'Freebies' aren't free

Regarding Mary A. Craig's Dec. 15 letter “Trade assistance for higher wages?”:

I can assure her that people on public assistance do understand that higher income means no more “freebies.” I also want to tell Craig that those “freebies” aren't free. Applying for any kind of assistance requires lots of paperwork and lots of documentation.

Plus a work search. Plus scheduled meetings with a case worker. This all takes time. And inevitably some of it will require taking time off work.

Most able-bodied adults receiving assistance do have jobs.

But the highest cost is the shame of having to accept government help and the necessity of keeping it a secret to avoid retaliation from ignorant people who think needing help is worse than stealing. Bottom line, taxpayers (that's all of us, even those receiving government assistance) don't need to be subsidizing stingy employers and then taking it out on their underpaid employees.

Jacqueline

R. Smetak

Lone Tree