I'm having this "discussion" with someone who claims that Military families receiving housing allowance is no different than her receiving $200 a month in food stamps. :rolleyes

Any thoughts?

That is just ridiculous IMO.BAH is a benefit of a JOB,not just a handout like welfare is.

i agree. From what i understand BAH is a way of off-setting various costs of living for people who are WORKING, and most of the time working many more hours than the average employee.

That is just ridiculous IMO.BAH is a benefit of a JOB,not just a handout like welfare is.

:agree

i agree. From what i understand BAH is a way of off-setting various costs of living for people who are WORKING, and most of the time working many more hours than the average employee.

My uncle was on food stamps and worked a lot of hours, just didnt make enough to cover everything.

So I do not agree with this statement.

My uncle was on food stamps and worked a lot of hours, just didnt make enough to cover everything.

So I do not agree with this statement.

:dunno the average employee.

um no...its kind of part of your wages...in a way ...thats dumb :S

Those arent even comparable. You get BAH as part of the job you do being in the military... welfare money isn't a perk of any job... in most states you don't have to have a job to get welfare.

:dunno the average employee.

you put that its for people WORKING in capitals.

Methinks your friend is one sandwich short of a picnic.

:giggle

Methinks your friend is one sandwich short of a picnic.

:giggle


now.. is that a WIC sandwich? :teehee

BAH is also a way to hekp families since on alot of bases there isn't enough housing for everyone that is stationed there. I know where we live the housing wait is 5months at shortest and since you don't pay to live on post its more of an equality thing. IMO

You can't really compare since it's a perk that is given for your job. The Navy promises you a place to live or money to rent a place. Other business offer perks similar to BAH. I also agree with Becca although I prefer on taco short of a combination plate.

now.. is that a WIC sandwich? :teehee


:hystericlaugh

THAT'S funny...

now.. is that a WIC sandwich? :teehee

:hystericlaugh Bwwaaahahahahahahahaaaa!!!

Simply put, BAH is part of the overall benefits package that comes with EMPLOYMENT with the US military. That is not at all similar to food stamps.

now.. is that a WIC sandwich? :teehee

:roflmao Awesome

FTR, of course I agree with all of you ;)

Her reasoning is it all comes from the government, so its all the same! She is just bitter about her situation- 4 kids, food stamps, wic, etc, etc.

just have put this in there. :teehee
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/davidsgirrl/wicsandwich.jpg

FTR, of course I agree with all of you ;)

Her reasoning is it all comes from the government, so its all the same! She is just bitter about her situation- 4 kids, food stamps, wic, etc, etc.

well, then by her logic, the military itself is welfare. since our paychecks come from tax dollars:rolleyes

just have put this in there. :teehee
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/davidsgirrl/wicsandwich.jpg

:roflmao:roflmao

I figured someone might ask about the WIC sammie so I figure why not just put it out there. :rofl

LMAO @ the WIC sandwich!!

Thats what I said Donna, that I guess I am "living off the government" then!

Oh and can someone tell me- is the term Welfare not PC anymore? Because all I hear in this other debate is "assistance"- isn't "assistance" welfare?

That is just ridiculous IMO.BAH is a benefit of a JOB,not just a handout like welfare is.

Yep. IMO we earn BAH and comes with the job.:yes

Oh and can someone tell me- is the term Welfare not PC anymore? Because all I hear in this other debate is "assistance"- isn't "assistance" welfare?
I still say welfare, but it's probably not PC anymore.

:rofl I hate PC crap sometimes. It's still Welfare, just some people are ashamed and want to call it something with less of a stigma.

Errr.. if a job requires you to move to the endless corners of the earth, I think it's a bit reasonable to help with housing. It's not like we can commute to the Army from our old apartment in NH. It's just another part of their income. It wouldn't make sense to pay for housing if it were available for free for other couples who live on-post.

Errr.. if a job requires you to move to the endless corners of the earth, I think it's a bit reasonable to help with housing. It's not like we can commute to the Army from our old apartment in NH. It's just another part of their income. It wouldn't make sense to pay for housing if it were available for free for other couples who live on-post.

