My aunt and uncle are elderly and disabled. They are eligible for the food bank twice a month and get about $180 in food stamps monthly. I recently found out that their oldest son, who had possession of their ATM card and food stamp card, was cleaning them out monthly. He was “in charge” of taking care of their financial affairs. Bills weren’t getting paid and they got shut off notices for their utilities. Their son was taking my uncle to the food bank, but he got into an argument with them about something and has abandoned them. I’ve been doing what I can to straighten out their affairs. Their food stamp card has been cancelled and reissued. I know their son is ticked off at me for cutting off his gravy train. He also incurred over $2400 in NSF and overdraft fees on their bank account. They had to open a different bank account and have their social security money directed into the new account.
It’s a shame how much fraud and corruption goes on. How much of it is from family members, and how much of it is identity theft or misrepresentation? There are a lot of government hand-outs available, and lots of people actually need them, especially the elderly. But there are still many people who milk the system.
I hope things improve for your aunt and uncle, bless them. Here people can do to the food bank any time it’s open with no limit — you might check into that. Exploitation of the elderly by relatives and total strangers is very common, unfortunately.
I understand.
I have tried to help a few normal people through the maze they get sent on when they try to claim the disability or retirement benefits we all think our payroll taxes are dedicated to provide for honest taxpaying citizens.
Yeah, no, that does not ever happen.
Our government depends upon massive fraud, waste and abuse to continue operating at the levels to which they have become accustomed.
Time to reset.