From Six-Figure Salaries To Food Stamps

CBS Evening News: Even The Solidly Middle Class Turning To Welfare After Losing Jobs

(CBS)  Since the recession began at the end of 2007, jobs in this country have been vanishing at an alarming rate - more than 11,000 a day.

More than 13 million Americans are now officially unemployed, and as CBS News correspondent Sandra Hughes reports, that's putting some in an unfamiliar and difficult position: turning to the government for help.

Andrew Balzer never thought he would be standing in line for food stamps.

After working in the corporate world as a staff recruiter, he was laid off in November. He had a six-figure income. Now he has a case worker.

"The household income is just unemployment: $950 every two weeks," he told the case worker recently.

That's the limit for unemployment: $1,900 a month to support his wife Michelle, and daughters Brandi, Bailey, Shasta and Skylar.

He's already six months behind on his $3,100 mortgage, and one of his two cars has been repossessed.

"It's been very tough," Balzer said. "Can't lie. It's been very stressful."

The family is hopeful they'll get the full $800 a month offered through the food stamp program.

It's hard to get help, being in the middle class. It really is," Michelle Balzer said.

Throughout Los Angeles, public assistance offices are overflowing with the newly needy. In one suburban location, there are now more than 3,000 requests for help every month. That's a 20 percent increase over this time last year.

"These are mostly people who are really hard working people. They don't want to depend on the system but don't have a choice," said welfare worker Tina Kolgian. "They want to survive."

While applications are up, so are rejections. The county denied more than 18,000 food stamp applications in February, up 14 percent from a year ago. Current rules make qualifying for help almost impossible if you own a car or have a small amount of savings. There are calls to loosen those rules temporarily.

"We're looking at corporations, banks, insurance companies that have gotten a bailout that have been doing very well," said L.A. County Supervisor Gloria Molina. "What were saying here - let's help the middle class. They need a bailout right now."

After four trips, fingerprinting, hours of interviews, and mountains of paperwork, Balzer got a food stamp card, but only for $393 a month.

"It's very nice to have. It definitely would help," he said.

Meanwhile he's home working at the hardest job he's ever had - finding one.

[Wastedyrs]

So because you think people are looking down on you when you're in a store using food stamps it's OK to ASSUME that is what they are thinking?
I love how people on here think that 100k is some huge salary. Maybe you need to make it so you can learn about getting into a higher tax bracket.
There's a reason even your liberal politicians choose over 200k as the people they tell you they're going to raise taxes on and it isn't because 100k means you're rich.

But take heart, you don't have to worry about him making 100k anymore. Now your taxes can help pay for him. Have fun at work tomorrow. There's more like him coming your way.

[fdx22]

The article says 11,000 jobs lost per day in America. Where do those jobs go to? China and India for cheap labor.
All thanks to our federal government's trade policies.

[LauraRich]

Yuppies SHOULD be able to collect food stamps:
http://www.recessionwire.com/2009/03/17/should-yuppies-take-food-stamps/

The question of whether yuppies should take food stamps is touchy and on Recessionwire, we've given it lots of thoughts -- two of our co-founders actually come at it from different views, one says it's okay (she says this over lunch at Nobu), the other is overcome by middle-class guilt.
http://www.recessionwire.com/2009/04/03/yuppies-and-food-stamps/

From the looks of the discussion on this board, seems like this topic ain't going away any time soon, especially as more people in all levels lose their jobs and livelihoods, unfortunately.

[blindersoff]

I hope he's trying to sell the house. Holding a $3100 monthly mortgage is the worst thing he can do. Hopefully he has gone to the bank and made some type of modification. I always knew the unemployed are people like him who wants to work. I don't know who all these "deadbeats" are people are talking about. I'm sure they exist, but were already on welfare before we began losing all of these jobs.

[curson4life]

Let's all hope that this administration's policies will turn the momentum of our financial woes. There are too many people who are continuing to lose jobs, homes and homes. For anyone who might need assistance finding a job, please visit http://www.freegovtjobs.com for access to vacant government jobs located across the United States. Good luck everyone.

[rose5077]

Well it sound like this man educated himself and landed a job that paid off, then he loses it. That is scary, because we are not heading for your either rich or your poor. When people who went to school to learn a skill are starting to lose their jobs, then we are heading for a massive resession. We can thank President Bush, a retiree in Texas making coffee for his wife. Hey guys, when the educated start losing their jobs and joining our rankings, we are in serious trouble. It not a time to say welcome to the club!
It is a BIG BIG wake up call!

[ToolMangler1]

Try to survive in another country James... since you have no real world survival skills, you would be killed and eaten in a very short time.
Posted by Kalvin007 at 11:08 AM : Apr 19, 2009




I can survive in any country in the world that does not care what my Religion, Race or Politics are.

[Kalvin007]

capitalism breeds socialism. you americans not to smart and get to upset about little thing.
Posted by Marmarv at 5:15 PM : Apr 18, 2009

Dearest Dimwit:
If you are going to insult us, please at least do it using proper grammar and spelling.
Posted by JAMESC2002 at 6:09 PM : Apr 18, 2009

Dear James, I'm almost positive Marmarv (aka Dimwit to you) is smarter than you. How many languages do you speak or are able to write? Marmarv is right on target. We as American have become so spoiled we get upset about little things. Try to survive in another country James... since you have no real world survival skills, you would be killed and eaten in a very short time.

