https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 19 May 2026 01:49:26 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2317108 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 20:18:21 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2317108@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsB2012: good for you for standing up! </p> <p>I agree, do what you want to do but don't try to play it both ways. Either you have PTSD or you don't. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2316937 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 16:09:45 +0000 youboots 2316937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup. I've been ticked enough to talk to my therapist about it, depending on who it would be reported to per her it can't always be done anonymously. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2316929 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 15:49:42 +0000 Modern Daisy 2316929@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a high school friend whose parents got legally divorced so her Mom could collect whatever benefits were available to a single mom. This same friend is regularly applying for unemployment.. I don't know all the details but it sounds like gaming the system. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2316926 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 15:42:53 +0000 Eko 2316926@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most of the people I see take advantage of the system are the ones who work under the table and qualify for low income benefits versus the ones who are trying to get disability and not work. There's a park full of these people down the road from where I live that line up everyday to pick up work. There is a market for buying/selling EBT cards too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2316916 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 15:31:13 +0000 MrsB2012 2316916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My MIL claims to have PTSD and is on long term disability from it. This PTSD happened to come the exact same time as my SFIL retired from work and they decided to spend half the year every day in another country. She doesn't have PTSD, she just doesn't want to work while her husband is retired. She tried to say she could babysit my 2 kids full time while I'm back at work. I said if she can't work a regular job because of her PTSD, then she's not fit to watch my two under two while I work. Thanks but no thanks. You're going to play the system, you're not going to be a large influence on my children while I work. Absolutely makes my blood boil that she does this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2316904 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 15:17:31 +0000 catomd00 2316904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well for a lot of people like that, they're making more through the system than they would otherwise so you can't fault them for a system that incentivizes them to not work. I'm a fan of helping people on assistance gain meaningful employment they can support themselves on and also putting them to work to earn the money they receive from the gov. I would only report someone who had tons of money but was hiding it and collecting welfare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2316791 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 13:24:44 +0000 josina 2316791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlecasita1122: OMG, crazy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2316788 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 13:23:58 +0000 josina 2316788@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: Very interesting article. I found myself thinking as I started reading it, if you can't do physical labor, then get a desk job, not even considering that some of these people can't do that. </p> <p>My MIL is actually one of them, did not graduate from high school, has worked in a factory her entire life and got fired because she had too many dr. appointments. She is 9+ months in to trying to get disability, so it's not an easy thing to do.<br /> It just makes me so mad that people like my coworker and her fiance, who have no disability at all, are trying to make one up just to take advantage. They aren't even in their 30's yet! ... "Going on disability means, assuming you rely only on those disability payments, you will be poor for the rest of your life." ... SAD!<br /> I guess I was just raised with a different mind set, I hate that (some) children are growing up this way. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2316786 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 13:21:02 +0000 littlecasita1122 2316786@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work for an apt complex and see it all the time with residents that qualify for our low income housing program. One woman drives a brand new Lexus and her bf drives a Maserati. Like seriously?!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2316724 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 12:46:34 +0000 BadgerMom 2316724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlebug: Thanks for the info! I would also assume because of the arduous and lengthy approval process it tends to weed out people who can return to the work force at some point in the near future like you said. </p> <p>I also think because of our general lack of support and funding on the rehabilitation side of thing, it ends up kind of being all or nothing. You're having a crisis and will be able to return to work relatively shortly, or you have a chronic issue which will go on indefinitely therefore putting you on disability forever. Where in reality had you been able to have more rehab along the way you probably could have gone back to work at some point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2316710 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 12:33:10 +0000 littlebug 2316710@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BadgerMom: The government defines it as being unable to work for a year, at minimum. So if your physician certifies that you can return to work after a year, it's moot because it'll have taken you longer than that just to get approved for the benefit! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2316709 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 12:31:53 +0000 BadgerMom 2316709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlebug: Good to know. That's how I understand it too. I'm not surprised about the statistic above that pretty much no one returns to the workforce. I've always taken it as "permanent disability" which to me means you can't work, now or ever really. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2316705 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 12:29:44 +0000 hilsy85 2316705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I worked with mentally ill clients, many of whom were receiving disability. A lot of them were probably capable of going back to work in some capacity, but were terrified of losing all their benefits (the amount you get goes down depending on how much you work), or being fired/losing their job and then not being able to get back on disability either. It was a very difficult situation, and really did discourage working. