I'm looking for advice/opinions.....

[debidoodle]

I am the manager of a gas station/convinience store. I have an employee who is making 9.50 an hour, she has two little girls. She and the girls father have lived together for the past 6 years, the girls are 4 and 2. He works at a dry cleaners and according to her makes about 10.50 an hour. They refuse to get married as she claims she will lose her wic ,medicaid, and food stamps if the state finds out they are together. I am livid!!
I just recentlly found out she is recieving state aid and can't get my brain around it!
Together they make 20.00 per hour, both work 40 + hours a week!!
Part of me really wants to call someone and report them, the other part just doesn't know what to do. Give me your opinions on this please.

[WileyCoyote]

You can look at this two ways:
Let her stay on all of the 'free' handouts, and help finish off a Welfare system that is tanking; or
Report her for the abuse and find out just how fast she quits her job so that she still qualifies.

Sorry, debi... but I knew a LOT of people like this. One woman was married to a man in one state and collected 'freebies' for ALL of her kids, simply by having a PO Box across the border in another state. Her hubby made $16.50 an hour and had full benefits in a managerial position. She had a minor-level managerial job in retail. "Together" they owned two houses and two very nice vehicles. I hate to say it but nothing - and I mean nothing - anyone does - reporting, firing, etc - makes a bit of difference. To them it is "free money" - and to the social workers who give it away with a wink and a nod it is job security. It ain't fair, it ain't right, and it ain't pretty - but it is real life. Unless YOU want to come in for harassment and vituperation - because yes you will - or are prepared to train a new employee (who like as not is doing the same thing)...

[CanNerd]

I guess you could just ignore the situation and see how long it takes your conscience and self-respect to rust away.

[rivahmom]

I would report her and if she quits as a result, it at least leaves a job open for someone that needs it that is not abusing the system. I can't tolerate theives and she is one of them.

[harvester]

maybe its truly an excuse to not marry the guy in the first place. there could be alot playing out here that is personal business and has nothing to do really with wether she is on state aid or not.
I know if i were in her shoes i wouldnt drop state aid for my children just for a boyfriend. Maybe once she decides to marry the guy then she will drop it. But it sounds to me like she is simply making sure her bases are covered just incase this relationship doesnt pan out. If she has been living with this guy and useing state aid as an excuse to not marry him, (which it sounds as if thats the case) then she isnt trusting that this relationship is going to work. If one is truly in love and wants to spend the rest of their lives with their one true soul mate, NOTHING will stop them from marrying.

[DavidOH]

Don't forget Murphy's law: No good deed goes unpunished!

By reporting it, you could face the 20 questions.
You could be investigated.
That is why most of this abuse is ignored.

Better to try reporting it through a reporting tip hot-line, where they don't ask who you are and how do you know.

[PaulNKS]

I agree with David...

But I would definitely report it. It doesn't matter what her reasons for being dishonest and cheating with our tax dollars.... She has lived with the guy for 6 years..... so, she is blatantly cheating and stealing.

And..... you know you will have done the right thing.... which by the tone of your posting I think you already knew that and needed some encouragement.

Just keep in mind that what she is doing is nothing less than thievery and robbery...

Sorry, but I had a neighbor doing the same thing and it really ticks me off. When "someone" reported her, she lost her benefits. Then they got married. They already had a couple kids together but kept it from the system when they moved in together.

Good luck in whatever you do.
Paul

[cinok]

While I agree wht she is doing is not right Let me ask a few questions, Do you offer affordable health insurance to your employees, oes he have any childsupport or other debts he is trying to pay off what is the cost of living in your area. I hate to say it but I would rather have someone who is trying to get by get some help then those who dont work so they get the most they can. Also as pointed out you could win up cuasing alot of grief for yourself

[MooseToo]

i guess it's possible to rationalize just about anything - there are actually some who still don't realize what they did by voting for obama -

[rantinraven]

