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AP Photo / Courtesy Michigan Lottery via Detroit News
In this photo provided by the Michigan Lottery, Amanda Clayton holds her $1 million lottery check.
ECORSE, Mich. -- A drug overdose may have killed Amanda Clayton, a Detroit-area woman who won a $1 million lottery prize but kept collecting welfare benefits, police said Saturday.
Ecorse police Sgt. Cornelius Herring said Clayton, 25, of Lincoln Park was found dead about 9 a.m. Saturday at a home, The Associated Press said. Ecorse is southwest of Detroit.
Clayton won the $1 million prize in September.
In April, prosecutors accused Clayton of collecting $5,475 in food and medical benefits from August 2011 through March that she would not have received had she reported the lottery winnings and income from a job she held from June through October 2011. In June, she pleaded no contest to fraud and was sentenced to nine months' probation in July.
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Her attorney has said Clayton repaid about $5,500, the AP reported.
"It's simply common sense that million-dollar lottery winners forfeit their right to public assistance," Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said in a statement.
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In April, Gov. Rick Snyder signed a law requiring lottery officials to tell Human Services about new winners, the AP said.
This article includes reporting by NBC News staff and Reuters.
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It has always been said that money does not buy happiness.
OK. Makes sense.
Why aren't corporations who make millions in profit made to forfeit their right to public assistance in terms of subsidies, tax breaks not entitled to individuals, etc.? Why are profitable corporations allowed to continously suck off the public teat?
True....but it sure makes misery a lot more fun. If anyone feels they need to rid themselves of their money to live a simpler life, I'll be glad to take the burden from you.
Was this person abusing drugs prior to this time?
If not, I'd be digging a little closer.
.
Anyone who says "money cannot buy happiness" has obviously never had any or aspires to achieve nothing in their life.
Debi, many of those profitable corporations do not show profits on their tax returns. They get around it by giving the CEO's million dollar bonuses, then they cry poverty. They also get to pass on the taxes that they do pay, i.e., property, school,etc., to the public. They also get to deduct these amounts from their tax returns, but we are paying these for them in our various charges and do not get to deduct them.
Sorry for getting off topic. Michigan should have taken away her welfare payments. I remember reading about it at the time. This woman seemed to flaunt the fact that she was still able to get benefits. At the time, the welfare officials there said she could still collect, at least until they got a chance to look into it.
Warren, Some of the happiest times of my life I spent with my daughter etc. and they didnt cost an extra cent to do.
I followed this story from the start...........and see........... what goes around , comes around. NUFF SAID !!
WOW!! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle........
I had no idea people get this much money for food stamps & medical benefits. Wow. No wonder people choose not to look for work.
so politicians can make $ silly.
Jo Ann-666954
5475/8months=684.37 a month
161.78 a week or
23.11 a day.
Don't quit your day job, especially since the portion that was medical benefits will take a big chunk out of that.
It was still wrong nonetheless.
It's amazing that people HAVE to be told, that if you win a lottery you must report it so the government benefits can be stopped. Is this what we have done to ourselves? Is humanity this greedy, or are we brainwashing ourselves into thinking that it's the governments job to keep us provided with an income and food so that we don't have to work and earn it for ourselves? I believe in this instance, both are true.
I don't know - I didn't feel sad when I read this - more like sour grapes. Not because she won the lottery - I'm all for people getting rich. I'm just tired of the scum living off my tax dollars and never contributing. Liberals insist people who earn money and want to keep the goverment from taking too much are evil but lazy people who take from us are noble for some reason - I think that is in MSN's bylaws for hiring "journalists".
Another minority tragedy!
Debi 1314897 - you nailed it.
WHOOPS.....
Imperial
She was ..... wait for it ......... WHITE!!!!! Gasp, yes it does happen. For the person that wanted to know about her past history, she did do drugs at one time but seemed to get herself cleaned up, guess that did not last.
Workingpoor, thanks I was going to give JO Ann the BIG numbers, but you did it first. Sheesh, 23.11 a day. and that is living high on the hog. Funny how when you break it down what is the actual amount you get to see what people like old Chestypuller underneath me have to say. God save us the poor from their "compassionate conservatism". And no I do NOT think she should have kept getting anything. Take your money, ,manage it will and start giving back to the same system that helped you.
God's judgement never ceases. Live your life accordingly.
Giving someone a million dollars does not change who they are...she would probably have od'd sooner or later
@ workingpoor. You beat me to it. People just don't know math these days. Our Government Politicians need a remedial class in math also, and I'm not talking FUZZY MATH.
lmao
...just love how this became a 'corporations are evil' thread thanks to Debi & Murcury.
You want to whine about it instead of demanding comprehensive tax reform laws that would get rid of the loopholes.
Oh...wait...that wasn't one of Prez-0's top priorities over the last 4 years of additional $5.5 trillion in deficit spending. But let me guess, he has 'promised' he will get it done if reelected.
...you class-warfare pugs are such tools of the DNC; you don't even know they are screwing you and you come back to them for more. Must be anal socialism.
"Drug overdose may have killled woman who won $1 million in lottery but kept getting welfare"
Maybe SPELL-CHECK next time?
Not hard to understand where the money was going, scratch one more loser.
@workingpoor,
Thanks for the explanation. The way it was written I thought she received that amount every month.
Keep hoping when they show us someone winning 1 million dollars, they ought to remind us that more than half of it goes to the government.
and i always thought it was black people ripping off the system.
Money can't buy happiness but it sure as hell buys a lot of drugs.
ComradeChaos:
No just pointing out a truism. What is good for the goose, should be, but is not, good for the gander.
Please, explain to me in graphic detail how and to whom precisely are we to "demand comprehensive tax reform laws", especially when there is no one listening.
I'm a registered Independant, and it doesn't damn well matter much who's in office. The people are still getting screwed.
Please see previous response.
If you are on unemployment you get up to $450 a week, disability, welfare you get food stamps (if 1 person in the household qualifies for foodstamps they are given for the total number of people living in the household), plus free school lunch for your kids, plus medical card for kids, free cell phone (up to 250 minutes a month, each person in your home over 18 can have their own phone) along with the free lunch and phone comes free computer and wi fi, you can get child care vouchers for daycare if you have kids under school age (this is for you to have time to try and get a job). Housecleaning and getting paid cash is one of the scams. They have the child care voucher for daycare while they work for cash. WIC (Women, Infants and children) this is worth $200 a month for groceries. Milk, ceral, juice and other items starting at 6 months pregnant till the child is 6 years old. Section 8 housing, the government pays your rent directly to the landlord. I have friends who have rented their homes to section 8er and the government pays every month rain or shine. Up to $850.00 a month. The tenants never fail to leave the place a horrible mess and the government pays the documented damages. This way they get full check and rent. There are many other helpful programs. When you sit in family services and see fat people with fake nails, expensive tatoos and iphones and your using a $25 track phone you know most "poor" in the United States have it well. I was there because I brought my neighbor for his appointment. He had to prove he was still mentally handicapped and still had cerabral palsy. He has to go in once a year so he remains qualified for Medicare and Medicaid. You see 20 to 30 people everytime I've been there and they are not doing without. Most of the cars in the parking lot are newer than mine..
