# I wish to live off the government dole. Tell me how **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 22, 2021, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-to-live-off-the-government-dole-tell-me-how/942681 "2021-05-22T06:38:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-to-live-off-the-government-dole-tell-me-how/942681/21 "2021-05-22T16:15:01Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Seriously, SSI will pay you around $800 a month, virtually forever,. Much, much more than that. The average monthly SS benefit for a 65 year old is $1,321. And the benefits are tied to inflation, so it is possible to get a yearly cost-of-living increase. However, the OP has stated he is not old enough for SS. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-to-live-off-the-government-dole-tell-me-how/942681/22 "2021-05-22T17:48:21Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > However, the OP has stated he is not old enough for SS. All you need is a good sob story to get SSI benefits. A serious physical disability is easy, but you can get benefits if you suffer from serious depression and/or anxiety. You can also just be ravaged by your drug addiction and you can qualify. Of course they’ll turn you down at first, but then you get a lawyer who will get you approved, and he’ll get paid with our tax dollars so it doesn’t cost you a cent, and you’ll start off with a settlement for the time you weren’t collecting until they approved you. This is the good old US of A and we have the best poverty in the whole world. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-to-live-off-the-government-dole-tell-me-how/942681/23 "2021-05-22T19:30:01Z")
**JohnT** may not recognize a good deal, but I am interested. A couple of questions: Do we have to meet, or can we do this online? Should I mention this to my wife? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-to-live-off-the-government-dole-tell-me-how/942681/24 "2021-05-22T19:41:04Z")
You have to give up the luxuries like your phone, your TV and your heat. Oh, you live in Texas? The state takes your heat away anyhow. As a point of information, you can move to California, since a 1,500 sq. ft. house in my neighborhood goes for a measly $1.3 million. Cheap these days. It seems a bunch of people want you to commit fraud. If you do that, I’d suggest collecting donations for Trump instead, without shipping any to him. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-to-live-off-the-government-dole-tell-me-how/942681/25 "2021-05-22T19:53:25Z")
Some have suggested going on SSDI but I seem to recall reading threads or topics here from people describing how difficult it was to get it, including needing to hire a lawyer who specializes in this. (That said, I have a theory that SSDI is socially acceptable in a way that welfare is not, with some recipients getting SSDI despite dubious disabilities.) ---
**Author:** ![Yosh99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ccd318/32.png) [@Yosh99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yosh99)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-to-live-off-the-government-dole-tell-me-how/942681/26 "2021-05-22T20:01:14Z")
You might consider farming if you want really huge payments. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-to-live-off-the-government-dole-tell-me-how/942681/27 "2021-05-22T20:10:36Z")
I’ve seen a few left wingers on here as a pushback about how “only immigrants and minorities get welfare” talk about how there’s entire towns full of poor white folk in the South and MidWest who have basically no jobs and collect welfare but still complain about “free-loaders”, and having seen a number of documentaries about poor white trash this doesn’t surprise me at all. ---
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-to-live-off-the-government-dole-tell-me-how/942681/28 "2021-05-22T20:18:24Z")
I’m trying to figure out how John T thinks he can make the rules and stipulations to be on the dole. I would think that if someone applied for benefits and the person wanted this and that, they’d be in for a rude awakening. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-to-live-off-the-government-dole-tell-me-how/942681/29 "2021-05-22T20:27:49Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > Well, you could run for office. But then you would have to do _some_ work. Ted Cruz seems to get by without doing much: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_-iRG432oKQ/hqdefault.jpg "Ted Cruz Caught Scrolling Phone During Trump Riot Hearings") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-iRG432oKQ) As for the o.p., my advice is to find a job in municipal government, get yourself installed as a department head, and then declare your philosophical opposition to all government spending such that your department does nothing and you can spend your day avoiding your coworkers. I learned this from _Parks and Recreation_, which as far as I can tell is a Frontline documentary that somehow got shown on network television. It is precisely how my city works right down to the giant unfilled pit that fills with water every time it rains because the city won’t develop it. [![](https://abbeyplacements.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/ron-swanson.png) ](https://abbeyplacements.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/ron-swanson.png) Stranger ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-to-live-off-the-government-dole-tell-me-how/942681/30 "2021-05-22T20:48:21Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > including needing to hire a lawyer who specializes in this. The lawyer will work on contingency, paid by the government if he secures your benefits. No cost to you. He can’t necessarily get benefits for every freeloader who just won’t work, but you can’t lose from trying. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-to-live-off-the-government-dole-tell-me-how/942681/31 "2021-05-22T21:04:19Z")
You’d have to be able to get past @Dinsdale - who is a SSDI judge and I don’t think he rubber stamps just anyone, even with a lawyer. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-to-live-off-the-government-dole-tell-me-how/942681/32 "2021-05-22T21:14:09Z")