Regards,

K

[debinok1]

And people laugh at me when they find out that I do not own my home, I do not drive a new car, only have one tv, one dvd player, still have a home phone and my son does not have every gadget known to man. Yet if I lose my job, I have enough saved up to live on until I could find another job. My car wont be repoed, it was paid in full the day I drove it off the lot. My apartment (less than 900 sq feet) works just fine. The landlord was wise enough to pay them off before he turned a profit, so he isn't in danger of foreclosure. I plant a container garden of vegetables every year and can the excess. I cook 95% of our meals from scratch. Both of these people are unemployed, they have plenty of time on their hands to plant a garden, seeds are not expensive. Going back to some of the old ways is probably a good idea for most people.

[blitzder]

Remember, Bush acted with full support of the majority of Democrats in Congress.
Posted by weedapeapl at 1:36 PM : Apr 18, 2009

In fact the majority only supported Bush, since it was going to war (undeclared) and the Dems simply wanted to show a united front for the sake of the troops. Don't twist events to suit your agenda.

By the way, Obama warned against the war.

[OPlz]

Are we supposed to feel sorry for this guy? I would LOVE to make $950 every two weeks.

[legacyabq]

oops, I mean "shrewd" hehe, not a small undergground animal LOL

[legacyabq]

To some that was an unpatriotic act and to others it was incredibly shrewd. Whatever people believe is of no interest to me because I know what my life would be like had I stayed.
Posted by expatriate2 at 10:10 AM : Apr 18, 2009


I think it was shrew... Can I visit you? : )

[valh1]

Sell anything you can live without. Put the kids on free lunch in public school. Let your house go. You can repair your credit in 7 years. The time flies by. Get a cheap apartment or move in with the grandparents. Live on rice and beans and ramen (it's like 15 cents a pack). Grow a garden. Find a government job and ride a bike to work. You may be miserable but you will make it and hey, be thankful you aren't living in a hut in Africa like our president's brother.

[rsmik]

A six figure income doesn't entitle anyone, especially a "staff recruiter" aka headhunter, whose own employment is always subject to the ups and downs of the stock market, to take out a 3k mortgage and two car leases without substantial savings. I don't feel sorry for this guy, he obviously lived way beyond his means. There are plenty of people taking whatever job they can get right now, and he and his wife should be looking for whatever work they can get, not handouts.

[aka_KJB]

People, this is getting really old. All of you "it's Obama's fault" and the "uh-uh, it was a that doody-head Bush's fault" are all just a bunch of hypocritical sheeple, being led by the nose by your Limbaugh's or whoever else is whispering in your ears. Here's a thought - let's stop complaining about who (like it was all one person - there were plenty of jerks lining their pockets) got us in this mess and concentrate on fixing it. Great, we sent Madoff to jail and we've got our public pound of flesh. Now let's get on with it, okay?

[NancyLou9]

"When fascism comes to America, it wil be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross" Now they are at the gates. Posted by johndevinejr
______________________________________________________________

They are no longer at the gates, they are in the White House....Obama, Emmanuel, Axelrod, Summers........
Posted by azirine at 11:48 AM : Apr 18, 2009

FASCISM? WHAT DO YOU REALLY KNOW ABOUT FASCISM? A word you read about and only have seen on films. YOU ARE A JOKE AND A LOSER! LOOK IN THE MIRROR and what do you see? LOSER! ALL OF YOUR PATHETIC LIFE! Even you woman, if you have one, thinks so.

FASCISM is drapped in the cloak of your racist right-wing tea-bagger, chewing tobacco, SWINE EATING, ANTI-EDUCATIONAL A.S.SES! RELIGIOUS FREAKS!! That is why there is NO REPUKLICAN PARTY! Only those from the loser state of TEXAS and the backwater towns.
Posted by thedarkgod at 12:06 PM : Apr 18, 2009
****************************************************************

WOW! I think someone's medication just ran out. Do you need to call your doctor? That's okay, we'll wait.

Jeez Louise,,, What a bunch of spew.

[incog-nito]

Obama is no different than recent U.S. presidents:

1) Retained all the powers Bush gave to himself.

2) Bailed out big corporations while doing little for regular people.

3) Said he will withdraw from Iraq but then increased troops in Afghanistan. His withdrawal timetable is really not all that different from Bush's.

4) Announced that we will not torture (so did Bush) but declined to prosecute or even investigate past abuses.

Any other changes are cosmetic. The U.S. government is fundamentally beholden to Corporate America only, not the American people.

[weedapeapl]

I'm confused here, how many of our troops died invading Iraq under Clinton?
Posted by rednomo at 1:12 PM : Apr 18, 2009

After all the liberals blaming Reagan for "starting" trickle down, which was then "adopted" by Clinton, I'd think the same logic applies to who "started' the WMD lie rather than who happened to be president when Congress "adopted" Clinton's WMD lie and gave Bush their full support to go to war with Iraq.

Remember, Bush acted with full support of the majority of Democrats in Congress.

[debinok1]

SAVINGS? OF COURSE, IDIOTS! How do you think this guy is taking care of himself and five members of the family. $1900 a month is a joke! Whats more, YOU CANNOT GET HELP (FOOD STAMPS) IF YOU HAVE A CAR? WHAT ASSININE C.RAP IS THAT?

Posted by thedarkgod

The car rule is typical of most states. If you own outright a car less than five years old, you automatically do not qualify for any assistance., Same rules apply for owning a home outright, if it is paid for you do not qualify for most assistance. Even the elderly who need assistance must sign all future profits of the sale of a home over to the state to get help.