State Programs for the poor (Columbus: health insurance, attorney, unemployment rate)

[tom11011]

I'm trying to identify state programs that help the poor. Here is my case in point.

I have a neighbor who has a daughter who is 20 years old. She had a baby at age 18. I'm told by my neighbor that the daughter receives welfare and food stamps from the state government. She also receives free childcare for her 2 year old and free college tuition from the State. Apparetly some of this tuition went to pay for her GED as well before college started.

The 2 year old child receives medicaid (or medicare, not sure which) for free health insurance. This child (or mother) also receives something called WIC which pays for baby formula, diapers, etc..

Here is the kicker. The girl lives with her boyfriend but they both refuse to get married because the benefits would cease.

This 20 year old is pregnant with child #2.

I find this story hard to believe, can this all be true? Does ohio really give this kind of money away?

[Beep2Beep]

Originally Posted by tom11011

I'm trying to identify state programs that help the poor. Here is my case in point.

I have a neighbor who has a daughter who is 20 years old. She had a baby at age 18. I'm told by my neighbor that the daughter receives welfare and food stamps from the state government. She also receives free childcare for her 2 year old and free college tuition from the State. Apparetly some of this tuition went to pay for her GED as well before college started.

The 2 year old child receives medicaid (or medicare, not sure which) for free health insurance. This child (or mother) also receives something called WIC which pays for baby formula, diapers, etc..

Here is the kicker. The girl lives with her boyfriend but they both refuse to get married because the benefits would cease.

This 20 year old is pregnant with child #2.

I find this story hard to believe, can this all be true? Does ohio really give this kind of money away?

Yes, and more.......free legal help if you try to shut off their benefits, free car repairs....and it goes on and on.


But......the county department is supposed to ask her who is the father of the child. They are supposed to establish paternity and start child support payments for the child. Did she lie to the department about the name of the father of the child?

[tom11011]

Don't know about that. Car repairs? Do tell.

[Beep2Beep]

Originally Posted by tom11011

Don't know about that. Car repairs? Do tell.

You can do her a favor.......before she gets bogged down with 15 kids and maybe into legal problems.....if she did not give the correct info. You can call the county prosecuting attorney and ask to speak to the person who handles child support/paternity cases and give them the info. They can look into it.

Or you can call the hotline for the Auditor of State in Columbus and leave the info.

[mdmagana]

Good God! I thought only California was that bad! I swear, sometimes I think it would be a lot easier to just be a lazy bum and collect free stuff all the time.

[progmac]

well, the health insurance and wic is true. the idea is that the child shouldn't suffer because of the parent's mistakes. it is just a child, after all. for the mom, welfare lasts for two years before the mother is required to work, the maximum time for receiving benefits is five years.

you or anyone is welcome to purge all assets and attempt the state-supported life. good luck!

[1watertiger]

the entire system of "hand-outs" is flawed and we tax payers suffer.. why reward people for poor choices.? if you cant afford kids , keep your legs crossed ! go get a job you mooch !

[rrtechno]

I am not trying to turn this into a political discussion or anything, and I do believe there are people who abuse the system, but I do have a question. Numerous posters are telling people to "get a job". Where are these jobs?

My wife has been laid off for 2 years now (she worked the same job for 24 years). She has been looking for work the entire time. Until last month our county had the highest unemployment rate in the state. I am officially retired, but had some skills that allowed me to find a part time job last fall that lets me earn enough to cover her health insurance. Personally, I don't consider her, or anyone else in our situation to be a "mooch".

[tom11011]

Originally Posted by rrtechno

I am not trying to turn this into a political discussion or anything, and I do believe there are people who abuse the system, but I do have a question. Numerous posters are telling people to "get a job". Where are these jobs?

My wife has been laid off for 2 years now (she worked the same job for 24 years). She has been looking for work the entire time. Until last month our county had the highest unemployment rate in the state. I am officially retired, but had some skills that allowed me to find a part time job last fall that lets me earn enough to cover her health insurance. Personally, I don't consider her, or anyone else in our situation to be a "mooch".

I don't think anyone is suggesting that, talking about working the system here.

[Beep2Beep]

Originally Posted by rrtechno

I am not trying to turn this into a political discussion or anything, and I do believe there are people who abuse the system, but I do have a question. Numerous posters are telling people to "get a job". Where are these jobs?

My wife has been laid off for 2 years now (she worked the same job for 24 years). She has been looking for work the entire time. Until last month our county had the highest unemployment rate in the state. I am officially retired, but had some skills that allowed me to find a part time job last fall that lets me earn enough to cover her health insurance. Personally, I don't consider her, or anyone else in our situation to be a "mooch".

There is nothing wrong with needing and receiving a little help but the problem is that welfare has become a way of life for some many people in this country. Welfare is so easy to get that so many people don't want to bother trying to do anything for themselves......like getting as much education as possible.......heck, how many people do you know who plant a garden? How hard would it be for a person to just plant a couple of apple trees in their yard? Or some vegetables?

Another point to all of this is the salary/benefit levels of many of the people who control the welfare system in Ohio. They want to keep the system going because they gain from it. Go to the office of your county auditor and ask to see the payroll records for the employees of the local welfare office. You will be shocked at the level of pay that many of the employees receive!! The information is public so you have a right to see all of it. The more people they can sign up for welfare the more employees they can hire and the more employees they hire the higher their civil service classification goes....thus, more salary.