How many people here have received money from the government? I'm talking about such things as

[sinkingfeeling]

unemployment benefits, earned income credits, workmen's comp, public assistance, food stamps, heating bill assistance, housing subsidies, etc.
I've been thinking about this because of a situation within a family I know. I'm 60 years old and have never received any of those although I was a single mother, without child support, back in the early 70's.

[mainegreen]

1. Student loans n/t

:shrug:

[Ian David]

2. If you've ever driven on an interstate, you've "taken" government money.

And if you don't have diarrhea today, you should thank a Liberal.

[ileus]

50. we pay taxes for those interstates....

[EvolveOrConvolve]

73. Bingo

But, we also pay taxes towards our welfare system.

My wife and I used Medicaid to pay for our kid ($40,000+), but have far surpassed that amount in the taxes we've paid in the 11 years since then.

[Ian David]

74. Certain states take more of that money than they put in. n/t

[Blue_In_AK]

3. I had AFDC (or whatever it was called in California)

and food stamps for a couple years back in the early '70s when my daughter was a baby.

[yardwork]

Nothing.

And I'm not complaining, either. I thank the Goddess that I haven't had to need those things, because I know how difficult they are to get and how bad off a person has to be to qualify. I don't begrudge a penny of my tax money on helping those less fortunate.

I do begrudge the dollars and dollars this government has taken from me to wage war and kill people.

[rucky]

4. Yep.

WIC and food card while I was in grad school and my wife was home w/ our infant daughter.

[Fresh_Start]

5. i got social security survivor benefits

since my father died while I was still school age

[TheCentepedeShoes]

55. Yeah, me too

Back then you got it until age 22 as long as you were full time college student. It wasn't much, but enough to cover room/board in the dorm. Stuff was alot cheaper back then, too. Somewhere along they cut it off at 18 regardless of student status, I think. Probably under Raygun.

[Maine-ah]

90. nope, I got SS death bennies until I turned 22

and that was 1995-96. My Father died just before my 21st birthday. (on edit) I was also not a student at the time.

Also, we have Mainecare since we don't have any health insurance, they also paid for the birth of my daughter. We're up for review on that this February.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

92. I stand corrected

:hi: Glad you got it, it really helped me when I was in college.
And what a cutie!

[demnan]

6. I had unemployment insurance

a few times when I was laid off from a job. It was really laughable how little they pay. $331 a month and I have a $1200 mortgage! So it is basicly a pitance. Two brothers got Workman's Comp for being injured on the job, but I had to write to the Congressman for one they took so long to get it.

[karlrschneider]

7. You're excluding social security, I assume...?

?

[sinkingfeeling]

10. Yes, retirement social security. I forgot about SSDI and children on SSI.

[Maddy McCall]

8. Why do you ask?

Do you find it shameful that people sometimes have to accept government aid to survive?

I don't quite understand the point of this post.

That you were a single parent and didn't need governmental assistance is GREAT for you. However, different people have different circumstances. Not everyone has assistance from family and friends to rely upon. NOt everyone has an education or a good job to pull them through.

[sinkingfeeling]

12. Like I said it's a private family issue that got me thinking about this. What you say is true, but I

was not one of the fortunate to have a good education (dropped out of college to get married) and had no assistance from family or friends. I don't think taking government aid is shameful, just want to get a feel for how many or what % of people have or are taking it.

[Maddy McCall]

20. Just wondering why it matters to you.

When you ask people such a personal question, you should give them a good reason why.

Otherwise, it sounds like you are saying, "I'm somehow better than you because I didn't have to go on the government dole when tough times hit me."

[sinkingfeeling]

36. OK. I was 19 when I married and 20 when I had my son and divorced by 21.

I had been in college and really had no skills to provide support. I took every penny I had from having raised 4-H livestock during my teens and spent a month going to 'key punch' school and then got a couple of jobs. Over time, things worked out and I've made my living from IT (as it's now called).

