Food stamps, free rent, and a fat tax refund — no job required!

By Jill Douglass  

Nevada News and Views

Are government programs meant to help people actually hurting our country in the long run?

Danielle Gallant, who has worked with Section 8 housing, described in a video how she’s seen people living in taxpayer-subsidized homes while also getting food stamps (SNAP), WIC, Social Security, and more.

Some, she says, aren’t working at all but are still collecting multiple benefits and even receiving tax refunds.

How Much Is Too Much?

Let’s start with what these programs are meant to do.

Section 8, run by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), helps low-income people pay rent. SNAP helps with groceries. WIC helps low-income women and young children.

These programs were created as a safety net.

When one person receives benefits from all of them at once, without working, it should raise a red flag.

Even more surprising is that some of these people may still get tax refunds. Thanks to policies like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), people with low or no income can qualify for thousands of dollars in refunds.

The EITC is supposed to reward work, but some recipients manage to qualify even with little-to-no actual earnings, especially when children are involved.

According to the IRS, the average EITC refund in 2023 was over $2,000. For families with three or more children, it could be as high as $7,430.

The Concern: Dependency

Helping people who are actually in need is one thing, but when someone is able to work and chooses not to because government programs make it easier not to, that’s a real problem.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines “welfare dependency” as receiving more than half of one’s income from programs like TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), SNAP, and SSI.

That’s not a temporary hand-up. That’s a lifestyle — and not a sustainable one.

What’s worse is that this cycle can pass from one generation to the next. Kids grow up seeing their parents live on government support and learn to expect the same for themselves.

Back in the 1990s, welfare reform under President Bill Clinton included work requirements for certain benefits. Over the years, those requirements have been rolled back in many states.

Today, some programs have no real work requirements at all.

Is Anyone Watching the Store?

Fraud is another major issue. The U.S. Sentencing Commission reports that fraud involving government benefits has jumped more than 90 percent since 2019.

That includes people lying about their income, where they live, or who’s living with them to get more money.

When you combine loose oversight with multiple overlapping programs, it’s no surprise some folks have figured out how to “game the system.”

What Can Be Done?

It’s time for common-sense reforms, including:

—Reinstating or strengthening work requirements

—Placing limits on how many programs a person can receive at the same time

—Conducting regular audits to catch fraud and abuse

—Making sure benefits are going to those truly in need

This isn’t about punishing poor people. It’s about protecting the taxpayers who fund these programs.

The video by Danielle Gallant wasn’t shocking to many who’ve worked in housing, social work, or government. It just confirmed what they’ve suspected for a long time: the system is being stretched and abused.

For the sake of fairness, for the sake of future generations, and for the dignity of work, it’s time to rethink how these programs are run.

America is a land of opportunity, not a land of endless handouts. It’s time our policies reflect that.

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Jill Douglass is chairwoman of the Clark County Republican Party.