Dooh – I have an extended family member that is doing what you’re talking about. He has a paid off house in Philadelphia. He’s very good at living on the cheap.
He’s figured out the system – if he makes less than $8000/year he gets free health insurance and some other benefits (I think food stamps.) Over the past several years he’s had part time jobs that kept him under that wage threshold. Then he volunteered to be laid off so he could collect unemployment.
This is an able bodied guy. He’s always claiming poverty – but he also won’t get a job that might impact his free benefits.
I’m for a social safety net – but what he’s doing is abuse.
FWIW – he’s not the stereotype welfare queen – he’s male, white, college educated, listens to Rush and Glenn and watches Fox News only… The hypocrisy drives me nuts. But you can’t pick family.
I don’t have a problem with people figuring out how to retire early, spend more time with their kids. I’ve been part time since my oldest was born. My husband will be retired when the kids are teenagers. But if you’re able bodied, able to work, can get a job, but choose to sponge off the system… I reserve the right to think of you as a loser.