:giggle Come on gas prices are so reasonable and its not that bad of a commute :giggle

Methinks your friend is one sandwich short of a picnic.

:giggle

:lmao So true! They figure out how much to pay for the basic salary knowing there is BAH too! If there wasn't BAH, DB would be making waaay less then me and his job has triple the hours, much more difficult work AND his life is at risk. Plus, he has a college degree on top of tons and tons of training for his job that SHOULD be compensated for.

He is qualified for BAH. Its not a handout.

LMAO @ the WIC sandwich!!

Thats what I said Donna, that I guess I am "living off the government" then!

You're/we are not living off the government! We work for the government. Lord knows they receive a huge benefit from us. A one way street this is not!

(I know you're joking. I just wanted to state the obvious)

well, then by her logic, the military itself is welfare. since our paychecks come from tax dollars:rolleyes

By her reasoning the PRESIDENT and CONGRESS are on welfare!

I can't even respond to that idiodic statement.

I am throwing the bullshit flag :)

That is just ridiculous IMO.BAH is a benefit of a JOB,not just a handout like welfare is.

:yes

So according to your friend, I'm still a welfare mom? :screwy
Dang and here I thought I moved up a little in the world. :giggle

So...according to her logic, the president is on Welfare??

LOL! That is AWESOME!

I am sure that is a great way to make herself feel better about her horrible choices!

By her reasoning the PRESIDENT and CONGRESS are on welfare!

Dang...I should have read everything before I posted! :giggle

So...according to her logic, the president is on Welfare??

LOL! That is AWESOME!

I am sure that is a great way to make herself feel better about her horrible choices!

Hey now, no reason to be mean about the fact that she needed a little extra help. No one knows the circumstances that brought her to need welfare, and it's unfair to call her choices horrible when you don't even know basic facts about her life.

No...not meant to be mean at all...But it does sound like she is VERY resentful of the situation that she has put herself in...

Hence why she is trying to make herself feel better.

We all make mistakes, but OWN them, don't rationalize by saying that she is the same as a military family...

What I'm saying is she didn't have to have made mistakes to be on welfare. She's obviously a little ashamed and bitter about it, but that doesn't mean she made horrible mistakes. It also doesn't mean that a military family is any bit higher calibre than she is, just that they are in completely different situations. I just found that to be kind of judgemental, not sure if it was meant to be that way.

So it is a plan to end up on welfare?

Or we make mistakes and need help?

Whether the mistake be picking the wrong guy, or the wrong job, or not going to school...

I feel like if you are on welfare, then yes along the way some mistakes where made.

I do not think that we are on a higher caliber per say, but I do think that there is a huge difference between welfare and the military.

What about people whos husbands cheat and leave or someone who is a widow? I'm just saying you don't know that woman's circumstances so while yes she may have made mistakes which caused her to be a single mother of 4 children, it doesn't necessarily have to have been circumstances she could control at all. Get what I'm saying? The only one who knows is Genna. :D

I get what you are saying, I just do not agree that something like that could not have been helped at one time or another...

A cheating husband...well she picked the wrong guy. A widow, well they should have prepared with life insurance especially with four children.

I think that you are taking the word "mistake" as a judgment, I think that it is pretty much a fact that if you are in a place in your life where you need welfare, then somewhere along the line, mistakes where made.

A mistake does not necessarily have to be something that you did on purpose either...It could very well be something that you could not foresee...hence the saying " hindsight is 20/20"

Ah I see what you're saying. :D

Waaaay different. BAH helps compensate, especially when you move and helps amke it easier to find a new place, especially since many places want the security of knowing they will get their money and whatnot, and we mve alot. I also think that BAH is a sort of compensation for everything we all put up with, depolyments, moves, long hours, lonely nights, etc...

So it is a plan to end up on welfare?

Or we make mistakes and need help?

Whether the mistake be picking the wrong guy, or the wrong job, or not going to school...