Vivian, you are an idiot. Anyone in the house over 18 doesn't qualify for anything. They are adults and on their own. Go tell your ridiculous lies to someone who might believe them.
I agree Gregory. I wonder where Vivian lives. If what she says is true, I'd like to move and get a free cell phone. I can't afford one now.
This girl is the exact product of progressivism. They become so addicted to handouts, that even when they don't need them anymore, they are still programmed to be dependent on them and demand them.
And you guys are right. It doesn't matter who we elect as president (Bush and Obama are both progressives and in opposing parties). We need to change society first and the real leaders will eventually populate congress and the cabinet.
But let's not kid ourselves. That's never going to happen. It's human nature. No civilization in the history of mankind has ever broken the natural life cycle. NONE. How arrogant do we have to be to believe we're any different?
Progressivism is what causes apathy and complacency and eventually dependency. We're in the apathy/complacency stages rapidly heading to dependence. Next after that... right where it originates: bondage. And not the fun kind.
We let media scare us into believing suicide bombers and hijackers are our biggest threat. Meanwhile the real terrorists, the progressives, are doing light years more damage here at home.
Tragic, but for some reason this kind of news doesn't surprise me any more.
In the real world, without sticking to a sound budget, if you think about it, a million really doesn't go very far these days. Lasts most Americans about five years of accelerated spending, and then incredibly, they're forced to declare bankruptcy, in most cases that I've seen about people who win big amounts of money.
The fortunate minority that's left that didn't declare BK or die from doing something reckless, and still have their winnings after several years, often turned to legal counsel early on, or a CPA for help right after they won their millions, while not letting their vices or the bad judgement of others to negatively influence how that money is spent.
But it's nice to get close to having that much in your possession, at least once in your life...or at least once in one of your reincarnated lives here on Earth.
You are in the know Vivian, that is exacly how it works, I've seen my in laws do it. I got preganat with my youngest daughter, birth control made me deathly sick and one night was too good a night, lol.Married 27 yrs. 2 daughters, 2 granddaughters. Have a wonderful, hard working hubby, but back to my point. So his ins. plan didn't cover maternity care :(, I started going to a birthing center first 5 mos. I got a horrible intestinal flu, had to be given a shot to stop the vomiting, of every 15 mins. So, I'm pregnant due march 18th, and all my friends, sis -in law 2 of them and friends, ALLL, not married getting medicaid. We got to a bad point where we couldn't pay the 4150 mo. to the BC. I tried everything, while these others are getting medicaid cause they are kieing and telling them they don't know the father, or where he is, ran off etc. I was livid. I couldn't even get a check up, and it was a difficult pregnancy. I did qualify for something called, for the medical needy. Now I was insured and GOD works in many ways we'd never think of, I got several UTI's, so I would go to the ER, and they HAD to check the babays heartbeat, get a pelvic check, check urine , blood etc. So I had a sense of relief the baby must be ok. I started watching kids to make money for baby stuff, still had my crib from my first daughter she was 2 1/2. I hated getting up every am and knowing all these lil kids were coming, but I had to do it, my husband had to pay the bills. Every week, i got paid $200-$250 a week, and on weekends I went babay shopping had my theme picked , hoping for a boy, but nuetral just in case a girl.My mom lived in NH, and she sent me a box of really nice/comfy maternity clothes, and a huge plant arrangement knowing I was depressed then. I did have a small baby shwer. Had to cook my own food for it, someone, who else didnt feel like it. Ok.
I saw a playpen in costco when I first found out i was pregnant 23 yrs old. Luckily cause a good friend who had a baby was a big baby, he cried and cried i'd let him out but chasing him too and i was getting up there, so she found someone else, it worked out and didn't hurt our long friendship. I had a spotless clean house, laundry done, and dinner done, when hubby came in and never knew when,one of those work till it's done. I would say "dinner in oven, Lauren needs a bath, good night, usually around 7pm, then off to bed i'd go kids still there or not, once my fan was on, warning, do NOT disturb, and he never did. So all got going well, then miss Holly anne, decides to wait 11 days to enter the world, duemarch18th, I was big, miserable, and ready. On March 28th signs started, went to ER, they put me on monitor, this is what they say "your gonna have a smaller than usual baby", what? I don't smoke never have, watched my diet, it didn't make sense. So after a long night of labor, no meds were offred,about broke hubbys hand he said lol. At 8am the 29th, I hear the majic words "she's dialated , time to push ( I stayed at 3 cents. for so long I heard the word cesarean) Time to push and with all my god given strength I did and 49 mins later a SHE was born. I was starving, Theminute she was born she was covered by our ins. dependant YEAHHHHH. Nothing wrong then, 6 weeks later did, but it wored its way outlike dr. david said it would by 9 mos. I get the mail one day, a bill from the hospital, how much? 1,500$. Paid in full. Long story, but the stress i went thru, cause i couldn't get a OB. But GOD had a plan and it worked out. I didn't have to lie to get it, I prayed.
One more shorter story almost laughable. I actually got pregnant the exact mo. with our first daughter. We had been together 3 yrs. no BC, and nver got pregnant, so thought we had time to get me a job and save money and all, you plan for a baby. went to er, for what felt like a kidney infection, my moth in-law took me, lol. took urine, dr. comes back you don't have an infection your pregnant, imagine the surprise. That was in 85, in Kiss. fl. they had a clinic they went on your income, by 7th mo. had to have paid $750, they sent me to food stamps, no line, no bs, walked out with food stamps, shocked,then go to an office and was given checks WIC. I didn't have to apply. I just had to show up to the clinic for my monthly check ups, always early, so the wait wasn't so long. I still show up for everything 15 mins early. My husband got a second job working for my dad for the 1st time. that really helped. I had Lauren Lindsay on april 2th,1986 5 days after my 21st. I saw the dr. at my visit the next day after easter sunday, he said, oh nothing, no this, that, blah, blah. He was wrong. I didn't even have the babays crib set yet with the bedding and all. My mom bought the crib. we had this lil walk in closet apt. So we moved to a nice apt. and stopped getting food stamps and al. I got a job, things went well, my granny kept her, while we worked, went out or appts etc.......She was so happy Lauren was born on her mama's birthday.
