> If you take it from me, I am left with what? Panhandling? Prostitution? ...???
Is there no welfare for people who aren't able to make a living in your country?
Is there no welfare for people who aren't able to make a living in your country?
The issue is, conservative Government parties point to people taking welfare without meeting the requirements for it as a significant issue that costs countries large amounts of money. To solve this problem, Governments set up welfare departments to be all but adversarial, with near-constant - and, worse, unpredictable - changes in requirements forcing a lot of mental effort to be taken just to keep proving and re-proving that you can't work, and welfare agencies taking the default stance that any individual taking welfare is likely to be fraudulent.
The result is that keeping up with the welfare system is often as stressful as a full-time job in itself, if not moreso as you're very aware that society and your Government both think of you as someone who they'd really prefer just died.
Of course, as those most affected by the discrimination against those on welfare are generally the people with the smallest voices - unemployed or low-wage workers, those with disability, and often further minorities - it's not going to change in a long time.
I have cystic fibrosis. I am getting myself well when doctors say it cannot be done. Having CF does not qualify you for disability. You qualify based on having allowed infection to eat away enough of your lungs so as to have reduced lung capacity below a certain threshold. Based on my last x-rays and the fact that it no longer hurts like a bitch to breathe, the hole in my left lung appears to be gone. So I will never qualify for disability. I am too competent.
Having a handicap does not mean I am some worthless piece of shit with nothing of value to offer. Furthermore, I had food stamps for a time. Someone dropped the ball and they were not renewed in January. I reapplied. Someone else dropped the ball and I was told I would need to reapply again. I decided not to, in part because going to the welfare office makes me so ill, in part for other reasons that I don't care to go into both because it is not actually anyone's business and because I am currently under time pressure to try to make enough money this month. My expenses were higher than usual at the start of the month and I am fond of eating every day.