Lets imagine a “poor” family. They receive $800 per month in subsidy for their health insurance and $400 per month in food stamps. This means the government believes that without these things they would have $14,000 too little to afford to live.
With those subsidies which aren’t calibrated to the penny they may well be able to afford such amazing niceties as $20 a month for a cell phone $50 a month for internet service. The ability to pay a relative pittance for nicities which are barely optional now if you want to have a decent crack at educational or job opportunities doesn’t mean they didn’t in fact need the $14,000 in help. Without it they not only wouldn’t have those things they might well not have enough to eat or medical care their family needs.
Moreover such benefits are based on current need. When a person loses their job nobody shows up to collect their phone, laptop, nice clothes and other things so they can fit in their new role as one of the poors.
Lets imagine a “poor” family. They receive $800 per month in subsidy for their health insurance and $400 per month in food stamps. This means the government believes that without these things they would have $14,000 too little to afford to live.
With those subsidies which aren’t calibrated to the penny they may well be able to afford such amazing niceties as $20 a month for a cell phone $50 a month for internet service. The ability to pay a relative pittance for nicities which are barely optional now if you want to have a decent crack at educational or job opportunities doesn’t mean they didn’t in fact need the $14,000 in help. Without it they not only wouldn’t have those things they might well not have enough to eat or medical care their family needs.
Moreover such benefits are based on current need. When a person loses their job nobody shows up to collect their phone, laptop, nice clothes and other things so they can fit in their new role as one of the poors.