I don't really have any advice about the reporting part but I can shed some light on the other areas. The state knows she is working, because its recorded on her ssn# depending upon where you live for 3 people in a household, per the state she is allowed to make between $900-$1700 before they cut down her benefits. If this guy isn't the father of her children she can still collect medicaid regardless of what he makes as she is the primary parent. I am not sure what the cost of living there is but she probably doesn't get near as much as you would suspect that she does. And she probably IS getting the things she needs. Child care can be paid for by the state, ( no child care, no work) WIC you can qualify for even if you make 28,000+ a year. You can qualify for WIC even if you don't qualify for anything else. She has to be pretty straight with her case worker as she IS working, and having her on the payroll (shes on assistance) in most states qualifies the company for serious tax breaks. As far as the boyfriend.... She probably doesn't marry him simply because she doesn't trust him. There's really no telling what their relationship is truly like. My ex made over 100k a year and me and the kids ate hot dogs and peanut butter sandwiches. Yes, he was a true (insert a word) but just because he made it didn't mean I saw it. It's a real sticky situation but reality is she is working, and trying. It may not be that we like it but by law she really isn't required to do more than she is.

[PaulNKS]

Those rules varys by state don't they? I know in Kansas, if another man lived in the same house, the state assumed he was a partner and included that. ALso, at one point, a woman could not get the help unless she was a single mother living alone without another "bread winner". That's the way it was when my neighbors got reported. That was why she lost her support... They assumed her longtime live in to be her partner whether he was or not and whether he was the father or not (which he was).

Not only that, but the OP posted "They refuse to get married as she claims she will lose her wic ,medicaid, and food stamps if the state finds out they are together. ". That tells you she is scamming the program that is meant to help those that need it. Not only that, but they are bringing in enough money not to need the help.

Paul

[huckelberry]

if i could id abolish welfare for anyone not totaly disabled,but since its here i would rather see an american get it than send it to africa,or wherever >:(

[jen_in_southtexas]

I can see everyones point and I am not saying to do one thing or the other. At least she is working and trying to make it. What worries me is that if this is reported the children are going to be the ones that suffer, ie food/health. Again these are just my thoughts.

-Jen

[huckelberry]

i ll piss folks off here....the children need to suffer.....thats what builds character...if everything is always easy ya never learn how to deal with the lumps an bumps life has to dish up,me me me thats all they know . im hungry so GIVE me something....thats excatly why our country in in the tank now,im speakin from experience here so..... >:(

[PaulNKS]

ohhhhhh my,... Huck, me thinks you just opened up yourself a big can o' worms! ;D

[harvester]

i agree with jen, its easy to be on the outside looking in and assuming.
I do believe that people in this country are innocent until proven guilty.
What looks like a scam to those not directly involved, may be something totally different when you get on the inside of it.
the possibility is there that yes she is scamming. however there is also a good possibility that she isnt. most likely if the guy has been living there for 6 years the state already knows that. hes obviously useing the same adress. the state isnt stupid, they find these things out without anyones help.
you have a choice, leave it, for the sake of the kids. or get involved in it and have it blow up in your face.

[debidoodle]

Thanks ll for your thoughts.
Just to add a few details I did leave out. (sorry).
She is very blatent about the fact that she won't marry the guy (who definatlly is the father) because she wants the benefits. She claims that there is no reason why she shouldn't get them. Also they own a very nice home, that they bought several years ago, in his name of course, and he gives her rent reciepts every month for her to turn in. Also they both drive brand new PT Cruisers, AND wear nothing but Abercrombie, or Aeropostle clothing.
The thing is through our company she can get health insurance for free for herself, and the girls would only cost her 35.00 a week. The day care,(I know the owner), only charges 45.00 a week per child.
I've decided to do it. Right or wrong. I was a genuine single mom for years, never went on state aid or welfare, worked my fanny off and managed to buy my home and my Suburban. Not to mention put my DD through college.
The thing is, these people think it's funny that they are screwing the system, she laughs about it. *BTW, I did ask her if that's why she won't marry him. She said the only reason she won't is because she woud lose 15,000.00 a year in benefits!
I did find one of those hot-line numbers.