My son produced a daughter a couple of years ago during a one week 'relationship'. He's 38 years old and damn well should have known better. The mother of child filed for child support, WIC, Medicare, housing, and lord knows what else in 3 separate states! She is 21 years old and had her second child by a different father 10 months after the first. She is doing the 'two step' to keep the government and aid people in all 3 states confused by changing her residency every 3 to 4 months. My son was ordered by our state to pay child support, which now makes up about 50% of her income. She appears to not to want to work and keeps moving so they can't nail her about work requirements. My son has filed for complete custody of his child. In the meantime, my son is being threatened by 2 states to make up for all the government assistance she has gotten. It's a mess.

[Le Taz Hot]

76. Welcome to the nightmare of child support.

Honey, it hasn't even BEGUN yet. And she's taking assistance from 3 states? You know, don't you, that HE will have to pay that back (not her). Mommies get off scott free in this whole charade and the LAST, and I mean the LAST consideration by the state is the child. They see your son as a the goose that laid the golden aid (a father with a job) and they will NOT let go. Oh, and good luck in your son getting custody. Mommie has to be a crack ho' livin' on the streets with the pimp beating the kid every 1/2 hour in order to be even considered an unfit mother. He's about to see how inequitable (against daddies) the system is. On the other hand, there are such things as CONDOMS!

[sinkingfeeling]

99. In reality, she's getting darn close to what you described. I hired a PI firm to do a little

digging and we're awaiting the final report. What I can't get over is how, in this day and age, with computers and SSNs, she can get away with collecting from 3 states. As for condoms and safe sex, I preached that to my son for years and he did listen for about 36 years, before he believed her story that she was 'protected'. I think she did see the goose with the golden egg and set him up!

[raccoon]

83. Sinking, check out this thread if you haven't already.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2778261&mesg_id=2778261

Is your son sure he is the father?

[AZBlue]

93. There's a big difference between those who genuinely need it and use it honestly and

those who cheat. I'm sorry for your son's situation - what a nightmare for him!

[notadmblnd]

9. up until 4 years ago, the government had never "given" me anything but a hard time

No welfare, no foodstamps no breaks on property taxes, not even garbage collection. Then after 28 years of employment my job was gone. My husband had died the year before and we had/have a minor child and I learned I was eligible for mothers benefits after unemployment ran out. That is what has kept us going until now. Our son will be 16 in another year and "mothers" benefits will be discontinued. Still, I don't feel like the government has given me anything (we worked and paid into the system all of our lives, we've earned this). I have been going to college, paying for it one class at a time. Hopefully I'll be gainfully employed this time next year. I do have to admit though, it's been wonderful to be able to stay home and finish raising our son. He's a good kid, I'm very proud of him and if his father were alive, he would be too.

[Maddy McCall]

11. Kudos to YOU.

And a big hug. :hug:

Keep preservering. I am PROUD of you. And your son.

:hug: :yourock:

[notadmblnd]

17. Thank you ,for the encouragement

[sinkingfeeling]

15. I'm certainly glad you were able to continue your college and this was there for you.

[Fresh_Start]

23. does you son qualify for social security survivor benefits?

I had it all the way through high school
Wasn't a lot of money but better than none.

[notadmblnd]

42. yes, he does. He'll recieve benefits till he graduates high school

My husband worked for GM, so as long as I don't remarry, they'll provide health care and a portion of his pension about 550.00 month for the rest of my life.

[Fresh_Start]

45. when you mentioned mothers benefit until age 16

I was afraid you had overlooked your sons benefit
My cousins husband died last year. She'll need every penny she can get to raise their two boys.
So I naturally was concerned whether you were getting what you were entitled to

[AzDar]

13. Nothing, ever. But I certainly believe those who need help should get it.

PERIOD.

[Broken_Hero]

14. hmm,

Pell Grants, when I was in college, but you had to be super poor to get them....

[sinkingfeeling]

16. Do some Pell grants have to be repaid? I know that if you enter certain professions on a Pell, they

will waive the pay back.

[Broken_Hero]

19. Not that I'm aware of

I never did(never was told I had to)...Tax folks never brought that up either.

