# Numbers on people who abuse entitlement programs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 14, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-on-people-who-abuse-entitlement-programs/536124 "2010-04-14T21:41:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![PatriotGrrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PatriotGrrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotGrrrl)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-on-people-who-abuse-entitlement-programs/536124/21 "2010-04-17T12:58:58Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I know this is obviously antidotal, and not statistically significant, but every person I have ever known who was on a taxpayer-funded entitlement program was abusing the system. How are you defining “taxpayer-funded entitlement program”? Does that include, say, unemployment insurance? Veteran’s benefits? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-on-people-who-abuse-entitlement-programs/536124/22 "2010-04-17T13:09:29Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I know this is obviously antidotal, and not statistically significant, but every person I have ever known who was on a taxpayer-funded entitlement program was abusing the system. But that is not abusing the system, that is just you defining “abuse” as anyone getting support from taxpayers. If someone plays by all the rules and qualifies for support, only the very disingenuous person could claim that is abusing the system. As a libertarian, you may claim that the system abuses you, but the SSDI recipient is by no definition abusing the system. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-on-people-who-abuse-entitlement-programs/536124/23 "2010-04-17T16:10:00Z")
What I would like to know about is the number of fraudulent disability claims. In Boston, a “disabled” ex-cop is now under federal indictment for mail fraud. Supposedly, he was unable to work because of back injuries-he was spotted riding a bicycle in Vietnam. South Florida is full of roofers, carpenters, plumbers-who are “disabled”-from time to time, there is an expose of these guys-cannot perform a firefigher’s job, but able enough to carry 50 pound bundles of shingles onto a roof. ---
**Author:** ![coffeecat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coffeecat/32/3405_2.png) [@coffeecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffeecat)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2010, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-on-people-who-abuse-entitlement-programs/536124/24 "2010-04-18T11:09:41Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > The problem is that you’re assuming those on welfare are “doing the math.” They’re not. All they know is that they get an increase in payments. That’s enough for them to have another kid. > > If welfare paid $20/ extra per kid per month, many of those on welfare would have a kid. It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t make economic sense. That’s still a far cry from welfare queens driving Cadillacs while honest taxpayers get to their second full-time job in cars made of duct tape. It’s more like everyone else having to keep her from being evicted after she spent the rent money on magic beans. But the OP just said she had babies to get the checks, not that it had to work. ::sigh:: A deal’s a deal. Anyone have Newt’s phone number? Email address? :eek: Let’s see . . . how do I work this digital camera? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-on-people-who-abuse-entitlement-programs/536124.md?page=1)