[huckelberry]

got a good can opener paul ;D

[backlash]

As bad as I hate for people to take advantage of the system, she probably isn't doing anything illegal.
The way I see it she is taking advantage of the system just like it is designed to do.
The problem is the system is screwed up.
She can't be forced to marry the guy just so she can be kicked off.
It will be interesting to see what happens.
AC

[PaulNKS]

Gee.. I think y'all have opened enough cans. Debidoodle already said that the girl brags about scamming the system. Not only that, the live-in of 6 years is showing the rent on paper. What they are doing is NOT legal.... and everyone knows it. But some here don't really want to trash a woman with two small kids even though she and her live-in parter are pulling in over 40K.

No need to be so rough on Debidoodle.. She came asking for advice. She didn't come to be slammed.
Paul

[reedb66]

I am on foodstamps (look at my post on the frugal living area under $500 dollars not enough) and I am required to report ALLpeople living in my home AND their income AND any assets AND my income, she needs to be reported.I am only on them temporarily and follow the rules they should to.My situation is changing for the good and I will soon be off of them which will please me greatly ;D.also food for thought I said in my post that I heard that the gov"t was raising foodstamp benefits I was right .I posted I got $805 per month for a family of 6 now its $905 as of today in the mail !!!! Please read my post before you comment as I dont want anyone mistaking how I feel about the foodstamp program.

My 2 cents
Reed

[JeffColorado]

Based on your 2nd post - Burn her butt! She deserves it - maybe her kids will learn something out of it, even if she doesn't.

[crafty2002]

I removed my last post because I think maybe I was a little bit out of line. But people that cheat the system just gets my goat and people that know people that do so and doesn't have the common sense to know that the people are stealing money that they paid in themselves gets me even more.
You ask for advice/opinions.
Make the phone call. My math says they are earning 41,600 a year. I don't need food stamps when I get anywhere close to that.
I am disabled now, and my wife works and together we don't make half of that but we aren't getting food stamps. I am hurting like the devil right now because I planted three rows of veggies today, but it beats food stamps.
One thing that makes me madder than anything is to be in the grocery line and see someone with a basket of food I wish I could afford and then they hand them a food stamp card, pay for the food with it and then go get in a new car.
Got the money for a new car, the insurance and all of that, but gets their food from us.

[PaulNKS]

Dennis, I agree with ya.

[debidoodle]

Thanks again all for your thoughts.
I made the call. We'll see if it goes anywhere, oh, I also talked to my supervisor about it as she and I are personnal friends outside work as well. She asked me for the number. She was even angrier than I am!
Well now just to wait and see if anything comes of it!

[Michael32170]

I am the manager of a gas station/convinience store. I have an employee who is making 9.50 an hour, she has two little girls. She and the girls father have lived together for the past 6 years, the girls are 4 and 2. He works at a dry cleaners and according to her makes about 10.50 an hour. They refuse to get married as she claims she will lose her wic ,medicaid, and food stamps if the state finds out they are together. I am livid!!
I just recentlly found out she is recieving state aid and can't get my brain around it!
Together they make 20.00 per hour, both work 40 + hours a week!!
Part of me really wants to call someone and report them, the other part just doesn't know what to do. Give me your opinions on this please.


Since they are not married, shouldn't he be paying child support?

I'd call the fraud department of the government agencies she is receiving the money from.

[Michael32170]

If she is stealing from the government, the odds are she is, or will be, stealing from you, too.

[crafty2002]

Dennis, I agree with ya. *

What part did you agree with Paul. The first line, or the rest of it, LOL.

I think you did what's right debidoodle. This country is in as bad a shape as it has ever been in and it's gonna get worse before it gets better.
I was just thinking that they should have a regester with everything including the money earned, number of people in the house Etc., of everyone that get any type of public assistance so the public could see it.
And pay a small reward to anyone that reports fraud like this.
The lady accross the street gets food stamps and all but she works two jobs and srill really needs the help.
I don't really like the lady myself, but I adore her two children.
But I don't feel bad towards her because she is trying and simply can't make it without help.
What really makes me made is to see a familly with 6 or 8 kids come in a store and try to buy the whole store on food stamps.
Some couples have babies just for that reason and then won't work. The people like that should be put on a prison work crew and made to earn there keeps.
JMO
Dennis

[MissouriFree]

FIRE HER..!!!.
If she is cheating on the system then she is a cheat and could just as *easily be cheating on you.

As Mike said .. it is us tax payers that work hard and pay our way that she is cheating on .

I can't abide cheats !

