Seattle welfare recipient lives in million-dollar home

[Hum]

A Seattle woman who is receiving welfare assistance from Washington state also happens to live in a waterfront house on Lake Washington worth more than a million dollars.

Federal agents raided the home this weekend but have not released the woman or her husband's name because they have not officially been charged with a crime.

However, federal documents obtained by KING 5 News show the couple currently receives more than $1,200 a month in public housing vouchers, plus state and government disability checks and food stamps. They have been receiving the benefits since 2003.

The 2,500 square-foot home, which includes gardens and a boat dock, is valued at $1.2 million. And even though the couple has been receiving the benefits for nearly 10 years, records show that they accurately listed the address of their current home when applying for the state and federal benefits.

A federal official told KING 5 that the couple likely took advantage of a loophole, which allows low-income individuals to receive financial assistance to help them pay their rent and move away from housing projects. However, the law does not require officials to verify what type of home the benefits recipient is living in.

As if the million dollar home weren't enough, the supposedly low-income couple also gave money to various charities and traveled around the world to locales in Turkey, Tel Aviv and resort towns in Mexico, according to court records.

source & video

[Twiddle]

While what they did is a complete dick thing to do, it isn't their fault that the welfare agency can't be competent enough to do these checks and figure this **** out. And for 10 years....

[Muhammad Farrukh]

Welfare agency are the one to be blamed

[neufuse Veteran]

geez, my house is 4,000 sq ft and it feels small sometimes, and I paid NO where near that for it... I can't imagin over a million for 2,500 sq ft and then abusing the system

[Hum]

Hopefully, they will be kicked off the free money train, pronto.

[Glassed Silver]

[...]

The 2,500 square-foot home, which includes gardens and a boat dock, is valued at $1.2 million. And even though the couple has been receiving the benefits for nearly 10 years, records show that they accurately listed the address of their current home when applying for the state and federal benefits.

[...]

Problem, welfare?

Glassed Silver:win

[jerzdawg]

geez, my house is 4,000 sq ft and it feels small sometimes, and I paid NO where near that for it... I can't imagin over a million for 2,500 sq ft and then abusing the system

location is everything.

[Rippleman]

Welfare agency are the one to be blamed

its the offices fault these people defrauded the system? you sure?

[M_Lyons10]

While what they did is a complete dick thing to do, it isn't their fault that the welfare agency can't be competent enough to do these checks and figure this **** out. And for 10 years....

I agree. It's just a single example of a broken system really...

[Twiddle]

its the offices fault these people defrauded the system? you sure?

Yes. Both parties are at fault, but the welfare agency should have known about this, well before 10 years.

[Stoffel]

Shame on them.

It's because of people like this that the world is in such financial crisis.

They are not the only reason but the contribute to it

[majortom1981]

So they are renting this house then?

[Astra.Xtreme]

And here's yet another reason why this country is broke. I bet there are thousands and thousands of other people riding the same gravy train in similar situations.

It's so sad that this country can't accurately track where they are throwing money, but yet they are so quick to cut the cash flow of crucial programs like NASA. So sick. :no: