The double-standard of making the poor prove they’re worthy of government benefits

[Orrex]

6. I asked an agent about this at our local public assistance office

Last edited Sun Apr 3, 2016, 10:04 PM - Edit history (1)

I held up the lengthy, complicated and redundant form that recipients must complete twice yearly in order to remain eligible for their monthly pittance. I'm a college graduate who's not intimidated by paperwork, since it occupies a big chunk of my workplace world, but how is a 22 year old single mother of two supposed to feel about it? Especially when even a trifling error can cause an application to be delayed or rejected outright?

The agent was in fact very helpful and sympathetic, and she said "yes, it's a barrier." I asked her if that's by design, and she said "it would almost have to be, wouldn't it?"

I then asked how long the forms are that billionaire CEOs have to fill out for their multi-million dollar annual handouts, and she said that it's likely that they simply have to ask.

She was remarkably candid, and I have to add that the agents are very eager to help people complete the forms correctly, but it's still a bunch of pointless, degrading hoops through which people of low income must jump in order to get almost enough to live on.

What they really need now is drug testing before they're even eligible to apply! That'll help!