Then- turn them in. But of course- since you do not have access to their medical records- you do not know if they are disabled or not. For example PTSD is not very obvious. To the OP, of course your Op is tongue in cheek, still, having worked on homeless programs, I can tell you that: Food will not be a problem, as long as you can cook it. Food stamps, churches, local programs and such will keep you fed. Clothing also is not a issue, except socks and underwear. Housing- that is the big issue. Section 8 is really hard to get on, and none of the legit social service 'welfare" programs pay in cash. Buy a decent tent or live in your car. Everything of real value will be taken from you by other homeless or crooks that prey upon them. You might be able to keep a cheap cellphone if you keep it in your pocket all the time. No AC or heat. I think living in Texas without either will not be fun. Medical? When you are near death there is county general or 911, otherwise, be prepared to not be able to get any prescriptions for things like high blood pressure. Your teeth will rot. Quality of life will suck then. You could get Medicaid, maybe. > [@TriPolar](#): > > All you need is a good sob story to get SSI benefits. A serious physical disability is easy, but you can get benefits if you suffer from serious depression and/or anxiety. This is not true. Try it sometime, you need a real doctor to rule you disabled and then there is a review board. Dewey Finn is correct here. [quote=“Dewey\_Finn, post:25, topic:942681”] Some have suggested going on SSDI but I seem to recall reading threads or topics here from people describing how difficult it was to get it, including needing to hire a lawyer who specializes in this. [/quote] “Welfare” as it used to be has been gone since Clinton. It is now just a imaginary bugaboo of the GOP. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-to-live-off-the-government-dole-tell-me-how/942681/33 "2021-05-22T21:35:43Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > > [@jtur88](#): > > > > Seriously, SSI will pay you around $800 a month, virtually forever,. > > Much, much more than that. The average monthly SS benefit for a 65 year old is $1,321. And the benefits are tied to inflation, so it is possible to get a yearly cost-of-living increase. > > However, the OP has stated he is not old enough for SS. SSI isn’t the social security payment you get with old age (though many get them mixed up). It’s disability one can get if s/he is disabled, but has never worked enough to qualify for “regular” social security disability (SSDI). Older people can also get it if they are poor enough and don’t have enough work credits. It is as low as mentioned (though some states supplement), and has an asset limit of $2000 (excluding one car, one home, and a few other smallish tings), so you lose it if you have more than that. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-to-live-off-the-government-dole-tell-me-how/942681/34 "2021-05-22T21:53:06Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > All you need is a good sob story to get SSI benefits. A serious physical disability is easy, but you can get benefits if you suffer from serious depression and/or anxiety. My late spouse was born with spina bifida, which you would think would be an easy way to get that, but he was never able to qualify, even with a lawyer. The system is pretty broken, actually - some people get in who shouldn’t, some can’t get in that should ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-to-live-off-the-government-dole-tell-me-how/942681/35 "2021-05-22T22:01:31Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > The lawyer will work on contingency, paid by the government if he secures your benefits. No cost to you. He can’t necessarily get benefits for every freeloader who just won’t work, but you can’t lose from trying. The lawyer is paid _out of your benefits_ if s/he secures any for you; generally, they get 25% of your backpay (benefits for the time between when your disability started and when your application was approved), to a maximum of $6000. The Social Security Administration takes the fees directly out of your check and sends it to the lawyer or other representative. It is paid “by the government” or “by the taxpayer” only to the extent that all Social Security benefits are. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-to-live-off-the-government-dole-tell-me-how/942681/36 "2021-05-22T22:20:03Z")
> [@Tzigone](#): > > > [@cochrane](#): > > > > > [@jtur88](#): > > > > > > Seriously, SSI will pay you around $800 a month, virtually forever,. > > > > Much, much more than that. The average monthly SS benefit for a 65 year old is $1,321. And the benefits are tied to inflation, so it is possible to get a yearly cost-of-living increase. > > > > However, the OP has stated he is not old enough for SS. > > SSI isn’t the social security payment you get with old age (though many get them mixed up). It’s disability one can get if s/he is disabled, but has never worked enough to qualify for “regular” social security disability (SSDI). Older people can also get it if they are poor enough and don’t have enough work credits. It is as low as mentioned (though some states supplement), and has an asset limit of $2000 (excluding one car, one home, and a few other smallish tings), so you lose it if you have more than that. Thanks for clearing up the confusion. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-to-live-off-the-government-dole-tell-me-how/942681/37 "2021-05-22T22:27:48Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > Well, you could run for office. But then you would have to do _some_ work. Nah. Don Young has been fucking that dog for almost 50 years and Alaska has almost nothing to show for it. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-to-live-off-the-government-dole-tell-me-how/942681/38 "2021-05-22T22:40:48Z")
> [@Oredigger77](#): > > I’d suggest you have a kid. When we had out first kid we were both unemployed (technically working unpaid at my first start up) we got Medicare, WIC and food stamps. Since we had previously been wealthy we had a chest freezer so we could go to Costco once a month a spend out foodstamps on meat the rest of the money we spent on vegetables and starch at the local grocery store. > > Honestly, it was a pretty good life our unemployment paid for gas, internet, and the mortgage on our condo and we ate well and had steak most nights. We had to apply for jobs each week but no one was hiring in the oil field or mining so applying was easy and there was 0 chance of landing a job. After ~6 months we landed and job and moved on so not forever. I never understood this. Raising a kid (even putting minimal effort into it) has to be more work and more aggravating than most jobs. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-to-live-off-the-government-dole-tell-me-how/942681/39 "2021-05-22T22:42:58Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Nah. Don Young has been fucking that dog for almost 50 years and Alaska has almost nothing to show for it. Can we please be more respectful? Like, “Don Young has been fucking that chicken for almost 50 years …”. Please do not impugn the integrity of innocent canines by engaging in species discrimination. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-to-live-off-the-government-dole-tell-me-how/942681/40 "2021-05-22T22:45:53Z")
With two parents and no job raising a baby wasn’t bad especially since it was our first kid. But ya, in general, it’s a full time job for a decade plus, hardly the way to lay around all day doing nothing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-to-live-off-the-government-dole-tell-me-how/942681.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-to-live-off-the-government-dole-tell-me-how/942681.md?page=3)