Misuse of SSI?

Question

How do you feel about the person with all the benefits of SSI but that disabled person is abusing it to buy games, car parts, etc, for his/her own living pleasures? (and still able to pay off the living expenses at the same time)

To be more specific, suppose if that person is unable to get a job for a long time due to disablity discrimination. He/she wants stuff to meet his/her simple needs such as buy games, xbox360. Can that person use the ssi for that particular reason ..without feeling guilty? If yes, i would be really really interested to know more details to your answer. if not, how come?

Mike: i agreed but...

Suppose if that SSI money came from people who paid taxes, especially the fact they had to go to lengths to work for it, would you think twice about how SSI should be used.

sophie b. I have a profound hearing loss, in other words, yeah Im pretty much deaf to the hearing word. It's just im pretty excited that the SSI approved my case, but at the same time I felt guilty because I know it came from your tax-paying pockets. I have much better intentions to save it up and use it to pay off college and loans along with other living expenses. Yet at the same time, I would really like to buy stuff that I would like to have, but knowing that it isnt my money.

You know, i just discovered a hidden wisdom in all this lol. Its 95 percent for certain since all I gotta do is get a job but then there's the discrimination issue on the job. Its not that bad as you think but it's just some people out there who dont make that more effort to work together with the people with disablities. Ah, straight to the point, suppose if a guy wanted simple things for himself, but is unable to pay for it because of the lack of jobs for less qualified guys. can he still use ssi to get himself the simple needs and at the same time paying off the living expenses. You guys will be okay with that? That's straight-to-the-point question at least.

Answer 1

I purposely did not read the other answers to your question. I collect SSI. I paid Social Security Tax since I was 17 years old I started to receive SSI when I was about 50. It is my money I am receiving not some other taxpayers. It is also not enough to live on. I am also a 100% disabled veteran and receive a tax free pension for my military disabilities. These two items and the fact that I do not have to pay income tax almost allows me to survive living in my own home, having only one car that is 7 years old. I do get a better deal on food because of my military pension I am able to shop at the Commissary. However, here in Atlanta in 5 years all 3 military installations will be closed and the closest fort will be 3 hours away.

As a disabled person I am allowed to spend what little I receive on whatever I want to spend it on. I have read all the fine print on both pensions and nowhere does it say I can't own a plasma TV or an Xbox. A joint Congressional Panel said VA pensions should be increase immediately by 25%, but this year in SSI and in VA benefits I will receive a cost of living increase of a whopping 2.3%. I am thinking of buying a Rolls Royce with all that money or just a tube of tooth paste.

Answer 2

I know that when people say they are on welfare that they most likely are getting food stamps which allows you only to buy food. When people can't afford medical bills because they don't get enough money in income I know they turn to SSI and SSI pays the medical bills directly to the doctor, facility, etc.(you don't get the money). I know our county will help with one month's rent or for paying an electric bill, especially if it's for a home that has children in it, and that's paid directly to the landlord or electric company. So I'm not sure what you're talking about since the system is monitored. Whether people are on public programs you best be sure which one they are on and exactly what they are doing before you try to question them or turn them in. You never know that maybe a relative is providing their games or money for a car part or something, or maybe even they got the items for free, discounted, or from a place that provides needed things to them. SSI isn't always for disabled people, and, there are many many disability programs out there not just the one from the government. Some even allow you to earn up to $6,000 per year and still keep your disability benefits. So since you're not the disabled person I don't understand why you are questioning them in the first place.

Answer 3

This isn't meant to be mean this is a personal observation of people who are claiming disability and the ones who find it neccessary to seek help but don't really get any because of the ones who abuse the system. How this type of money is spent is dependent on the person who recieves it. It is not our place to monitor this money for them. Now there's one thing I do find wrong with this picture. You say you can't get a job but you want to go to school. Why? I have no problem with education but abuse the SSI so you can get to school is disgusting to me. It appears to me that if you stepped up your motivation just a bit you could get a job. There are a boatload of organizations here that make sure that the people who can and will work have that opportunity. It is rare to find a company who will not hire a disabled person. Most of this is due to the fact that they are normally as good if not better than their other employees. I know a few people who are hard of hearing that still work. Even in many dangerous jobs. We always found ways to communicate with them. Even if it's just a tap on the shoulder to be sure they are looking at you when you are speaking. Or writing it down for them. Many learn to read lips or find ways to get things done. I didn't really catch your age but I think you are looking the wrong way at this situation. My gf has a crooked spine and everyone thinks that she should be drawing a SSI check but she goes to work everyday. While she does have quite a few physical limitations she will be the first one to find a way to work around them. There are many on SSI who aren't really hurt they are just LAZY. Or they think they are too good to work for minimum wage or too good to do certain work.

Answer 4

There is nothing to report. That money that she receives on behalf of her son helps her and her husband to pay rent or mortgage payments, pay the utilities and to buy groceries. How are you, or social security for that matter, to prove otherwise? There is no fraud. A family who receives SSI isn't living high on the hog; they wouldn't be getting the benefit if their income and resources were too high. I think you should mind your own business unless you can prove that he is earning $4000 to $5000 a month which would make the child ineligible for SSI. Do you not think that social security verifies wages and any other income a household receives alongs with bank account statements? Not too mention the fact that IRS reports income to social security. I don't understand what your problem is - it's not like your husband is breaking the bank in paying a measly $200 a month in child support.

Answer 5

If they worked hard and payed into it and are now disabled for some reason and they are entitled to benefits, how they spend the money is up to them. Most people on SSI don't really get that much to begin with. If they spend it all in one place and are broke before their next check comes, then it's their own fault.

Answer 6

if they are entitled to SSI, why should there be a limit on what they can spend it for? Have you checked the law, and is there such a limit ? BUTT OUT--how they spend their money is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.