Re: Food snob?

Orlando Enrique Fiol wrote:

jmcquown@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

A lot of the people visiting the unemployment office weren't about trying to
make things better for themselves; they were about getting a check and
getting on with whatever "business" they thought they had. It wasn't about
any nutritional programs that might be available (they are) or about family
day care assistance (they are) or anything else. It was all about "give me
my check" and get me out of here. You cannot blame the government for those
attitudes. The attitudes exist whether you like it or not.


This is why the poor should be told what to expect when on government assistance. I think many expect a check with no accountability. If they do not like the accountability, they can always opt not to receive the assistance. As a totally blind musician, I find myself ineligible for any government assistance. But when I was apparently eligible for a brief time, I found the entire process to patronizing that I'm glad I declined. Quite honestly, I wanted more opportunities to ply my trade than mere handouts, and I definitely didn't want bureaucrats telling me on one hand that I had to prove I was trying to find employment, all the while telling me how little my earnings could be if I expected to continue receiving assistance. So, I was being patronized into allowing the government to keep tabs on my employment progress, all the while not being rewarded for earning more.

Orlando

I agree there should be certain expectations. Here (Ontario) unemployment benefits is something you have paid into. I think the amount you can collect ends up being 70% of your wages over the last 52 weeks. There is a two week waiting period of which you don't get any money. You must have worked a certain number of weeks prior to your unemployment to be eligible. You must be available for work and actively seeking employment. You must meet with your case worker and at any given time provide proof that you have been looking for work. This means you must provide the contact number, person's name, date and time of when you met that person regarding the possibility of employment. You can only receive unemployment for a period of 52 weeks. If they were fired or quit their previous job they may and in most cases are ineligible for unemployment. Self employed persons who suddenly become totally unemployed have not paid into the program so are ineligible for unemployement benefits. So this really isn't a true government fully sponsered program since you have already paid for the benefits through your previous employment. Still there are those who have figured out how to abuse the system. If caught, the penalties can be high.

Social assistance has rules too. A person claiming as a single parent cannot have their spouse or SO living with them without notifying the agency then their benefits are adjusted. Teenagers who move out of their homes because they are either kicked out or new parents or just can't get along with their parents must provide documentation that their parents will no longer support them and they must be at leaste age 16. They must attend school in order to keep their benefits. There are a lot of other rules as well.

So here, both systems have the rules and these are fully explained to anyone receiving the benefits. Abuses happen in both systems and I doubt that will ever change because as soon as any rule is set someone tries to get around it.

.

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