Do you claim any financial benefits from the government?

[JulesMaximus]

I have mixed feelings... Pretty sure I mentioned that.



I claim disability living allowance and I feel guilty about it, other people pay their taxes, and I claim some of the money, I know I need it, I know that I wouldn't be able to live the same life as my non-bipolar friends without it, but I still feel a twinge of guilt, I never say that "I am entitled to it" I always say "I am eligible" because "entitled" seems too... Pious.

Well, when it comes to unemployment I feel that there is nothing wrong with using the benefits because I've paid into the system during times when I was employed (which I am now) so why should I feel guilty when I'm not? During those periods I was actively seeking work so no, I never felt guilty about it...what would be the point?

Can you work? If you can work and just choose not to then you should feel guilty about it.

 

[HAL9000]

Section 8
Unemployment
WIC

They supplement my weekly paycheck very well.

Fair enough, do you feel any guilt about it?

 

[HAL9000]

Well, when it comes to unemployment I feel that there is nothing wrong with using the benefits because I've paid into the system during times when I was employed (which I am now) so why should I feel guilty when I'm not? During those periods I was actively seeking work so no, I never felt guilty about it...what would be the point?

Can you work? If you can work and just choose not to then you should feel guilty about it.

I can and do work, I just can't work as much as I would like to.

 

[arcenite]

How do you feel about it?

First and foremost, thankful. If it wasn't for the FHA I'd be in an apartment.

Hadn't really given it two thoughts except, since I was forced into it (if I wanted a house), it's opened my eyes that I'm not as well off as I thought.

 

[HAL9000]

First and foremost, thankful. If it wasn't for the FHA I'd be in an apartment.

Hadn't really given it two thoughts except, since I was forced into it (if I wanted a house), it's opened my eyes that I'm not as well off as I thought.

Fair enough, I hear a lot of people call people on any kind of benefit "Scroungers" So I'm interested to know how people who claim feel about their benefits.

 

[arcenite]

Fair enough, I hear a lot of people call people on any kind of benefit "Scroungers" So I'm interested to know how people who claim feel about their benefits.

Yeah I'm really not 'taking' anything from the government unless I lose the house. Then I guess the government pays the lender?

 

[HAL9000]

Yeah I'm really not 'taking' anything from the government unless I lose the house. Then I guess the government pays the lender?

OK fair enough. How does the owl feel about people who claim benefits generally?

 

[arcenite]

OK fair enough. How does the owl feel about people who claim benefits generally?

I'll ask The Owl when He wakes up. Owls are nocturnal, you know.

 

[HAL9000]

I'll ask The Owl when He wakes up. Owls are nocturnal, you know.

Quite true, sorry I forgot you were on American time.

 

[dullard]

I currently claim 401K tax deductions, HSA deduction, and Roth IRA deductions. Well, I make too much for the Roth directly, but I put it in a IRA and then convert over immediately to a Roth for free. That is $49150 that is tax deferred each year (about $16,219.50 actual tax savings per year) that I save right now but will have to pay much later when I'm a multimillionaire and don't care about small amounts of tax like that. I also get the gains tax free/deferred which will save me millions in tax over my lifetime.

Take that silly Earned Income Credit people! You only get up to ~$3000/year from the government! I get 5 times the goverment handouts!

Then again, last year I paid more federal tax than the typical family makes in a year. Some of that income was paid for by the government job, so I guess that is a financial benefit from the government too though.

When I was young I took grants, scholarships, and low income housing. The government gave me $10k or so and I pay far more than that a year back in tax. It was win/win for me and the government.

 

[arcenite]

Quite true, sorry I forgot you were on American time.

Here's some more info on the program while you wait for a judgement from The Owl.

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/housing/fhahistory

 

[HAL9000]

I currently claim 401K tax deductions, HSA deduction, and Roth IRA deductions. Well, I make too much for the Roth directly, but I put it in a IRA and then convert over immediately to a Roth for free. That is $49150 that is tax deferred each year (about $16,219.50 per year) that I save right now but will have to pay much later when I'm a multimillionaire and don't care about small amounts of tax like that. I also get the gains tax free/deferred which will save me millions in tax over my lifetime.

Take that silly Earned Income Credit people only getting up to $3000/year from the government! I get 5 times the goverment handouts!

Then again, last year I paid more federal tax than the typical family makes in a year. Some of that income was paid for by the government job, so I guess that is a financial benefit from the government too though.

When I was young I took grants, scholarships, and low income housing. The government gave me $10k or so and I pay far more than that a year back in tax. It was win/win for me and the government.

Fair enough, In that case you've got no real reason to feel the guilt I do.

 

[Texashiker]

I get my truck tags at a reduced rate because I own more then 1 acre of land, and my truck is used to haul farm supplies.

I can not think of anything else, besides your typical income tax deductions at the end of the year.

As for weekly / monthly government benefits, no I do not receive anything.

 

[Broheim]

I get the standard Student grant that any student in Denmark does and I also get housing subsidies which is only like 50$ a month, but I'll take all I can get...

I don't feel any guilt whatsoever, this is how the danish society works, it's a good system.

 

[Numenorean]

Troll

Ahh, no need to guess.

 

[Slew Foot]

Nothing very special that everyone else in my income bracket gets. I do get paid by medicare but thats for work I do so I dont feel bad about getting it.

 

[LookBehindYou]

I get a small check from the VA every month for tinnitus (9 years in humvees + way too many times at the firing line).

I got a pell grant the last couple semesters for school

100% school for GI Bill + 1000/mo for housing

I think that's it.

 

[RockinZ28]

Unmarried with no kids, and absolutely no deductions living in Los Angeles. I get raped by the gov. Have never received any aid.

 

[Via]

I have no kids, and I pay almost $3000 a year in school taxes.

They get financial benefits from me.

 

[Mr. Lennon]

Federal Pell Grant+loans
Affordable housing apartment (for people making below 60k...not hard to do as a student)
Free tuition from veteran's fee waiver

I would not be going to school if I didn't receive these benefits. I don't feel bad, because I know once I start making real money, I will be giving it back in taxes.

 

[schneiderguy]

Section 8
Unemployment
WIC

They supplement my weekly paycheck very well.

You're joking right, aren't you the one with the RX-8? :hmm:

 

[Numenorean]

You're joking right, aren't you the one with the RX-8? :hmm:

And isn't he a guy? WIC is not for him then.

 

[nick1985]

Unmarried, no kids, live in an apartment.

Nope, I just get fucked. No benefits here.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

yes. I'm still allowed to keep some of my paycheck. That is a great financial benefit the government allows me.

I'm very thankful for their generousness.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Mortgage Interest Tax write off for me, but that's about it.

I have family who depend on disability, so I don't feel too bad paying into a Social Security system where I'll never see a penny, because they really do "need" the help and I'm glad that the social safety net exists as I really can't afford to support them as well as pay for my mortgage.....