[Maddy McCall]

24. Never. That's what "grant" means.

[Gormy Cuss]

46. Pell grants are grants. I believe that you're thinking of Federal student loans

and you do need to be quite low income to qualify for Pell grants.

[Johonny]

18. you mean besides my salary?

Try doing science in the US and not getting at least some of your funding from the government.

[lurky]

21. If you went to a state university.

you were subsidized by the government. If you went to public high school or elementary school, your education was paid for by the government. The internet was developed with government research dollars. If you have ever mailed or received a letter, ridden on a train or subway, flushed a toilet in an urban area, or crossed a major bridge, you have effectively received government money.

The list goes on and on. If I were the next Democratic president, I would start an ad campaign to educate people and raise awareness of all the ways in which they are served by the government. Something like, "Clean drinking water, brought to you by your taxes." So many of these "small government" people just have no idea of the ways they benefit from government spending, and the ways in which they would personally lose if it were taken away.

[slackmaster]

79. That was certainly true in the '70s when I attended UC San Diego

The fees I paid were a tiny fraction of what my education actually cost (and about 1/20 of what undergraduates are paying now).

[NMDemDist2]

22. I had a couple surgeries on the public dime

nothing else though, not even unemployment

on edit I did get a couple Pell Grants too

[stillcool]

25. I grew up 'on the dole'

Mom died when I was a year old, and dad was a WWII veteran. I got..well the people that raised me got...benefits from both. I've been guilty of being born all my life.

[sinkingfeeling]

27. 'Guilty of being born'?? Why do you state it that way?

[stillcool]

38. I don't think I can explain...

or if I could that it would be understood. As a foster kid, it was made very apparent that I "owed" my very existence to the 'good people' who 'took me in'. Books, clothes, dentist, doctor...all given grudgingly with a huge emotional price tag, that I am still paying. When I happened to live among a family with their own kids, my 'otherness' was made all that more apparent. Those who are the most vulnerable are the easiest to abuse. It all adds up to the guilt and shame, coming from within and without, of being 'other', and of being incapable of doing anything about anything.

[sinkingfeeling]

59. I'm so sorry. I certainly hope you're on your way to overcoming those feelings.r

[stillcool]

69. Feelings or facts?

I don't believe the facts of my life can or should be 'overcome'. I've learned some valuable lessons, and have been able to communicate my experience with others who are traveling a similar road. This war is creating more of "me's" I hope these children will fare better, but I fear this country is not yet ready to take care of their own orphans of war.

[conspirator]

78. you need to turn that guilt into anger. It's a bully's world. Forget morality.

I have a similar experience to yours although I don't want to talk about it

[stillcool]

84. I have an unlimited supply

of anger, when it comes to witnessing over and over cause and effect, and consequences on top of consequences imposed and then ignored by this society. The solution according to so many ignorant, arrogant, self-righteous assholes is to punish more severely the dog they've been kicking for years. I seem to think it's my job to shove my shit in people's faces, when I see the pattern of my life being unnecessarily repeated.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

26. Food stamps a few times, GI Bill many times.

GI Bill was a big help.

[sinkingfeeling]

28. GI bill and veterans benefits don't count. They were earned.

[slackmaster]

34. So are Unemployment Insurance and Worker's Compensation

n/t

[hfojvt]

52. So is the earned income credit.

Why should that be seen as some sort of 'gift' instead of just a tax reduction? It's just like any other deduction or like the child tax credit.

[slackmaster]

77. That's exactly what I said in reply #33

n/t

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

35. To me, the GI Bill was just Free Gov't Money

I never made any agreement with the gov't about benefits. I was drafted.

:rofl:

[sinkingfeeling]

29. Duplicate entry.

[sinkingfeeling]

30. Double dup.

[mak3cats]

31. The mortgage interest deduction when one itemizes taxes...

...is a housing subsidy to someone who owns their own home. (I'm one.)

[Scout]

32. 6 months of unemployment once in 25+ years of work n/t

[slackmaster]

33. That's a real mixed basket of fruit you have put on the table, sinking

UI benefits are the payout from an insurance policy that you paid for. (Or your employer "paid" for it in exchange for paying you less.) So is worker's comp.