I feel like if you are on welfare, then yes along the way some mistakes where made.

I do not think that we are on a higher caliber per say, but I do think that there is a huge difference between welfare and the military.


I agree.. I recieved welfare for a couple months when my ex husband left me.. my mistake was marrying a douchebag.

I get what you are saying, I just do not agree that something like that could not have been helped at one time or another...

A cheating husband...well she picked the wrong guy. A widow, well they should have prepared with life insurance especially with four children.

I think that you are taking the word "mistake" as a judgment, I think that it is pretty much a fact that if you are in a place in your life where you need welfare, then somewhere along the line, mistakes where made.

A mistake does not necessarily have to be something that you did on purpose either...It could very well be something that you could not foresee...hence the saying " hindsight is 20/20"

Though I see what you are saying, but I truly hope you never ever find yourself between a rock and a hard place. Sometimes things are easier said than done.

Though I see what you are saying, but I truly hope you never ever find yourself between a rock and a hard place. Sometimes things are easier said than done.


I've been there and had to collect welfare and food stamps. I understand what she is saying.. she isn't putting people down.. but like she said.. most people don't set a goal of being on welfare.. something goes wrong along the way that causes it. ie: a mistake.. even if it's not a mistake you can control it's still come sort of mistake.

Um, I guess if you stretched it as far as saying that if most soldiers didn't get BAH they would have to be on welfare. :lol But really, no, it's a part of the salary. Although I disagree with whoever said that it isn't the same thing because it isn't a handout like welfare is. The welfare program was reformed back in the 90's and you have to have a job to get welfare almost everywhere now unless you were recently fired, and then your benefits are dependent on why you were fired and what you are doing to find a new job during your unemployment period. So, welfare isn't a handout for people who don't work.

It just sounded like its so easy to not have things happen to people and to always have an answer.

Though I see what you are saying, but I truly hope you never ever find yourself between a rock and a hard place. Sometimes things are easier said than done.

Absolutely. That's why we have social service safety nets like welfare unemployment compensation, WIC, food stamps. These things are available to help people bridge the gap. It's unfortunate that with some, it seems to have become a lifestyle.

I teach the modern-day equivalent of Home Economics to at-risk middle schoolers. We were discussing the classroom budget one day, and the conversation branched off to where I buy my own groceries, and of course that got into the commissary, the local grocery stores, and prices. The girls looked at me incredulously and said "You pay for your groceries?"

I was so astounded at the question, I didn't know how to respond..... but I almost said "Yeah, and apparently I pay for yours too....."

*******************************************
Hmmmm.... edited to correct the part about unemployment compensation as a social service safety net..... UC is an insurance that is paid by the employee while they are working, so it's not really charity or handout or government cheese.

It just sounded like its so easy to not have things happen to people and to always have an answer.


i have no issues that she is on welfare and has 4 kids. shit happens and life sucks sometimes. but for her to go and somehow equate BAH as the same thing as welfare. to me is someone that is ashamed for the way her life as ended up and just wants more company.

Um, I guess if you stretched it as far as saying that if most soldiers didn't get BAH they would have to be on welfare. :lol But really, no, it's a part of the salary. Although I disagree with whoever said that it isn't the same thing because it isn't a handout like welfare is. The welfare program was reformed back in the 90's and you have to have a job to get welfare almost everywhere now unless you were recently fired, and then your benefits are dependent on why you were fired and what you are doing to find a new job during your unemployment period. So, welfare isn't a handout for people who don't work.

I said that.I know the welfare system has been reformed,but I still consider it a handout.I don't mean that in a negative way.For whatever reason a person or family cannot meet their needs,welfare helps with that-which IMO is a handout.All I meant was that a government program to aid people is in no way the same thing as BAH.

I agree.. I recieved welfare for a couple months when my ex husband left me.. my mistake was marrying a douchebag.
Thank you for getting what I was saying...

I've been there and had to collect welfare and food stamps. I understand what she is saying.. she isn't putting people down.. but like she said.. most people don't set a goal of being on welfare.. something goes wrong along the way that causes it. ie: a mistake.. even if it's not a mistake you can control it's still come sort of mistake.