My dad offered hubby a fulltime job, and that meant a move back to pine hills,friends and more famiy. So point, last year I get a letter from some dept. saying I was paid $112 too much and to re-pay it, lol after 25 yrs REALLY, problem I am in the disability horror mess, and can't work after a bad fall, and other health issues. But, they took their measly $112 out of our taxes, hey more power to em, I no longer owe,PETTTTTY. Then july 9th almost 2mos ago, after almost 18 yrs at his job as plumber and my mucch needed health ins. for my much needed meds. They layed off, all their top paid , loyal employee's, so they don't have to pay out their 17 paid days off, safety bonus's,18yrs and never an accident, and had just drug tested him, clean, of course. They want low paying fast young guys to throw in quality plumbing, this is commercial plumbing,So till Jan, when his isn. goes into effect, i have to pay $400 a month, but one of my meds, would/does cost $2000, one $386, so GOD IS GOOD, sorry if I bored you. That chick wins 1million and doesnt report it, chick if you hadn;t OD'd someone could tell you, that money and benefits could have helped someone who didn't even have $100.
her family, parents or siblings knew they would be collecting her winnings if she died. Proably not an overdose.
It says she got a job in June 2011, won the lottery in September (I'm guessing same yr as NBCs cub reporters don't report very well), & collected *welfare* thru March (I'm guessing 2012?).
She must've had one stupid, lazy caseworker not to catch this. It is as simple as running the recipient's SSN to pull up ALL their personal info. They only ask ppl to submit *proof* of things so that they can see if it gibes w/ what they pulled up on the computer. All that paperwork is not really for *verification* but to attempt to catch ppl in a lie.
I find it hard to believe that in 9 mos her worker didn't do a routine check, considering at some pt in there this girl had a *recertification*, as you must continue to come in w/ proof that you still need assistance every 6 mos.
Even quitting the job in October 2011 should've popped up as earned income assigned to her SSN. DSS also routinely searches thru DMV records to see if ppl have been in auto accidents so that DSS can *recoup* the cost of assistance via any settlement. DSS is directly administered by the county of residence but is under the aegis of the state of residence. And the state is the one who runs the lottery. Under federal rules any lottery winnings under $600 are tax-free & you don't even have to sign the ticket so you can collect anonymously, but a sum as big as a million should've popped up on the worker's screen.
Her worker should've been fired for such gross negligence in failing to perform routine tasks for her job!
Honestly, I can see why the girl failed to report when she got a job. She was likely most worried about losing medical assistance entirely as you cannot work & still get Medicaid. Maybe she had an ongoing medical or dental issue & really needed insurance but the new job didn't offer any. (It's ridiculous than one's health insurance is tied to employment & you're SOL if the employer doesn't want to give *benefits*.) Doesn't say what the job pd or even if it was FT, so she could also have been worried about making ends meet on a low-paying job. There's a huge element of fear & insecurity in that.
It was wrong of her, sure, but there is no *transition period* where DSS gradually reduces assistance to allow ppl a short timeframe to pull up those bootstraps & at least start breaking even. They cut ppl off totally & as fast as possible.
I think ppl should be eased off. That would be more of an incentive to get a job, if ppl knew they would still get a little help & not cut off as soon as they got a paycheck, b/c as was demonstrated in the above comment that broke down the numbers, assistance is a pittance & ppl do fall behind w/ bills while on it. If they knew they would have time allotted to catch up as their assistance was gradually trimmed, I think that would be even more motivation to get a job. I don't have a problem w/ a transitioning period of help for someone who was at rock bottom last wk & is now expected to suddenly become *normal* again just b/c they found a job.
Even tho it's not mentioned, I have to wonder if she did call her worker to report a *change in circumstances* at either pt (getting a job or winning the million), & the worker screwed up there, too.
DSS is notorious for *worker error*. Most *fraud* is b/c of workers not doing their jobs properly & permitting situations like this to occur, not recipients trying to *game the system*. It's very hard to play DSS when they have unlimited computer access to your life.
Everyone knows a million after taxes ($600K?) is not going to last the rest of your life. This girl probably couldn't believe her luck when that assistance kept coming, if she reported *changes* & the worker sat on it & ignored the call/voice mail, or *lost* the change reporting form.
If she really was dishonest, again, yes, wrong, & she should've been made to return the very sm amt of assistance she received when ineligible, but the fearful insecurity of having had to resort to *welfare* to survive is not something ppl can easily get over in a few mos. It really is psychologically damaging & ppl don't understand that aspect of it.
It's like Scarlett O'Hara said in Gone With the Wind....*If I have to lie, cheat, or steal, I'll never be hungry again!*. Ppl will do anything, sometimes things out of character, to insure that never happens to them again.
So while I don't condone her actions, I can understand them completely.
Too bad she didn't live to enjoy the remainder of her winnings.
Yeah... drug overdose... like Michael Jackson. Woman was obviously murdered.
Besides, 1 million winning is not same as 1 million check. Considering debts, taxes, and all it is very likely she kept welfare legally and correctly.
Warren in Victoria BC:
Spoken like a true capitalist. Any "happiness" purchased with money will get you where she is now and not much further. And understand this, not everyone bases their life on the acquisition of money, an ultimately useless endeavor. You certainly can't take it with you.
i figure obama out of the kindness of his heart... will offer that family a few of the billions...the russians wouldn't take from our broke ass country...
Karma is a bitch.
That may be true, but ive never seen anyone frowning on a jet ski..
What was the drug?
Xanax? Zoloft? Painkillers?
Was she under a doctors care? She was on probation!
Will people always think the worst?
Poor reporting?
Will we hear the truth when it surfaces?
Only if it's SENSATIONAL!
Everyone please keep in mind that these were FOOD and MEDICAL benefits ONLY. None of the "welfare" she was given was cash. Of course she should have canceled her benefits when she had the income, but it was a relatively small mistake, and she had paid it back. Overall just a tragedy.
First of all the media reports " drugs MAY have.." They have no business printing this story unless it is confirmed..second we all know what she did was wrong..but everyone makes mistakes and it is still very sad to me that IF it is true that it WAS drugs, self intended death or not, it is a such a waste of a young life...and with the money,she could have gone on,lived a comfortable life and helped others..hoping she is at peace...my heart goes out to her loved ones..
...just goes to show that even a big, lucky break cannot stop some from screwing up their lives.
If she had not overdosed, chances are she would have run through the money, and ended up broke and on welfare in 2 or 3 years.
Jo Ann-666954
And Jo Ann - there are A LOT of people that get more money than that! And a free boma phone or even phones !!