EIC is for people who work but are poor and have families to support. They still pay income tax; EIC is a tax break.

Housing subsidies, heating bill assistance, (general) public assistance, and food stamps are available to people who have never worked. Those are true handouts.

To answer your question, I have collected UI several times and had one worker's comp claim after a computer bit me.

[sinkingfeeling]

37. How did the computer bite you? I'm curious.

[slackmaster]

39. Compaq server, about 1994, installing a tape drive into a front bay

In order to put enough pressure on the IDE cable to get it properly mated to the connector on the tape drive, I had to reach through an open bay just above the drive I was installing. I braced my knuckles against the metal cage above me, and squeezed the connector into place with my fingers.

The place where I had put my knuckles for leverage had not been deburred - It was die-cut sheet metal, and sharp as a fucking razor blade. Cut my middle finger's large knuckle to the bone. I didn't feel it at first, just saw a big open wound. Then came the blood in large quantities, then the pain.

I needed three stitches, a tetanus booster, a run of antibiotics, and a followup visit.

Filling out the WC claim form was a hoot. One question concerning how I was injured asked something like this:

If a piece of equipment was involved, please describe it. For example, "chain saw", "punch press", "tractor", etc.

I felt pretty silly writing in "computer".

[laylah]

40. Do you mean

have I ever been in a situation where I had to take back some of the astronomical taxes that I have paid over the years to take care of my family? You betcha! And I would do it again if I had to. I was raised by very hardworking parents, who brought us up to be self-sufficent; however, there are times in life when a hand up is needed. I took it...

[Jed Dilligan]

41. No, because getting that crap is harder than finding work

and by the grace of something or other I've never been disabled.

[Redstone]

43. Not one single cent. But if others have, that's FINE with me. Isn't that what my tax

money is supposed to go for, to help those who need help?

Redstone

[catnhatnh]

44. Yes....

But the difference between me and some republicans is that I never got nickle one from a program I wasn't forced to join or hadn't paid into for years...

[NOLALady]

47. Nothing.

[Jeffro40]

48. I received food stamps for a month 25 years ago

And couldn't stand it. It motivated me to go back to work, eventually start a business, and work a lot so it would never happen again. Now we live on a lake, make a lot of money, and enjoy life. Of course, we make a lot of charitable donations, pay a ton in taxes, and support out mother in law.

[ileus]

49. 37 years old, so far so good, haven't had to rely on the man yet.

[Radio_Lady]

51. We received social security for my husband's deceased first wife to help support her children.

That ceased when each turned 18.

My oldest stepson received veteran's benefits after serving for two years in the 1970s. They helped him finish college and may have even helped pay for the first home he owned.

Our three daughters received loans and grants (can't remember who got what, but I know my daughter had to pay back $9000 after she graduated).

We have also been on government unemployment insurance when we were looking for work.

Now we are both on social security benefits as we are retired.

[Hekate]

53. Zip. Like you I was a single mom for a time, never made much money, always believed my taxes...

...were well spent if they helped folks who needed it more than I did. The saddest part was that when times were tough I couldn't rely on my own parents for more than critical comments about how I could be doing better if I only tried harder.

I've only met a few people who shook my faith in that philosophy; for the most part, I believe that no one who doesn't absolutely have to asks for public assistance. Some people fall on hard times much harder than others. As a country, I think we could do a lot better.

Hekate

[trackfan]

54. I've collected unemployment on several occasions. n/t

[Political Heretic]

56. Student loans, unemployment once.

[AlienGirl]

57. Yes. General Assistance, SSI, food stamps, Medicaid

I always felt like the system just ground you down once you were in it--it seemed like nobody saw people, only pieces of paper.

Now that I'm on the other side of the desk, I see people. And I do my best to be pushy to advocate for them.

Tucker

[kineneb]

58. SSDI, Medicaid, Medicare, indigent healthcare

Subsidized mental health care. It is what a family does, when one member is on dialysis.