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2316701 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 12:27:16 +0000 Cherrybee 2316701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One of my team at work has refused a number of promotions because the pay rise would mean he no longer receives tax credits (a top up for low paid workers in the UK). He would still be better off but not by much and, in his words, why would he take on the extra responsibility for £20 a month? It makes me mad because that's tax payers money he is taking because he wants an easier life. He doesn't actually *need* it because he could get a better paid job. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2316695 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 12:22:04 +0000 littlebug 2316695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It is REALLY hard to get approved for SSDI (Social Security Disability Income). The national approval rating for initial application is 32%. Once they get denied, people usually have to hire a disability lawyer and appear at a hearing to appeal the decision. It takes an average of 1.5-2 years to get approval. And you can't apply until you've stopped working. </p> <p>A friend of mine has MS. She continued to work up until she absolutely couldn't do it anymore - it was no longer safe for her to be working. She tried to apply before she quit her job, with a specific end date in mind. They would not allow her and made her wait until she actually left her job. So now she has no income, and astronomical medical bills with expensive insurance because her husband is self-employed.</p> <p>I think the screening process to approve disability is SO intense, that the system figures once they approve it, that person will be disabled for the rest of the life and will not ever be able to return to work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2316668 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 11:59:10 +0000 BandDmommy 2316668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My MIL and her boyfriend. :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2316666 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 11:57:54 +0000 mediagirl 2316666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: very interesting article. If this stat is true, it is terribly depressing: "Once people go onto disability, they almost never go back to work. Fewer than 1 percent of those who were on the federal program for disabled workers at the beginning of 2011 have returned to the workforce since then, one economist told me."</p> <p>@josina: I know people who abuse the system in other ways and it does frustrate me to no end. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2316660 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 11:55:29 +0000 MamaG 2316660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: Very interesting piece, thanks for sharing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2316652 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 11:50:20 +0000 BadgerMom 2316652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@josina: Ugh. Yes! Luckily I don't *think* it's as easy to get on disability as she appears to think it is (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong). It's so disheartening because I really do believe in social welfare programs for people who really need them, and I really don't think taking them away is the answer. Unfortunately as a productive citizens of this country we're going to pay for these people one way or another, so what is the answer? I just don't know... :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2316646 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 11:41:53 +0000 MamaG 2316646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@josina: Unfortunately yes, I do know people like this. Too many of them and it makes my blood boil. I want our government to make efficient use of their resources and make sure that the resources are helping those that need them in the most beneficial manner. </p> <p>Agreed that counseling probably could help a lot of people rather than the "hand out" they are seeking. I'm all for the "hand up" to those in need. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2316643 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 11:39:50 +0000 mrbee 2316643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@josina: Not sure, but maybe it does!</p> <p><a href="http://apps.npr.org/unfit-for-work/" rel="nofollow">http://apps.npr.org/unfit-for-work/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2316640 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 11:38:13 +0000 josina 2316640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like people like this need counseling, not disability. They need some self-worth, I just don't understand the mind-set and how she thinks its okay!<br /> She made the comment when asked about getting short-term disability, "oh, i don't need that, I'll just get on disability from the government". It doesn't work like that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2316618 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 11:24:33 +0000 Eko 2316618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh don't even get me started. I see it everyday and it makes me feel ill, knowing how hard I work and people who live the same way I do without working at all. It also makes me sad because there are people who really need assistance. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2316576 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 10:58:55 +0000 snowjewelz 2316576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I def get mad at people abusing the system and I'm indirectly paying for it someway I'm sure!! My friend is a PT and works with children in their homes and she has seen sooo many parents totally abusing the system and using her as babysitter pretty much... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rant-do-you-know-anyone-that-abuses-the-system#post-2316573 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 10:56:52 +0000 josina 2316573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sort of a rant, I'm so annoyed by this girl!</p> <p>A coworker of mine works part-time, 30 hours a week. She spends a lot of her down time at work searching the internet for some new disease, takes time off work to bring her fiance to the dr's office for this 'new disease' he (or she) has, and then writes letters to social security about how her fiance needs disability because he can't work.<br /> Her fiance doesn't have a job other than hauling junk (which pays cash so he doesn't have to report to the government, also mind you a very physical job that someone with a disability wouldn't be able to do).<br /> When someone brings up a job opportunity for him it's "oh no, he can't work because then we'd lose our insurance (meaning they'd have to pay for it vs getting it for free), and they'd have to pay more than the $125/month they pay for rent (salary-based).<br /> Sooo annoyed by people that abuse the system like this, but still have the newest smart phone and name-brand clothes.</p> <p>He and she are perfectly capable of working, but are content on letting the government pay for everything, and are trying as hard as they can to get on disability.</p> <p>It makes me sad for the people that actually need help! And it makes me sad that she doesn't WANT more for herself, a nice car, owning a home, etc.</p> <p>Do you know anyone that abuses the system like this? Is there anyway to report it? </p>