Shiftlock, she got cash, food and medical. She has two small children and was not working until the this year. She won the money in 2011 and continued to get state assistance until the story broke and she had to pay back a certain amount.
The state and feds get about 1/3 of most winnings (together) and the winner gets the rest. What some of you are thinking of is the large jackpots where the winners have a choice of getting paid upfront or taking the payouts over time. Getting the money upfront means that you do NOT get it all, if you take the time payments you do get it all (minus taxes).
She bought two houses with that money and a new car. Then she said she could not make it with two households to support (duh). She should have got ONE house, bought a decent used car and then gone to see some one about money management( she might have gone to see someone before buying anything)
Vivian, in who's fantasy land do we see or believe that tidbit of bunk that you put out. I have seen the exact same crap written by some many that it is amazing that all of you are still able to keep a straight face with the depth and breath of that lie. First off the only way that anyone over 18 gets anything is if they have a child. You are on your own if you try. Second, food stamps are for those that apply, not the entire household. Newer cars than yours? What you got a 95 and they got a 97? Please get off of Fox News jockstrap and get a life. You remind me of my in laws, all the do all day long is watch Fox News and then wonder why they are so depressed?!!!
Now that is karma!
I'm still half sleepy when I wake up..but even I can see the typo there NBCnews.com...you got your title with...KILLLED.
Yeah, sometimes the phenomenon of karma raises its pretty little head and pays back. The low-life got it on the backside for doing what she did. Now, karma --- go get the other 23 million people who are raping the taxpayer.
What really burns my ass is that I watch them buy 40 bucks worth of total junk food, buy two packs of cigs for twenty bucks, all while I'm in line with a loaf of bread and milk, paying for it out of my unemployment check. My check would be a bit bigger, but I have to pay taxes out of it to support slugs like this on in line or the slug that this story is about.
I don't even have any problem calling them out right in the store. And they either show no shame, brag about it, or put up some shallow defense that wouldn't convince a fifth grader. I give them a shot anytime I can, seeing that I am supporting them when I'm working AND even when I'm not working.
Don't be afraid to give them a piece of your mind. Call them out in public. Call them out in front of their friends or family members.
I personally have had enough of it. How about you?
Hey, you idiot NBCNews.com reporter...how about posting a year with that month? She won the lottery in September, 2011, not September, 2012. It's impossible to know that with your substandard writing skills.
tharris1 - ramble much? Your post is almost unintelligible.
thariss1-wow. From what I get from your story it was good? bad? I can't tell. What were you trying to say?
My question is, if she was on welfare why was she buying lottery tickets? Or was she buying them since she had gotten a job in June? Seems like you might have some catching up to do with bills, etc. if you just started working in June and had previously been on welfare. But you see, that is the problem with welfare. The people receiveing it have the nicest tattoo's, cell phones, clothes, mani-pedi's, tv's and many times cars. The children run around in filthy clothes/diapers and are dragged with mom to the line for free Thanksgiving meals, back to school supplies, Christmas toys and dinners....all the while mom looks great with her new doo and makeup and holding that cell phone. Meanwhile, the rest of us, with disabilities sometimes, drag ourselves to work just to keep these families going. It is sick. Instead of reforming welfare, how's about we hire some people to investigate the need of the people receiving the checks, drug test them and if they pass a physical, put them to work. So many things need done like roadside cleanup, mowing of vacant lots, sidewalk sweeping and cleaning, helping the elderly and disabled maintain their homes, help handicapped children and help out in nursing homes that are in need of extra help....the list goes on and on. Drug test them and put them to work. And limit the tax refund after baby number 2. With each child after two the amount you can claim goes down by half until if you have so many, then you recieve no more. It seems to me if a few more people were employed to watch over the system, and manage the people who are working to receive their checks, then the benefits would decrease and a lot of needed work would get done. Some could even run daycare, provided they pass certain criteria, so that the others could go out and do the jobs that are needing done.
Ok, I guess I ranted too, so tharris1 I apologize. BUT, I think most people can follow mine. I swore I wouldn't get on a soapbox today. It worked until 9:30! AM
What if she had bought houses of people who were foreclosed on, and built expensive condo's? What if she got large tax breaks to build them, even though she had a lot of money to build them without those taxbreaks? Would that be OK?
I agree with the saying, "Those who say money can't buy happiness never had any." It's a big fat lie that money cannot buy happiness Money can buy all kinds of things that can greatly increase one's situation. Just think of never having to answer to a boss or being able to tell your backstabbing, bitchy coworkers to bite your ass as you walk out the door never to return. Money removes the cares of life and allows you to interact only with those you choose.
The big thing is money buys freedom. Just watch truly wealthy people and what they do. Most of them do not work a compulsory job like the rest of the masses. No way they are going to let a clock dictate their lives. They do what they want.
Just proves that money can't cure stupid.
i feel badly for her family and any who loved her, but I have no sympathy what so ever for druggies. All the lottery winning got her was money for more and better drugs.
Life is a gift. Some just throw it down the toilet.
911- you made a very good point!
Just another case of "The fleecing of America!"
LOL Warren, you tool!
She was just acting like she was an oil company. Only on a microscopic level.
republicans are SO easy to spot by their posts: angry, ugly & wrong.
If this girl was not using drugs prior to this incident Im pretty sure and someone killed her. And what does her collecting benefits got anything to with her overdosing and the mention of it makes people look suspect.
just to prove to you that welfare recipients don't really have it that easy, Morgan Spurlock should do a show where he and his wife live off $23.11 a day. one slip up (like needing to go to the hospital, foreclosure, getting into a car accident, losing a family member, even losing your wallet) could bankrupt your whole family so quick. I don't see how ANYONE could argue against having a safety net for themselves or their family if anything should happen to them.
Nixon:
Yes, having money gains you freedom in some ways, but it also inhibits freedom in others. Having money comes with a lot of responsibility which takes away many freedoms.
And btw Newsvine, thanks for allowing corporate shills to collaspse my post after having posted the most votes (175 at the time of this posting). Looks like I hit a nerve.
"She was ..... wait for it ......... WHITE!!!!! Gasp, yes it does happen. For the person that wanted to know about her past history, she did do drugs at one time but seemed to get herself cleaned up, guess that did not last."
She was not white, she was light skinned black, Retarded Voter, or whatever your name is.
@fre - nuh uh. look at her hair. she is not black. she may be mixed but quit pinning every little thing on African-Americans. Are you going to blame us for 9/11 too? What about the Aurora Colorado shooting? Whites are not infallible. But that's cool though. We shouldn't expect one race to make no mistakes.
