Receiving Help

I heard an interesting topic on the radio this morning...it was about the welfare/food stamp system and how people abuse it. People called in and sent in e-mails to the radio station and there were mixed reviews about "abuse" and/or the advantages of the system. So it got me to thinking....

I remember my mother receiving "welfare" and food stamps...it was shortly after her divorce. I remember being so embarrassed when we would go grocery shopping and she woulds pull out a coupon book-food stamps (but I was not ashamed to eat-the food that was purchased by food stamps). She had looked for a job but it did not come quickly nor easy. She received the benefits until she started working again. Hmmm, abuse? I don't think so, what were her other options? Who was going to help her? And unfortunately, she nor many of us are lucky enough to marry rich/wealthy and anticipate a large child support and/or alimony check.

Abusers...supposedly, they continue to have more children to get more money. Wow! Really?!?! ...nine months plus 18 years of a child just to get benefits?!?!hmmmm, (can't be worth it). Or sometimes they lie about their situations to possibly get more money. LOL, they claim other peoples kids or say certain people do OR don't live with them and that NOBODY else is helping them. OK! Well, whether they are abusers, liars, right or wrong. I don't know their circumstances but if they need the help to avoid eviction, going hungry and taking care of their children then so be it. It's them that will have to deal with the truth in the end.

Personally, going into the Department of Human Services building is a humbling experience. It allows you reflection on the ability and the blessing to have a job. It makes you appreciate your checks. Recipients of temporary cash assistance (thats what it's called these days) and food stamps have to subject themselves to telling some stranger all their personal and financial business and why they are in a particular situation. Further they have to prove all of it with documentation. Telling anyone only a little bit of my personal business, I get uncomfortable. All this is done to only receive possibly 1/2 the monthly salary they were earning when working. It's barely enough to honestly live off of.

While sitting in the office, listening to babies cry, watching children run around, ear hustle why people are there and complaining about how long they've been there. It dawns on you that your number still hasn't been called. Giving you only more time to think...for those of us who work everyday to earn a check, which taxes and premiums for insurance comes out of, we then have to take a percentage out to go grocery shopping, buy miscellaneous items for the house, diapers for the baby, oh and you can't forget bills and rent and of course the little bit of difference to live off of-isn't much. But, I would still much rather be at work for 8 hours then sitting in that office.

To me, Receiving help for a short period of time, is and should be just that. But working and earning a living is helping yourself!