I have relatives (I am ashamed to admit) who have lived on welfare for years. They have “gamed” the system to get as much free stuff as possible. For example, in Washington State a woman with custody of 3 kids gets supplements up to $30,375 including utilities, food, housing, clothing, unemployment, work first (cash assistance), Medicaid. So, she finds a friend to live with and gives her “rent”. Then the food is $649/month. She does cash jobs.
Yet, she has money for booze and drugs. Hotels and trips. Her kids seem to dress well and they spend their vacations at theme parks that her siblings who work, cannot afford to go to.
So, call me skeptical. I see too many career folk who do not work, have never worked, and have no intentions of ever working. Meanwhile, I am up every morning at 4:25am, and out the door at 5am for my 90 minute commute. I get home between 4:30-5:30 and have worked since I was 16. I am 56 now and plan on retirement at 70. And the bums just irritate me to no end.
I know someone just like. I went to school with her. She has two kids. The daughter is just like her, but the son surprisingly is not.