That is absolutely sad to hear. So young to throw it all away on drugs. Such a waste of a human life, especially for the kids. May she fine peace at last.
i find it kind of fishy that this chick wins a crap load of money and at 25 ends up dead from a suspected drug overdose..........weird, something is missing here.
kilroy, you could be on to something. I usually do not believe in coincidences either.
Where is the rest of the story? This doesn't explain the overdose. I don't understand what one has to do with the other.
Gregory Pennington, Disgustedmom-2285995, TiredVoter-951582
I can't speak for Michigan, but in California (let the insults fly!).........it's called GA or General Assistance.
"The General Assistance or General Relief (GA/GR) Program is designed to provide relief and support to indigent adults who are not supported by their own means, other public funds, or assistance programs. Each county's GA/GR program is established and funded (100 percent) by its own Board of Supervisors. As the state is not involved in this program, benefits, payment levels, and eligibility requirements will vary among each of California's 58 counties. For further information or to apply for the GA/GR Program, contact the Department of Social or Human Services in your county of residence.
Many recipients of GA/GR are also eligible to participate in the Food Stamp (FS) Program. The FS Program is designed to raise the level of nutrition among low-income households. For additional information on the FS Program, please access dss.cahwnet.gov/foodstamps/. To apply for GA/GR and/or FS Program benefits, contact the Department of Social or Human Services in your county of residence."
This is different than CalWorks, which is what individuals or families with children would apply for.
Wow! No sweeping generalizations about her race. Wait... that's because she is white. And if you don't think she is, google search her image. So let me get this straight, not only was she on welfare but she was also a dopehead. I can only imagine what the comments would have been if she was Black. Why aren't you guys making broad generalizations about Whites? How come she isn't being called a crackhead? How come no one is talking about her fatherless kids?
took so long to get to the end of this stream that I forgot what....oh yeah...
Jake - money may not buy happiness but it sure can rent the *&^*&% out of it.
or
obviously you don't know where to shop
ndfan,Why is there always somebody making everything about race?Most of the posts are mean spirited if you ask me.It is a sad reflection on society that people are pointing out the welfare fraud and not the fact that she is somebody's daughter.This was a sad ending to a short life.
Debi,this is a forum for opinions and not a popularity contest on who gets the most votes.My comments have been collapsed for no good reason also.I'm not a princess and gee,that's life.
It looks like Obama just lost a vote. Too bad, she was the model of todays Democrats.
Politics aside; Rest In Peace Amanda.
Note to all; Don't do drugs.
Don't even smoke pot. I did for 30 years, what a f-ing waste of money and time. I quit because jerks kept sprinkling stuff on the weed. I wouldn't even smoke out of the pipe after they did that. I would toss the pipe out. Even doobies can be laced with all sorts of crap.
I was tripping balls once after smoking a joint and the girl whose doobie it was said she put PCP in it. I stopped a gut from sprinkling heroin on my weed once, you just never know. When I was young, sure I did damn near anything, I took 6 hits of acid once. Those days are long gone.
After years of doing them, I quit everything, and don't miss any of it at all. It does drive me nuts to think of how much money that would be now had I invested it instead. Probably a quarter million dollars ( I had a bad coke habit for awhile, I bought about 2 ounces a week of the best a direct connection can get right off the plane from Columbia). All it does is destroy relationships, and empty your wallet if you are lucky.
The article says it was drugs, but it didn't specify the type. Someone says "drugs" and everyone just assumes it was something illicit like coke or heroin. It's just as likely (if not moreso) that she overdosed on some sleeping pills or on medication prescribed by a doctor. If I wanted to have a good time, I've got a bottle of Percoset in the kitchen and a bottle of wine in the fridge. Don't have to hit up a dealer for that.
Thankfully, that's not my idea of a good time.
Remember, this Huge Fat Pig Government that was still giving welfare checks to the lottery winner is the same one that...if we cut even a penny from, everybody's just gonna diiiiiiiiiieeeeeee.
It's untouchable man. If you cut anything, you just don't care. You just don't care about people.
Hey dummy. Yes there are people out there who cheat the system - both welfare, corporate tax breaks and government subsidies. Just because one person or corporation is doing something illegal, doesn't mean the whole system has to go. And the argument about what to cut has nothing to do with cheats. Wherever the money goes, there will be those taking advantage of it. Should we get rid of capitalism because there are cheats on Wall Street? Then why should we get rid of the government if there are. Think before posting.
plork, its not the first time, are you old enough to remember to debacle of an armoured troop carrier for the Army? Got to remember though that new technology creates new problems, the F-11 then F-14 with the problems that had to be worked out with its movable wings and the problems of the first terrain following radar?
If you have an IRA, 401K retirement fund or TSP account you are angry when your retirement account goes down so these fat cats on Wall street is how we make money for these accounts. If they don't do well we don't do well. If you don't have anything but Social Security then you are the grasshopper and not the ant. Unless you have been saving for retirement and putting all of your money in a savings account at your bank, making 1%, then you know when Wall Street loses your retirement account loses...
What i want to know is why do they suspect that it's a drug overdose. And are we talking illegal drugs or medications? More info please.
Yeah, that $23/day she got for 7 mos really would've put a dent into that deficit, huh?
You did notice that she pd it back....right?
Did it help any?
Survival of the fittest and she dind't do so well.
If you dig into this story a little further, she got caught for fraud b/c of her job not the lottery winnings. Some guy was on national news that won in the millions and he had the right to keep collecting public assistance, and of course he did. However in this womans case a million sounds like a lot but if she had kids, and say one got really sick, say cancer, or something that needed emergency surgery, that million goes out the window pretty damn fast. However I'm sure she could afford to shop for food. She could also have gotten on an insurance plan depending again on how many kids she had, b/c the monthly payments for health ins. is soooo damn high you almost have to be a millionaire to make the payments.
Vivian,Great post.Wall street lost and so did I. Wendy,Sensible post.Thank you.
To much welfare fraud going on in this country! They need to tighten the belt!
Welfare fraud, disability fraud, insurance fraud, auto repair fraud......
I remember when her story first hit the Newsvine just a couple of months ago. People were enraged that she was still collecting benefits, and rightly so. That was some pretty quick karma. Hopefully there is enough money left to provide for her children.
Imagine how much of this is going on throughout the country.
I hear these crazy stories oabout lottery winners all the time. Good thing I don't waste my hard earned money. I want to live a long time! Don't know what for but I do!!!
What does this have anything to do with Karma? She obviously was addicted to drugs BEFORE winning the lottery. Are you guys saying that she deserved her fate for collecting welfare benefits, for winning the lottery or for being a drug addict? If she didn't win the lottery, she would be one of thousands drug addicts collecting welfare dying on a daily basis. Before you post your frustration, jealousy or whatever angers you about this sad story, remember that she might have been a daughter or a mother.