[varelse]

60. Hmm I've been on the government 'dole' pretty much since birth

I attended federally subsidized public schools from kindergarten though high school graduation, then attended a federally subsidized community college for 2 years, then transferred to a government-subsidized state university. Oh, yeah, and was part of a "magnet" program also, which means even more public education funds drawn.

Also, collected 2 weeks of unemployment insurance in the late 80's, before being referred to another job by the HR director of the company that had laid me off.

I get lots of use from the public roads, streets, highways, and national and state parks. Have only had to call the government-funded police twice, and luckily haven't needed the property tax-funded fire department.

So far, no food stamps, medicaid/care, social security, or public housing - but like most Americans, I'm really only a paycheck or two away from needing that, if the job is cut or major health issues arise.

But then, I've never been a parent, so could afford to take advantage of "affordable" living situations (not to mention dietary and medical 'options') that would not work for a parent with young kids.

[Hamlette]

61. I would argue unemployment is a hybrid, not like welfare. As for me, I got tons of Vets benies

GI bill while hubby was in school, bought our first house with a VA loan (no down payment). (lots of goodies considering my hubby got out of the army by suing for CO status.)

Unemployment is paid for by employers, not the government. Employer's go along with it to put buying power in pockets of the unemployed so it doesn't hurt the economy which hurts their businesses.

[dysfunctional press]

62. like many people, i've recieved unemployment INSURANCE "benefits" in the past... BUT-

i currently and for the rest of my life will receive social security disability/retirement "benefits"- although not as much as i should be entitled to.

I'll be 47 next week, and i've been receiving disability payments since i was 38. i have an autoimmune disorder known as ankylosing spondylitis- a chronic, painful, degenerative inflammatory arthritis primarily affecting spine and sacroiliac joints, causing eventual fusion of the spine.
unfortunately for me, it went un/mis-diagnosed until i was 36, or i might have been better prepared, financially- for instance, i had been in a construction labor union for a number of years, but gave it up because i thought that the work was tearing up my body- had i known the truth, i could have stayed in and collected a decent pension.

as to the reason my social security is less than i should be getting- one construction company that i had worked a couple years for right out of high school had taken the fica deductions out of my paycheck every week- but had never actually paid them in to the government. i didn't find out about it until many years later, when i had been declared disabled and eligible to collect my "benefits". i was in the ss office, having my benefits outlined, as far as how much i would be receiving- because i was "retiring" at such a young age, i only had about 20 years worth of wages to make up my benefit pool, and the missing fica payments amounted to about 12% of my lifetime fica money. that meant/means that my monthly disability/retirement check- already smaller than normal due to a shortened "working life" was now 12% lower than i had earned. and i was told that i had no recourse, since the company has long since gone out of business due to bankruptcy.

life is just one big picnic after another.

[lakeguy]

63. my dad was on unemployment for a while

we almost had to sell the house because it was going to run out but he got a job right before that happened. he's a CFO now so he was/is no slouch either. just got downsized.

student loans too.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

64. Unemployment during one brief time in my life - in the late 1980s

The film studio I was working for was going bankrupt and I was unable to find any other work in the industry. I had no choice but to go into another field altogether.

[MiniMe]

65. Unemployment for me a few years ago

Thanks George, for nothing. Would rather have my job.

[Ilsa]

66. Unemployment benefits. nt

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

67. GI Bill and Food Stamps when I was a student.

Back in the '60s.

[Turn CO Blue]

68. Medicaid, for the doctor and hospital when I had my son

23 years ago when I was 19 years old. I had no money, no job skills, and only had one year of college at the time. I also received WIC for a year.

I'm still grateful.


BTW, that kid grew up to be valedictorian of his high school and graduated with honors last year with a degree in Chemical Engineering. A high tide lifts ALL boats!

[NashVegas]

70. Social Security Checks Put Me Through a Small Community College

At least partially. My father died two months after the retro-active cut-off point that Reagan played with in his cut-backs.

He put in all his life, never saw a single dime of it; he was refused disability by an SSA (April 1981 - Reagan) that ruled his illness (non-Hodgkins Lymphoma) shouldn't keep him out of work for very long. It didn't, really. He passed away six months later.