Again...EXACTLY!

It just sounded like its so easy to not have things happen to people and to always have an answer.

Though I see what you are saying, but I truly hope you never ever find yourself between a rock and a hard place. Sometimes things are easier said than done.

How do YOU know that I have not had help from the government?? Having an answer for things does NOT mean that I do not understand that things do happen...BUT when things DO happen and you need help, there IS a reason.

I was on Medicare when I had my son, because I did not have insurance, and I was not working, and DH had not enlisted yet...That was TOTALLY my fault. I got pregnant, and was not able to take care of myself. LUCKILY I had some options for help, BUT getting pregnant was STILL my fault! Especially under the circumstances.

I admit that they were my mistakes, I do not rationalize them by saying well the military is using Medicare also, they have tricare. SO, no mistakes have been made on my part.

I said that.I know the welfare system has been reformed,but I still consider it a handout.I don't mean that in a negative way.For whatever reason a person or family cannot meet their needs,welfare helps with that-which IMO is a handout.All I meant was that a government program to aid people is in no way the same thing as BAH.

I see what you are saying. I guess I just don't see it as a handout when the government that you have been paying taxes to gives some of it back to you to help you through a rough patch.

I see what you are saying. I guess I just don't see it as a handout when the government that you have been paying taxes to gives some of it back to you to help you through a rough patch.

:yes

now.. is that a WIC sandwich? :teehee

:spitdrink

Competely two different things. To compare them is like comparing sheep to cows. One is an allowance to provide housing for yourself, and/or dependants. Welfare is assistance, temporary in most cases, governmental provision of economic assistance to persons in need. Welfare is income based and not available to all. I've been on food stamps, thankfully we didn't need monetary assistance, but it's there for the need, to assist, not as an allowance like BAH that is expected for being a family of four in the military. I don't look down on anyone that needs or is on welfare, but to compare BAH and welfare, is well, IMO ignorant of the difference the two have and the facts and elgibility of either one.

well if my 1400 dollars = her 200 in food stamps....

nope don't see it-- it is a benefit for being military--

Food stamps are not a "handout"-in fact, it is law now that unless you have children under 3(and are single), you cannot be elligible to receive foodstamps unless you work over 20 hours a week(more in some states).

BAH is the same as hotels being put on company expense accounts-the military requires you to move and work in different locales, so they provide the shelter.

Both are benefits the government gives to help out people in tough situations. I see the similarity, but the two are not even comparable. Not sure where your friend got this idea? :puzz

BAH is not the same IMO. It doesn't matter if you live in housing, own your house or rent, you are still using your BAH to pay. If you live in the housing to where you forgo your BAH you are really "renting" from them if you think about it. You are just forgoing your entire BAH to live there....hence rent. IMO.

Edited to add that honestly if they weren't going to be providing housing etc and allowances for us they'd increase our pay to cover the cost of living IMO. But hey who really knows.

I don't think it's the same at all. I can understand why she went on welfare but Bah and foodstamps are 2 different things entirely.

Not the same thing at all IMO. I see BAH as just a part of his paycheck. If you took it away then he would be making hardly anything a year for all of the hours he puts in. Its not assistance, its something that he works for and earns.

Thought I'd update you guys~ This girl is STILL sticking strong to her ignorance that our extra pays are really "assistance"- this was my response to her:


Alright, you really are just pissing me off- you obviously like to bring everybody down with you- our PAYCHECK is NOT WELFARE. People receive welfare because they can't pay their bills. We receive housing allowance as par of our PAYCHECK because of the JOB my husband does. You are indeed "ragging" on the military because you are implying that our husbands don't work a good enough job to support our families. I am DAMN proud of my husband for the job he does, and for someone to imply that we are receiving welfare because of his job is INSULTING. I'm sorry your obviously bitter about your situation, but don't try and compare yourself to the Amazing men and women in the Armed Forces who are making sure YOU have the right to be so entitled to your "assistance".