welfare student scam

Abby is a single mom who took advantage of a government sponsored study program for welfare recipients in order to get an education – but admits that being a welfare student is a bit of scam whichever way you look at it.

"One of the ways our government tries to help disadvantaged welfare recipients is to get them enrolled in some course," confides Abby. “Ostensibly, the theory is that once a person has an education they become employable, but the scheme is often just a cunning way to reduce unemployment figures and safeguard the careers of college and university staff; and a lot of welfare students are just wasting time on these courses.”

The advantage of studying when you're on welfare," says Abby, "is that you don't have to worry about supporting yourself. Also, you can choose your subject and it does not have to be related to any particular job. You can study ancient Greek if you want to."

"Also, you don't have to worry about guaranteed employment at the end of the course as most other people do," says Abby. "If you don't get a job at the end of the course then you are not going to be destitute -- you are still receiving welfare."

“The other advantage is that people who work full-time during the day and study part-time at night have a really bad time,” says Abby. “Their relationships suffer. Their health suffers. Inevitably, too, both their work and study suffers.

"The worst possible scenario for these people," says Abby, "is that they end up losing everything and having to apply for welfare. Ironic, isn't it?"

"As a welfare recipient," says Abby, "you have everything to gain by studying and nothing much to lose. If you score a good job, then you can pay your debt off. If you don’t, then the debt will just sit there and will get written off when you die!"

“Thanks taxpayers!”


Read more by Abby on this issue:

waitressing and student debt

menial first jobs