[notadmblnd]

86. My husband couldn't walk to the end of our driveway

but SS wanted him to go back to work. I told the Dr that they made him go see.. that if she put him back to work and something happened, I sue the pants off her (although I didn't say it so nicely), he got his disability.

I've been told that I scare people.

[havocmom]

71. received a month of unemployement benefits once

But that is not just from 'the government' as employers have to pay into a pool from which some of the benefits are paid, as I understood how it worked.

I am in my mid 50s. The month I had to rely on unemployment benefits hurt my sense of honor and self worth. It was very difficult to admit I needed to lean on the greater community for that brief period of time.

[Dervill Crow]

72. My mom and dad used to give us their government cheese, so we got hand-me-downs

from the government.

[RebelOne]

75. I have collected unemployment at 3 different times

within the past 20 years. I am now collecting social security and working full-time.

[raccoon]

80. Survivor's Social security, as a minor child of deceased parent. nt

[Yavin4]

82. Same Here

Although that's money that the govt returned to me.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

81. Student grant money here.

I have no guilt of using it to lift myself back up on my feet either.

[Retrograde]

85. NSDL loan for college

unemployment payments (although that's mostly state - and you have to pay fed taxes on them, worker's comp (ditto, a whole bunch of Republican tax breaks because we happened to be lucky. And Mr. Retrograde got SSI survivor's benefits after both his parents died when he was a teen - couldn't have gone to college otherwise.

[supernova]

87. Veterans' Admin Scholarship for school

which was more like a grant, I didn't have to pay back. It was expressly for children of WWII veterans to use for school at a state college (though IIRC, if you decided to go to a private university, you would get the equivalent in money to what a state education cost at the time.).

It was really a great program because I didn't have to pay it back. I wish more kids could have used it.

That's the only benefit I've ever used. I've never used SSDI, or unemployment, or WIC or anything else. However, I certainly do feel good about contributing to an economy for people to get services instead of doing without.

[ieoeja]

88. Where to begin....

FDR's Rural Electrification Program brought subsidized electricity to the farm where I grew up.

My parents got farm subsidies. Since a portion of their income was spent on me, then I guess I got a share of that.

My dad got medical retirement benefits from the gov't as a former fireman. Again, some of that was spent on me.

My mom got her salary from the gov't as a postal employee. Again, ....

My K-12 education was paid for by the gov't via public schools. I rode a school bus to school that was also fully paid for by the gov't.

Those buses drove over gov't highways. We hauled our goods to market over those same highways and side roads.

My college education was partially subsidized as I went to state run universities.

I got a paycheck from the Marine Corps for a time.

I got a paycheck from the Veterans Administration for a time.

My home is subsidized via income tax deductions. A side business (apartment building) has business expense deductions for my income as well.

I took a gov't subsidized train to work today.


So my question to you is, how in the world have you managed to avoid taking anything from the gov't your entire life? You live in a bubble or something?

[sinkingfeeling]

97. Using what tax dollars pay for or subsidized is not the question here. I have paid in

the max to medicare for over 30 years. My federal and state income taxes are more each year than many people's salaries. I pay property taxes for schools. The question is about individuals receiving direct payments.

[NorthernSpy]

89. student grants and loans; my dad had a military pension...

... that saved our bacon many times.


And then there's all that other stuff: federally insured bank/credit union accounts, public roads and infrasture, public schools, libraries, federally-funded research, train service, emergency and rescue services, agricultural subsidies that keep food affordable...


Public spending benefits everyone, even if they're not consciously aware of it.

[jannyk]

91. Never - not one cent. nt

[knitter4democracy]

94. Tax credit for Hubby's med school loans and tuition for me this last year.

We're getting a bigger refund this year because of the tuition tax break for the couple of classes I took for fun this last year. That, and tax breaks for the kids and the mortgage. How's that not getting money from the government?

[Cleita]

95. Well, I got unemployment once for a few weeks and now

I get Social Security and Medicare. That's it.

[Skittles]

96. never received anything

I count myself lucky

[Lorien]

98. Nope. Never. Wouldn't take it if offered, either. n/t