AM CRANKY.

    Don't lose hope!!  Remember when I went through that phase of not being able to drink coffee or soda?  I'm all about both now.  My H has IBS and can drink coffee when he's not stressed.  As soon as you find some calm, coffee can be your friend again.  {{{hugs}}}

  • msmery - My how much he's making a year was more in reference to the "zomg guy has millions" implication of the article. He's making an average income per year, and probably has to pay out of pocket for insurance... if he had insurance before. My best guess is that he had a medical situation come up with his family that he didn't think he could afford OOP (hence $4k in medical bills in a short 7 months).

    What he did isn't right, but if I'm right re: medical issues, I feel for the guy.

    A big old middle finger to you, stupid Nest.
  • I think it's perfectly reasonable to suppose a man who makes $52k/yr before taxes would still need to apply for medicaid, especially on behalf of dependent children. I have doubts that most people at that income level can budget for health insurance premiums particular if they aren't eligible via an employer.

    And if he was makeing his $52k via the lottery then he definately didn't have employer insurance. He'd be paying the full premium out of pocket and if you've ever gotten a quote for that, shiit, that's a fuuking car payment.

    Going for the cash benefits however, is another story.

    Btw, it's not fraud if you qualify and people think you shouldn't. It's fraud if your qualification is based on a lie. So somewhere along the way, he didn't tell the truth about something here. Maybe it was his income, maybe it was his dependents, or whatever.



    Click me, click me!
    image
  • imageis_it_over_yet?:
    imagebrideymcbriderson:

    F you people.  F you all.

    groomy is insisting I cut back on my coffee consumption because we think I have moderate IBS, which is being made worse by my shittastic work environment.

    I've only had 2 cups today, and one was not a full sized cup.  I AM CRANKY.

    Don't lose hope!!  Remember when I went through that phase of not being able to drink coffee or soda?  I'm all about both now.  My H has IBS and can drink coffee when he's not stressed.  As soon as you find some calm, coffee can be your friend again.  {{{hugs}}}

    Excuse me while I pick myself up off the floor.

    I refuse to give up coffee.  I already gave up my diet soda.  But I'm trying this 2 cups a day nonsense.

    The worst part?  I just found out this weekend that coffee has a benefit at warding off Alzheimer's, but only if you drink the 4 cups a day I was drinking.  So now I'm going to be cranky AND forgetful.  BRIDEYSMASH!

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • Please. You know that by "calm" I meant "new job."

    And really, I need to drink 4 cups a day for good brain health? Does my improved memory help me to remember to avoid sharp objects while I'm convulsing with the caffeine jitters?

  • imageis_it_over_yet?:

    Please. You know that by "calm" I meant "new job."

    And really, I need to drink 4 cups a day for good brain health? Does my improved memory help me to remember to avoid sharp objects while I'm convulsing with the caffeine jitters?

    LOL, I knew what you meant.

    I only get the jitters if I have that much coffee on an empty stomach.

    That's the dangerous thing about depositions at other people's offices - unlimited coffee.  I have been known to frighten my husband after a monster depo.

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • imagebrideymcbriderson:
    imageis_it_over_yet?:

    Please. You know that by "calm" I meant "new job."

    And really, I need to drink 4 cups a day for good brain health? Does my improved memory help me to remember to avoid sharp objects while I'm convulsing with the caffeine jitters?

    LOL, I knew what you meant.

    I only get the jitters if I have that much coffee on an empty stomach.

    That's the dangerous thing about depositions at other people's

    offices - unlimited coffee.  I have been known to frighten my husband after a monster depo.

    I knew you knew. I'm just hassling you because it sounds as though you need more stress in your life. ;-)  

  • imageis_it_over_yet?:

    I knew you knew. I'm just hassling you because it sounds as though you need more stress in your life. ;-)  

    As my mother would say: With friends like you, who needs enemies?

    :)

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • Hey bridey, wanna fly out to sunny cali? I have a few things I need smashed. We can start with the fire alarm that has daily false alarms, more if it's raining.
    Team Basement Cat imageKnitting&Kitties
  • imagepixy_stix:

    msmery - My how much he's making a year was more in reference to the "zomg guy has millions" implication of the article. He's making an average income per year, and probably has to pay out of pocket for insurance... if he had insurance before. My best guess is that he had a medical situation come up with his family that he didn't think he could afford OOP (hence $4k in medical bills in a short 7 months).

    What he did isn't right, but if I'm right re: medical issues, I feel for the guy.

    Sure. But I wonder what his job status was before he won. Did he really think he could quit his job for the next 25 years and live the high life on $1000/week without considering things like taxes and insurance costs? Given what I've seen of other lottery winners... maybe!

    Or perhaps he intended to keep working and was laid off in the past few years - or in the past 7 months, hence his application.

    my read shelf:
    Meredith's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)
    40/112

    Photobucket
  • imagemsmerymac:
    imagepixy_stix:

    msmery - My how much he's making a year was more in reference to the "zomg guy has millions" implication of the article. He's making an average income per year, and probably has to pay out of pocket for insurance... if he had insurance before. My best guess is that he had a medical situation come up with his family that he didn't think he could afford OOP (hence $4k in medical bills in a short 7 months).

    What he did isn't right, but if I'm right re: medical issues, I feel for the guy.

    Sure. But I wonder what his job status was before he won. Did he really think he could quit his job for the next 25 years and live the high life on $1000/week without considering things like taxes and insurance costs? Given what I've seen of other lottery winners... maybe!

    Or perhaps he intended to keep working and was laid off in the past few years - or in the past 7 months, hence his application.

    This is what I'm thinking may have happened. And the lottery is not taxed at normal income levels, after all is said and done, he was probably paying 40% in taxes. $600 a week is not a lot to live on with a family (if he has one).

  • No one likes welfare cheats. No one.

    But whenever someone complains only about ALL the cheating that must be going on, I sideeye them because the number of people living in poverty who are getting their benefits cut or jumping through all sorts of hoops to just to maintain and get by on what they have, far outnumbers the number who are cheating.  

    Do the stories about the people living in poverty receiving inadequate assistance, if any assistance, also make you mad?

Sign In or Register to comment.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards