Vault: Is it wrong to take benefits you don't need?

Summary

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The Bert Show – Vault: Is it Wrong to Take Benefits You Don't Need?

Date: August 5, 2026
Host & Cast: Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy, and callers

Episode Overview

In this episode, the Bert Show tackles a divisive ethical dilemma: Is it wrong to accept government assistance programs like food stamps when you might not strictly need them? The conversation is sparked by an email from a listener worried that her coworker—with a full-time job—might be abusing the system to live beyond her means. The cast and listeners weigh in, exploring issues of judgment, privilege, and the motivations behind reporting suspected benefit fraud.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Listener's Dilemma: Reporting Suspected Abuse

• A listener emails the Bert Show seeking advice. She claims her coworker, whom she has never gotten along with, is receiving food stamps despite working full-time and recently purchasing a house that is double the rent of her previous apartment.
  • The boss was persuaded to write a letter to the state saying the coworker’s hours had been cut, though her pay remained unchanged.
  • Quote (Listener email): “It's killing me not to say something… I can't sit by and let her get assistance when it's not warranted.” (00:46)
• The listener faces a moral conflict: should she report this as fraud, or is it none of her business?

2. How Food Stamps Work & System Perceptions

• The Bert Show cast admits some confusion about exactly how food stamps are assigned:
  • Kristin: “I don't know how food stamps work.” (02:07)
  • Personal anecdotes arise, such as working as a grocery cashier and observing people who use food stamps despite appearing to have money.
    • Memorable Moment: “He opened up his wallet and he had this huge wad of big bills... at least $500 in his wallet.” (02:44, G)

3. Listener Reactions: Mind Your Business or Step In?

• Robin calls in. She strongly believes the original listener should not interfere:
  • Robin: “This lady needs to mind her damn business... she doesn't know this lady's full situation.” (03:12–03:45)
  • Robin argues that animosity colors the listener’s motivation: "This is out of spite."
• The cast debates whether it's possible to separate personal feelings from ethical obligations.
  • Host: “It does say... they haven't seen eye to eye in a long time. So you wonder maybe if she's looking at her a little more critically because they don't get along to begin with.” (04:21)

4. Reporting Suspected Fraud: How & Why

• Melissa calls in. She explains the process for reporting benefit fraud, encouraging anonymous reporting:
  • Melissa: “You can go on the Department of Human Resources website... send an anonymous tip and they'll investigate it.” (04:34–04:39)
  • Melissa recounts reporting someone herself and feeling justified: “At least you know you did the right thing...” (05:21)
• The cast expresses mixed feelings:
  • Cast: “I think anonymous [tipping] is a little cowardly.” (05:44, G)
  • They highlight how motivation—whether it's to “do the right thing” or out of “spite”—matters ethically.

5. Underlying Tension: Judgment, Jealousy, and Privilege

• The episode explores whether people judge others on benefits out of genuine concern or personal resentment.
  • Notable Quote: “She's being spiteful and nosy in my opinion. I pay my taxes. I understand what you're saying. ... But what is her motivation behind this?” (03:59–04:21, Robin)
• The conversation reflects broader anxieties about who “deserves” help, and how privilege and perception color these judgments.

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Memorable Quotes

• Robin (Caller) [03:15]:
  “This lady needs to mind her damn business... She doesn't know this lady's full situation.”

• Kristin (Host) [02:07]:
  “I don't know how food stamps work.”

• Melissa (Caller) [04:34]:
  “You can go on the Department of Human Resources website for Georgia, send an anonymous tip, and they'll investigate it... At least you know you did the right thing by turning them in.”

• Cast [05:44]:
  “I do think anonymous... I think it's a little cowardly, to be honest with you.”

• Cast [04:21]:
  “...they haven't seen eye to eye in a long time. So you wonder maybe if she's looking at her a little more critically because they don't get along to begin with.”

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Important Timestamps

• 00:46–02:03: Listener’s dilemma and details about the coworker’s situation.
• 02:10–02:53: Cast recall experiences with food stamps and perceptions of misuse.
• 03:12–03:59: Robin’s call advocating for minding one’s own business and highlighting the role of personal animosity.
• 04:32–05:30: Melissa shares how to report benefit fraud, describing her own experience.
• 05:44–06:16: Cast debates the ethics and motivations behind reporting anonymously.

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Conclusion

The episode unpacks a sensitive debate about government assistance, focusing as much on the ethics of judgment and reporting as on the specifics of benefit eligibility. The hosts and listeners explore whether it's ever right to “police” others’ decisions—especially when personal history and spite are involved—or whether it's better to trust that the system will catch abuses. The on-air discussion doesn’t yield easy answers, but instead, leaves listeners reflecting on their own values and biases.