ADDED:

and when you do tell her you only hire honest people.

[johnny]

i guess it's possible to rationalize just about anything - there are actually some who still don't realize what they did by voting for obama -


ONLY IF she got the assistance AFTER Jan 20th because otherwise its on your idols shoulders--like in BUUUUUUUUUUUSH!

Hell, I dont care if one voted for Elmer Fudd it has no bearing what-so-ever on what Debi posted and requested advice and opinions on.

Welfare cheats are everywhere and until I retired I never really paid any attention to it but now I look and wonder everytime I see a new car pull in at the store and see them pay for baskets full of stuff I dont buy because of the cost and with what do they pay---Lone Star which is the card they get here in Texas for food stamps. Eye opening day for me was in Sept 95 as thats when I got retired because of an injury on the job.
Started watching and wondering from that day on and would I report it--not only yes but HELL YES!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Terri]

Debidoodle, whe is taking food from the mouths of those who really do need it.

That being said, I hope you will not tell her it was you who told. It is too likely that she will retaliate. She WILL be angry, and she is not the most honest lady in town, KWIM?

[debidoodle]

Terri I know exactly what you mean! Actually, we've been watching her tills lately as we keep coming up short on the cash on days she works! I think I've figured out what she's doing. Just have to get it on video to prove it.

[Laverney]

The fact that she is working the system is enough to make anyone angry. I agree that you should report her if something comes of the call then great if not you can at least know that you did all that you could to make things right. I agree with Huck in regards to the fact that the children might need to suffer a bit. Sounds harsh but if you make foodstamps or whatever kind of assistance a comfortable way of life then you create the wicked cycle of generational welfare. They should not be able to buy frozen pizzas, hot dogs, sugared cereals and other crap with foodstamps. They should only be able to peanut butter, bread, milk and corn flakes or things that they would need to MAKE dinner instead of microwaving it. When I got out of the military as a newly single mother that did not get child support, I was mortified to find that my kids quilified for free lunches at school. (I only found this out because the schools ask that you fill out the paperwork, they get money from the state the more kids they have on free and reduced lunches I guess).
I tore up the paper and went and found a partime job in addition to my full time job so that my kids and myself would not have to deal with the humilation of being on free lunches and ya know what, my kids turned out just fine, they are not ax murderers, drug users or school skippers. They are just fine, in fact they have realized the importance of work to get what you want and need from life.
I work in a payroll department for a company in my area and nothing chaps me more than having someone come into my office asking that I fill out the verification form so that they can get assistance from the county then while I am filling it out their cell phone rings 3 or 4 times (differnet calls). I know my cell phone costs me around 50 bucks a month and I have a very simple service and basically use it for calls to relatives on the weekends when it is free. If mine costs 50 bucks what does it run them to be on the damn thing all day long? Drives me nuts.

[cinok]

Base upon the second post stating that he is the kids father then somethings not right He should be paying child support if he is not then he most likely has a warrant for his arrest, also she has to name the father to get P/A. Hopefully the complaint you filed gets followed up on. I don't thinks kids should suffer(by that I mean lack of food, doctor visits and the basics) They don't need cellphones or video games and the other things people think are essential for life today

[debidoodle]

Base upon the second post stating that he is the kids father then somethings not right He should be paying child support if he is not then he most likely has a warrant for his arrest, also she has to name the father to get P/A......

The way this was explained to me is that Texas is rather lazy about even enforcing child support, much less conducting searches for missing parents. I don't know how true or untrue this is.

[cinok]

Most states are lax upon arresting dads for child support, however once a year alot of states or counties have a round up.

[Michael32170]

The way this was explained to me is that Texas is rather lazy about even enforcing child support, much less conducting searches for missing parents. I don't know how true or untrue this is.



I don't think that's true. In Texas, you cannot get any public actions done without paying your childsupport. Almost all child support is automatically deducted from your check.

You cannot renew your DL while you are behind in your support.

The problem has to be, she is not asking for it.

[edward_4576]

Hmmmm...... Nice kettle o' fish. How to look at this? I don't know where you live but what's the cost of living like? In LA 20 bucks an hour is nothing, crack dealers make more than that in a few minutes of dealing. In rural Appalachia 20 bucks might be a gold mine.

