Most likely by her own doing.
I know this is GQ. But based on what you’ve told us about her, she appears to be a very irresponsible person. Even worse, she fails to takes responsibly for her actions, and instead tries to use the government to force others to pay for her irresponsibility.
There is no shortage of these types; I have run across many of them in my life. Sadly, there is nothing you can do to help them.
I agree. I told her, pay the fine, pay for the necklace, don’t drag this out, and if you do, you will have to pay for your own lawyer.
Again, all I hear is, “all the tattooed motorcycle mamas in court with good jobs, all the vandals and speeders, THEY all get free counsel, why don’t I”??? That’s what dysfunction does to some people, instead of breaking out of their trap, they become eternal victims.
Sorry, neither.
Now, the situation described in the OP would have been both illegal and unethical. But social support programs aren’t theoretically limited just to the absolutely destitute. Indeed, in many cases it might be a lot cheaper and more efficient for the taxpayers to help someone out at the beginning of the spiral instead of trying to frag her back up from rock bottom.
–Cliffy
If she has $30,000 sitting in the bank, you’re going to have a hard time convincing taxpayers that they should be forced to help her. Especially if there is ample evidence she is an irresponsible person who has repeatedly made poor decisions in her life.
Looks like we’re getting into GD territory here.
Well, there are several types of government assistance that look only at your income, not your assets. Usually unemployment is one of these–it doesn’t matter if you have $30,000 in the bank, if you get laid off from your job you can get unemployment. At least that’s the case in my state.
Can I say something as someone who has applied for (and received) food stamps int he past year?
Yes, absolutely disclose ALL your assets when you apply.
That said, you are allowed to retain some assets. For example, I have two vehicles (both paid for years ago) and, contrary to all sorts of horror stories I’ve heard, I didn’t have to sell one (or both). As mentioned, certain forms of retirement income is not counted You are allowed to retain a savings account with some money in it (or, in our case, a checking account). You do not have to lose EVERYTHING to get help.
However - readily available liquid cash - and $30,000 in a safe deposit box, or stuffed in your mattress, would count as “liquid” - is not something you can retain and get food stamps (and it’s true - outside of that, if you have no children and are not disabled there is NOTHING available as government aid for an adult). Under current rules she would not be eligible for help until you went through that pile. (In my case - I could probably make that last at least three years, quite likely twice that, but then, I probably have my stuff more together than this gal.
IIRC, the new health care law expands Medicaid, actually, to cover at least some able-bodied adults without dependent children. But I don’t know the precise contours of that, and I don’t think it’s kicked in yet.
–Cliffy
I despise tax cheats and “money hiding” frauds possibly more than rapists and robbers.
I’m a little surprised no one recommended (or offered to assist in) getting her pregnant. There may be some hope for us yet.
Most likely they qualify. Public assistance, as a system, can’t be worked like it was 40 years ago. There are still abuses and loopholes, and it varies from place to place, but they really are few and far between.
It might be spotty.
I know in my state (Indiana) there has been a limited program for health insurance for able-bodied adults with low incomes, which I was fortunate enough to get 2 years ago, but it’s capped at 37,000 people or some such and last I heard the waiting list was longer than the list of people enrolled.
So a program like that will probably be rolled into the new Medicaid eligibility, and other states will probably apply the rules in their own way. I’m sure not all the details have been worked out yet.
Keep in mind that no one wants to admit they’re destitute and in some ways Americans are more likely to divulge details on kinky sexual practices than even the most bland financial details. Some of it is bragging, some of it is outright lying, and some of it is to yank other peoples’ chains. And yes, probably a little fraud thrown in, but not as much as people think.
In my state (Virginia):
-A false statement when applying for benefits is a crime, and they do occasionally prosecute people for it if they get enough money and if the records are all in place.
-They don’t need to subpoena her bank account records when doing the needs-testing for a public defender. They fill out a form and make a sworn statement as to its accuracy, so they could theoretically be prosecuted for perjury if they lie. That being said, there seem to be a lot of people who fudge the numbers… They have no income at all until they are asking for a bond, when it’s an advantage to have a steady, full-time job. Most of the time the judges don’t even bat an eyelash. I still don’t recommend it!