There are also a lot of wealthy (with $100mil plus) people who sold their farm for development but still get farm subsidy for a farm that does not exist. Now this girl was really a ....
PDRAFTER, so very well said. A-holes like comrade chaos take this one story and use it to generalize about working poor and other needy people who ARE NOT on drugs, just to "justify" his own biases and bigotry. How many cops are dirty? Let's generalize about them and paint them all as scum. Would that be fair? This poor lady was an addict. THERE, BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, GOES YOU OR I.
There is not (& it's *too*, not *to*, for Pete's sake, that's a 2nd gr Spelling word! & it's not called *welfare* anymore, either, despite NBCs poor journalism).
96% of ppl receiving assistance are doing so legitimately. They really need it & can prove it.
There is 4% *fraud*.
3% of that is caused by *worker error*. DSS screwed up, either by *losing* paperwork, ignoring it or a call, failing to run a routine computer check, approving a case w/o all the documentation in hand, etc.
Just 1% is perpetrated by recipients. ONE PERCENT.
See above where someone broke down how much this girl received while ineligible, over a period of 7 mos. It was approx $23/day.
More than half of that was not cash.
Federal regulations state that a single person on cash assistance is eligible for the max SNAP (AKA food stamps) benefit per mo of $200. So $1400 of that $5400 was for food only.
The other $4000 was a possible mix of cash, Medicaid, HEAP, & rental assistance.
I know the max cash allotted for SNA (Safety Net Assistance, which is for a single person who does not have children) in my state is $368/mo (& that's considered *generous* by the standards of other states like Mississippi who don't even dole out $200/mo in cash). So *maybe* $2600 in cash assistance added to the $1400 in SNAP, we're up to $4K.
Impossible to have an apt on SNA, so I'd guess the majority if not all of the remaining $1400 was rental assistance. That never passes a recipient's palms, as it is sent directly to the landlord. I'm going to guess she got less than $368/mo cash assistance simply b/c $200/mo for an apt is unheard of these days.
Do you think you could manage living on a grand total of $5400 for 7 mos, esp when more than half it isn't going to be actual money?
How much more would you like that belt to tighten?
Being *on welfare* is not the gravy train it's made out to be.
scar-tissue
I live in a small town. I know the people that are receiving welfare, or whatever you wish to call it. I also know that many are capable of working and choose not too. I know that between their "relief" and tax returns that they somehow purchase clothes, tattoo's, cell phones, wide screen tv's and manicures and makeup and hair. I have a job where I am privy to information. I know what I am talking about. Like I said it is a small town and there is a HUGE amount of fraud going on right here. So I have a hard time believing that it is not going on everywhere else.
Welfare may not be a gravy train. I never said it was, but when you receive a lot of the other things that are supplied by organizations to help other out, these people are getting by quite well, and they look damn good doing it. (Except for the tattoos-most of those look pretty nasty).
As for the grammar corrections, that is becoming very old. Very old indeed. If it makes you feel better, great. But come on. Obviously you understood what was being conveyed, otherwise you would not have responded.
Geo - Just because you know a few people who are abusing it doesn't mean that everyone is. Government aid helped my father get through law school and he has not needed government assistance again since then. Nobody in my family has either. The govt assistance he received ultimately paid for itself plus so much more. Sometimes you have to be the adult, bite the bullet and shell out a little cash to get people in better places in life.
How can you throw out the assistance that a few families really needed due to a fear that everyone is taking advantage of you? Isn't there some some of happy medium (ie: better policing of the govt assistance programs, or making a rule that welfare recipients also have to be in school, or any other regulation rules) that isn't going to punish everyone, including the families who are using it responsibly?
You are very clueless, especially, if you don't think (know) that there is rampant welfare fraud going on. Most especially in states like mine, California, where fingerprinting recipients was made illegal by our loony liberal governor Jerry Brown...
Karma.......
Absolutely!
Anyone surprised? Not me. I wonder if there are any children, hopefully they will not get their inheritance until they are old enough to understand the power of money. I am saddened by this story but, yet, not surprised. As Jake says, money does not buy happiness.
I Feel bad for the children.
What inheritance? She won a million dollars. Lottery took their chunk, Uncle Sam took his, crack dealer took his. How much do you figure is left? ZERO-POINT-ZERO!
What children?
It doesn't say she had any children.
Are we making up stereotypes?
Single ppl w/o children can receive assistance. It's not TANF (Temporary Aid to Needy Families), it's SNA (Safety Net Assistance).
In past story it stated she had children. So no stereotyping here sorry maybe next time.
roc: Perhaps it was just an innocent jumping to conclusions a bit too quickly, but given the immediate stereotype accusation, it appears to have traits commonly associated with a typical liberal knee-jerk response. Sometimes stereotypes are also accurate, but if they involve a group or an individual under the protective cover of political correctness, then they can't be touched. Welfare recipients fall into that category.
Thanks for Reminding me, I forgot about the good ole double standard rule in place.
The original story before she passed away,when she won the lottery,stated that she is indeed a single mother.This has nothing to do with people's political views.
Honestly I'm happy that she died.
She was a useless woman who was clearly a druggie with a million dollars and not a care in the world. Just another useless being dead, not a single care was seen that day.
Did you know her personally?
Why? A little empathy would be nice!!! I mean yes, she committed fraud, and if anything it was selfish and greedy! But I would not applaud her death. This is a very sad story..
I don't think it's sad, it's a case of what goes around, comes around:)
......Oh hell never mind
@Mitchell Cooper, what a sad individual you are. Happy that she died? Really? Now your life is a little better since she passed? Wow....
@MitchellCooper, I hope you have fun on your date with karma.
You personally knew her? (asked by jdm)
Yet another post collapsed that violated zero site rules. Hooray for freedom of speech and tolerance for opposing views.
Why should anyone feel bad about yet another junkie ODing? If you haven't figured it out yet, you're too stupid to be wasting oxygen.
Hey Mitchell Cooper, it is YOU who seems "useless". A poor human being died and you choose to disparage her and celebrate her death. How little you must think of yourself to be such a heartless dirtbag. Does another's misery make you feel important? Trust me, you're not. YOU are the "USELESS" one. Pathetic
Rascalflattsgirl and company,
Aren't you taxed to death in 'empathy' for people who make stupid choices? I work around people like this women day in and day out. I see, first hand, the results of people sucking off others, making bad choice after bad choice and suffer (for the most part) no consequences for them.
This dumb broad was HANDED a million dollars, a dream for most of us, and STILL made continuous wrong decisions.
Time to abolish welfare, for ALL.
John-3656218: I'd hardly call a pre-tax millionaire welfare cheat "poor". And anyone who still can't figure out that drugs=bad, mmkay? isn't worth mourning.
