Those on state or federal aid?

before i retired in order to keep my job i had to take random drug tests
those on welfare and ssi and ssa are not required to any such screening what are your thoughts on this

I think anyone that is on government help should have to do drug screenings once or twice a month. Why give money to those that dont' deserve it.

People always want something for nothing...and they get it. They know how to work the system.

I have mixed feelings about the money that is supposed to go to kids though..but if parents were tested and found to have a problem..there might not be so many mixed up kids out there now. They should be forced to go to counseling and job training. There is no reason everyone can't do something...even if it is picking up trash.

Not all jobs require drug tests, and although I'm against the use of drugs, I think random testing is an invasion of privacy.

If someone seems a bit off, they should be eligible for selective testing, but with regulations to prevent the tests from becoming a form of discrimination and harassment.

The sad truth is that there has never been a society in the history of humankind where drugs have not been a problem. The only thing we can do is support those who are ready to come clean and educate our youth.

However, federal aid is meant for people who have no other means of income. I think the media hypes up the extent to which it is being abused. While it's true some people do abuse the system, we can still afford it AND a war in Iraq, so it's really not breaking the system the way everyone would have you believe.

Within those parameters, I think it's totally cool to help out our brothers and sisters who are hit with the economic recession. If someone has a drug problem, it should be dealt with via the legal system and not survivability discrimination.

The government would have to pass law's to include drug testing onto ssi or ssa rules and regulations, and that could take maybe 10 or 20 years at the rate they go. Also it would not make voters very happy.

A company sets their own work policies and the government does not regulate them. Thus they can set the rules pretty much any where they want them.

It's not right nor logical, but who said anything has to be logical. Go figure.

(Starts off with a tongue-in-cheek jab) Sounds like you might still be in need of those tests...let's start with you...since it's YOU who thinks the rest of us are in need of testing. Oh course, YOU will be footing the bill for all the testing, right?

SSI & SSA are not aid! When people work, they & their employers both pay into the "fund" & are awarded monthly benefit payments when it becomes necessary & they can no longer be employed due to injury (physical & mental).

Welfare & food stamps are not a part of SSI, SSDI, or SSA BENEFITS.

In order to receive SSI, or SSDI, a person must qualify by having work credits or work history & they must first complete EXTENSIVE medical & psychological evaluations. If they have a drug or alcohol problem, it will be dealt with at the time of their ASSESSMENT & discussed by a panel of medical professionals.
SSA has it's own qualifications based on work credits & age.

It would be nice if RANDOM TESTING could be used to force people into getting help for their addictions, but the ACLU & Congress says that's a violation of their civil rights!

And who is going to pay for these tests and why would we need them in the first place. Anyone with drug convictions cant get TANF or even food stamps and drug related disabilities arent covered under disability qualifications.
If you feel that someone is cheating the system by using their benefits to buy drugs, you are free to call and report them.

I was on SSI (social security insurance) know what that means jerk, it means I was sick. I had a broken back that wouldn't heal, I put in 37 years of work, probably longer then your alive so quit your complaining, it came from my account to start with, not yours. I'll never live long enough to collect everything I put in.
I was on pain management because I was a lost cause for help. So, what's your problem besides getting your facts straight.

I never heard of this before. Are you sure this is how it really is or did someone just tell you? I really have trouble with this. If it is true then I would be checking on it and finding out why.It isn't right if this is the case.

An employer can require drug tests to ensure that their employees are not impaired in their job performance.

I fail to see how a drug test is relevant to someone receiving retirement, family assistance or disability.

SSI is not money from the Social Security fund. It is from the General Fund and most certainly is welfare! SSI is for those who couldn't work or didn't care to.

I'm surprised by it, wondering when it began being required.

My first thought was this is none of my business, then I thought why shouldn't they have to be tested. Now I am just confused.

I have no problem with this. If you are drug tested then we Social Security recipients should too.