You ARE taking our taxes? Then some of that is hers anyway. Take from her children, hard to say. No piece of paper saying their married, are they religious, don't need paper if you are.

Do they use "recreational" narcotics? Are they "good" people?

Most likely as stated in earlier posts, she wouldn't get away with it if she was abusing the system too openly.

also John 8:7 and Exodus 12:4

[flatwater]

I don't know the law where your at , but if you know she is cheating the system and are also employing her does that make you an accessory ?

[debidoodle]

I'm in Texas, just noth of San Antonio. Down here 20.00 an hour is darn good money.
Flatwater, no it doesn't.
An update:
She came into work yesterday and announced that apparentlly someone at her girls daycare had called the state on her to report her for welfare fraud??? I certainlly never said I was from the daycare, I wouldn't want anyone to get in trouble there. Anyway, she said that the case worker told her that she and her boyfriend had best report to her office TOGETHER with proof of residency today. I gave her the day off to go down there. She was freaking out because they only gave her 24 hours notice and it isn't long enough for her to mail something to his parents house in the next town to him for his proof! Can you believe, what a piece of work she is.
We'll see what happens tomorrow.

[PaulNKS]

Maybe she will get her due.

[QBVII]

I wouldn't report it; it would only hurt the children

[PaulNKS]

I wouldn't report it; it would only hurt the children
She stated previously that she already called. And... the children won't be hurt. If anything, they will be helped by seeing that if you try to scam people you will get caught. They will learn that you must work for what you get.

[edward_4576]

At least she knows who the daddy is, could be worse, she could be

The Octomom

[debidoodle]

I wouldn't report it; it would only hurt the children
If I had thought for a minute that the kids would be hurt in anyway I wouldn't have done a thing. These kids are fine!
Not to mention thier grandparents live right next door and have them 85% of the time anyway when mom and dad are out doing whatever.
The kids are well taken care of I promise you.

[Catalpa]

I think reporting them was the right thing to do.

They're scamming the system and stealing our tax money. Hope they have to pay it back!

[Cuznguido]

I think it is way too easy to be sanctimonious and judgmental. *The extent of your involvement is supervisor to employee. *Does she do her job and do it well? *If so then her personal life is none of your business. *

[PaulNKS]

As a taxpayer, I think it's any taxpayer's business when someone is self-admittedly scamming our taxes.

[edward_4576]

If your worried about someone misusing our taxes, have you contacted your elected representatives about their misuse of our tax money?

[PaulNKS]

Yes, I have.

[edward_4576]

good for you, more people need to make a stink about how our tax money is being wasted. I think that in itself is a truly urgent problem.

[PaulNKS]

and since we need to stick to the op's topic, one of the best places to start is with people that scam welfare.

[freezit]

I know in my state that everyone who lives in the household is 'supposed' to be reported and all income is to be reported.

I worked at a non profit food bank for 8 years and when a client was caught being dishonest and holding back info the state would make them pay it back and they would be penalized by not receiving additional benefits until it was paid back.

I myself would probably not make a call, but if the lady is breaking the law then she needs to be prepared for what comes from that.

You could always call DSS and give the scenario without giving names and see what direction you feel pulled in after that.

There also could be more to the story than you know. Which isn't that almost always the case in everything?

Good luck.

[mtwildflower]

In this case, yes, she appears to be scamming the taxpayer and bilking money unfairly ( Is that an oxymoron?)

And last year, I would have cared a lot...enough to also report her.

However, after just getting screwed by Obama, Wallstreet, the Big Three (okey, not Ford) the Federal Reserve and the Chinese, I seriously could not care less that this woman and her live-in kids' daddy are following the example of the aformentioned and getting everythign they can from we, the taxpayer. What they are taking is nothing and I honestly really do not give a crap.

I spend my time writing letters to Congress people and senators about the billions/trillions of dollars being wasted to prop up businesses that are just going to fail anyway.

The person eating one more tortilla more than the gov says they can, is honestly of very little concern to me right now.

[flatwater]

I'm with you mtwildflower , there are bigger fish to fry then that situation. Pick the important battles to fight , soon there will be plenty for everyone