Very sad story.
I was thinking it's quite amusing myself:)
How is that sad? Did she owe drug money? Or are you the one who owned the trashy section 8 housing that never gets a visit by a plumber? The ad part is that it will cost tax payers a great deal of fortune to investigate, coroner office to file proper report blabla... all tax payers.
Wow that was great that a druggy lived a whole year after a winning like that! Detroit just lost a great customer.
SCAR-Tissue, thank you for breaking down this apparent scapegoat for our deficit's story into a realistic summary. Too many people who post comments are cowards and bullies and wicked racist bigots. Honestly, how many of you were sure that she was Black? Wake up, we're getting screwed by the Romneys, Bushes, and Cheneys of the country. What rich white guys get in gov't freebies dwarfs the welfare system. But you don't have the balls to call them out, so you bully poor people. How many jerks who have the time to post their ignorant opinions on here about who's to blame for the deficit don't even bother to vote? Oh, and let's get politics involved, as some morons already did. Obama's welfare state is the reason for our "sudden" deficit problem? The National Debt was a primary topic in a Presidential Debate between Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale in the 1984 race----28 freakin' years ago. WAKE UP!!!!
GOOD
I remember that story! I remember thinking how selfish, but now it's just sad..
WOW! Thats some serious karma!
No kidding!
If you have any compassion, it's actually sad.
Yes it is. I didn't agree with her still taking welfare money but to make comments about that it's good that she's dead is just ignorant. She may have had so much guilt that she swallowed a bottle of pills.
All depends on what she was doing with the money....if it was all spent on self-indulgence..not so sad.
Another bleeding heart:)
I doubt it's from guilt that she died. She was probably addicted to something cheap long before she won the millions. This is a horribly sad story because she probably never stood a chance. Poverty is a horrible thing and just because she won a million dollars doesn't mean she never had any worries. I'm sure no one taught her fiscal responsibility and she probably had a whole bunch of new hanger - ons. She was probably doomed long before she got the ticket.
As for it being Karma - that's silly. You have no idea what she has endured in her lifetime. The Karma may have been winning the lottery for all you know. She probably faced the same kind of contempt she received on boards and threads like this. Way too young to die so tragically.
Nope not so sad. People have a choice, do drugs or don't do drugs. The only right choice she made was to buy a lottery ticket. The rest she brought on herself. Good riddance.
Redhead,
Obviously you missed the story posted a couple of months ago about this woman. If you would read this story you would know she defrauded Michigan's welfare system AFTER winning the lotto. She knew what she was doing and she was defiant about it. Yes, it's karma.
It sure is.
That's why the above comment was collapsed. It is a CoH violation.
Actually, Michigan has a wee quirk in its assistance programs whereby a *one-time windfall pymt* (which is exactly what winning the lottery is) doesn't *count* as an *asset* when already receiving assistance.
There was a to-do a few yrs ago about an older, disabled gentleman in Michigan who won (I think) $200K in the lottery, yet was still eligible to receive SNAP. Ppl were angry that he took advantage of that loophole.
Like $200K was going to last him 4ever (esp after taxes). Jesu forfend a person on disability living in a trailer should keep his case open so that he can still eat when the $ runs out. It beats having to climb up on that re-application merry-go-round & jump thru a lot of hoops to get his SNAP reinstated.
This girl likely could've cited that case & fought the fraud allegations. She probably found it easier to just pay up the $5400 & take the slap on the wrist than get gouged tens of thousands more by a lawyer & be tied up in court.
karma is a bitch
More like Karma is a dumb bitch that OD'd a year after hitting the lottery.......
I have much respect for Ms. Karma.
me too.
I just don't get it. I'd think one would be overjoyed at getting all this money and happily inform social services that the welfare is no longer needed. Her ship came in and she was at the airport? It is so weird, I don't know what to say.
Empress I agree with you, it is weird that his young person who won a million dollars would have wanted to keep drawing public assistance. Anyone who has ever had to live off of any part or depend on PA knows that it is never enough. The gov will give you just enough to survive on the barest of necessities and not a penny more. Contrary to popular belief you cannot get rich or live above your means on PA. So yes it is sad and it is not karma that she died. No matter what she was still a daughter maybe a mother, sister, aunt and a friend.
It just speaks of her character--nothing more, nothing less.
It's not weird, look at all the celebs who have drug problems and all of the ones who have overdosed. Just another sad thing in life. Doesn't make any difference rich or poor or somewhere inbetween, drugs addicts are so sad.
What was Whitney's excuse? She was loaded with cash and couldn't stay off the drugs. She was black too. So what does race or the amount of money have to do with it. If you are an addict you are an addict. Some people just cannot be helped.
Beyond stupid,fortune smiles.....don't crap on it.
cya bitch.
Going somewhere?
HMMM, On welfare but can afford the lottery?? I agree with Karma.. I did not personally know her but I'd feel the exact same as if I knew her.. Too bad, what a waste.. Don't be a waste
OBAMA Blames Republicans in Congress for allowing this woman to hit the lottery when she had no skills in money management.
Did you check into her finances?
Check into her finances all you want ... if you can't handle money when you are poor ... chances are real good you can't handle money if you become suddenly wealthy.
Please God, let that statement for Pontifex Maximus be the most stupid thing I will read today. In the mean time I'd have to call this Karma to the Max
could you provide a link for what obama has said about this article? I didn't think he made announcements about every current event but if you say there is an article to back it up, i will read it. until a link is provided, nobody pay attention to this stupid comment. not everything is obama's fault.
What the @!$%# does Obama have to do with her being a drug addict and on warefare get a life azzhole.
Looks like OBAMA lost another vote.
I vote for drama queen! HAHAH thanks Plork for the laugh that was a good one.
Me too. You just had to get politics into the mix.
She was part Chineese, and he wouldn't stand up to her.
She shouldve been deported back to China then. LOL We always get their social rejects anyway. Ban imported hoodies from China, that would cut our crime rate by 50% over here.
Um she was a SINGLE WHITE FEMALE!!!! But don't let facts stop you. Sheesh the bigots are out!
Can you say LOSER? First off she is on welfare, secondly she wins $1,000,000 which means she was buying lottery tickets that she could not afford in the first place and thirdly she keeps collecting welfare. It looks like life finally bit her in the ass with this drug overdose though. LMAO!
I will now wait for all the little ladies that will bash my post along with the pussy men on this site. If a man did the same thing that this woman did everyone would bash the bejesus out of him but because it's a woman, it's all good:)
Are you currently residing in VBC? If so, why do you care?
Because I read the MSN webpage everyday. Unlike yourself, I am aware of what goes on in other countries besides my own:)
And he's also crying for attention :)
One less vote for OBAMA from one less in the 47% ... and ... was she paying her taxes ... and was she paying her fair share?
Ironically, she was in the 1%...
No she wasn't. How much actual cash do you think you walk away with after winning a million? It ain't that much.
The reason you don't walk away with much is because of the taxes you have to pay (approximately 35% Fed and between 5 & 10 % State). Unlike those who take advantage of the tax loopholes, deductions, etc. and end up paying less that 13%, the lottery takes all of the taxes up front.
At best, she collected about $600,000 and that only if there was no lottery penalty for taking a cash option ( then her amount would have been around $ 360,000).
Welfare constitutes approximately 1 to 2 % of the federal budget, and the amount of welfare fraud is around 5%. Corporate welfare constitutes approximately 10% of the federal budget and has a fraud rate of approximately 20%. Tax loopholes, capital gains tax rates, etc. that the wealthy (earning above $250,000/year) take advantage of, cost the government about 40% in tax revenues/year.
If politicians were serious about making "cuts" that would have an effect on the overall deficit, you would thing that welfare would be at the bottom of the list rather that the top.
Ya Terry! she was probably down to $600,0000 Damn Government taking monies from people on welfare!
One would hope that if some one hit that kind of money they would change their lives. Sorry to hear that is did not happen here.
One a brighter note ... a million dollars should buy some good drugs. Maybe she could not handle the good stuff ...
OBAMA Blames Bush ... proposes new government program ... NO LOTTERY WINNER LEFT BEHIND.
I looked into how to collect SNAP from the State of Texas and found out that a middle class family living on unemployment didn't qualify for anything unless they were absolutely broke and destitute. I now wonder how anyone gets help and if you do get help, what did you have to do, say, or lie about in order to obtain it?
If you are an unmarried woman with an aversion to work and some bastrd kids, you qualify.
Come to Dearborn, MI. All you do is say you don't have a husband and you get welfare. Arabs are paying cash for houses because they get welfare and Bridge Cards and Medicaid while their husbands own businesses. I bet their kids go to college for free, too. Our neighbors just bought a Cadillac Escalade and on Friday the kids brought home backpacks filled with food from school that are for low-income families who qualify for free lunch. They had the nerve to offer us what they wouldn't eat. Nothing but low-life scum. Wear your veils and pretend you are so holy but God knows you are liars and thieves.
I hope the drugs she killed herself with were freebies from her state Medicaid program. Would serve the dead piece of sh*t right.
she probably just didn't report it,, and they kept sending, so she kept spending, not thinking in her drug stupors, there are other's who REALLLLLY NEED IT! I personally would have found someone to help. I had to get help once, got food stamps and medicaid, and when i got a job I just stopped collecting, and didn't go for reviews. they should be able to see by the social security, your getting income. I bet she had some leaches promising free drugs, the ran out and said you have money give me $$$ and I'll get enuf to keep us in stock for awile so she had too much, was running out of money, after over spending on clothes, purses or whatever her quirks were, and her tolerance went sky high, and she had to make up for it, and she went sky high and OD'd. Too bad, she could have made a nice life with what was left after taxes, I would and could.
You do have to be pretty much destitute to get SNAP (or any other kind of assistance). Or working min wage, which is close to it.
In the computer age when they can just feed your SSN into a database & come up w/ your life history, there's not much wiggle rm for *lies*. This girl's worker was incompetent to take 9 mos (from the time the girl got a job in June 2011 to when her lottery windfall came to the worker's belated attn in March 2012) b4 figuring it out.
There is actually very little fraud going on in assistance programs, contrary to popular opinion.
That's why I don't understand all these ppl who are jealous over it & think someone else is riding the gravy train when they can't.
I would not put the blame on the case worker. Many of these workers are dealing with between 300 and 450 clients/month. On top of that, many states have all state workers on "furlough" of at least 2 days/month up to 4 days/month.
Broken down, that means that each worker has about 18 working days/month to deal with all of the issues which 300-450 individuals might have, (food, clothing, shelter, child care, transportation, medical, work programs, utilities, etc.). Trying to run SS#'s on every individual each month and still do the rest of your job would be impossible.
In this case the worker, like many I know, probably did a bi-annual review and then it took another two to three months to be able to deal with the information.
Sure is odd that fraud is so rare when everyone here knows someone who is currently or used to defraud their state. My co-workerdated a woman with kids getting so much aid that she was having people make a grocery list for her then she would go shopping and sell them the items. He also benefited because she was getting living aid too and as long as he didn't forward his mail to the place they all lived for free! They got such a large tax return they bought new tv, grill, and car because if they didn't spend it their benefits would be cut. As far as I'm concerned people on aid should get NO return at all!!
I got food stamps when I was on unemployment, actually not the first time because I was unaware I could apply if I was receiving unemployment but the next time a Friend of mine who was laid off with me said I needed to apply. I made decent money before I was laid off but I had no savings because of being laid off before I went thru my savings. I did not lie , cheat or steal to get the benefits...basically I had no savings, no 401 nothing, i think you can have $2000 in savings and still receive benefits.
I received $1200 a month in unemployment and $400 in food stamps and medicaid for the kids..Not Me, they would only give it to the kids. The kids also received free lunch at school.
I kept my home because my landlord a sweet old man worked with me otherwise I would have been out on the street. My car however was repossessed and I only had 9 months left to pay so that sucked.
If I didn't have unemployment I would have received only $600 a month from welfare plus the food stamps to feed , clothe and keep a roof over myself and 3 children. I would not have been able too.
so for you A-holes who think living on welfare is living high on the hog...you are beyond stupid.
Also the only thing you can receive if you are a single non-working adult is food stamps. $200 a month, if you make any money what so ever they bring that down. I know a single friend who after losing their job , got a job as a waitress while looking for work, she made hardly anything, she applied for food stamps and got $26 a month because of her income from waiting tables, which is fine but just so you know there is not a flat amount you get, they adjust for any cash money you may make.
Shelley-Hell yeah, got that crap going on here in Virginia. Whole families moving in. The mom just got a job at Walmart, she can't speak English and she gets Medcaid for herself and kids. The dad stays at home. They just bought a brand new Toyota Sienna. Makes me sick to my stomach. I've worked 2 jobs for the last 17 years to raise my 3 kids by myself while my (X) husband was locked up. I wasn't going to sit on my a$$ to get 300.00 in food stamps. If you're white you won't get it anyway. This is the South. Whites have to work for a living down here. I never lived in the projects, thank God I had to strength in my body to get off my a$$ every morning to do for myself and kids.
FYI BTW these leaches are from Afghanistan- muslims.