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Transcript

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[E]

Birch Show all right, this is from the virtual listener that wants to know how to address this with A coworker says Good morning and you guys can call up with your advice if you got it. 404-741-Q100 I work in a small office and have been having issues with a co worker for over a year. We've never really been able to see eye to eye since our first day together. Mostly she's upset that I work from home half the week while she's here for long hours. Recently I had to cover her position for her for the morning and when I asked our other co worker why she was gone, I was told she is getting food stamps. Now, I have no problems with people who need food stamps, but she and her husband work full time. She's been living in an apartment and decided she no longer likes quote unquote apartment life so she went house hunting. I tried to help her find an affordable house because of the past year we've been receiving calls from creditors for her. She picked a house that is twice as much as her apartment now and got my boss to write a letter to the state saying her hours were cut. She's still getting paid the same amount as before and is basically getting assistance to live out of her means. It's killing me not to say something to her either way, my boss or the state. I can't sit by and let her get assistance when it's not warranted. Please help me.

[F]

So she's getting unemployment but she's employed is what it sounds like to me.

[G]

I don't know how food stamps work.

[H]

I don't either.

[E]

Me neither.

[G]

But I Do remember working? Yeah. At the Piggly Wiggly. Okay. I was a cashier at the Pig. And there was.

[F]

Hola.

[G]

Hello. What's up? And so we knew there are certain things at least at the time on food stamps that you could rank. You know, could. And there's some things that didn't qualify for food stamps. So I know the baby formula and different kinds of things to help new mothers out was a part of food stamps. But there's this one guy that came up and part of his grocery bill was the food stamp part. Right. And then he was buying cigarettes, which is not a part of the food stamp. At least it wasn't then. And he had to pull out cash for it. And he opened up his wallet and he had this huge wad of big bills in his. And I couldn't believe you're on food stamps. And he looked like he had at least $500 in his wallet.

[E]

Just.

[G]

And I was so frustrated by that because I thought there are people that really do need assistance. But then there are definitely people who take advantage of the system.

[E]

But I wonder if you don't really

[F]

wasn't making that money legally or at least wasn't reporting that money.

[G]

Right.

[F]

You know, whether it was a server or. Right. Whether it was illegal or whatever, you know.

[E]

404741Q100. Hey, Robin.

[I]

Hey. Hi. Virtual.

[E]

Hi.

[I]

This lady needs to mind her damn business. In my opinion. She doesn't know this lady's full situation. She doesn't know what's going on. And she's. The first thing she said was that they've been having problems with each other. This is out of spite. And if this lady is doing something wrong, she'll get caught. She'll get caught. So for her to know all this personal information and say she wants to go reporter. She needs to mind her damn business.

[H]

But it's again people taking advantage of the system. She's got a job and she just wants more stuff and bigger things. Why not just live comfortably in something smaller until you can finally afford it without having use the government's money or my money? Because my money goes to the government.

[I]

Absolutely agree with. And my money too. But you don't know this lady's situation. She's making all kind of assumptions. That's my point. That's my point. This is a co worker. Okay. So I mean she's being spiteful and nosy in my opinion. I pay my taxes. I understand what you're saying. I completely agree. But what is her motivation behind this?

[E]

Yeah. Because it does say in the first couple of lines there that they haven't seen eye to eye in a long time. So you wonder maybe if she's looking at her a little more critically because they don't get along to begin with.

[F]

Oh, definitely.

[E]

Here is Melissa. Good morning. You're on the Burt Show.

[J]

Good morning.

[E]

Good morning.

[J]

I was going to say that you can go on the Department of Human

[I]

Resources website for Georgia.

[J]

You can send an anonymous tip and they'll investigate it and find out, because I had to do that before.

[E]

Oh, you did.

[H]

You did. To a co worker?

[J]

No, to a friend.

[E]

What were they doing?

[J]

Not a friend, just an enemy. Someone I know.

[H]

Someone you didn't.

[G]

What were they doing to share blood with?

[J]

Food stamp fraud. Not a family member.

[E]

Now, it almost sounds like your situation is very much like this email. Was this a woman that you did not or a guy that you did not get along with?

[J]

Oh, I don't get along with her. And I know what she was doing was wrong.

[G]

So you reported her?

[E]

So you reported her?

[J]

Yes. And then they investigate it. And you don't have to do anything with the investigation.

[E]

Look, it's a cool thing. It's set up that way. Whatever the motive is gonna get busted.

[J]

You're gonna get something wrong, then it'll be. They'll be prosecuted. If they're not, then you don't have anything to worry about. But at least you know you did the right thing by turning them in.

[E]

Do you remember what the website was?

[J]

Yeah, you just go to the. I think it's DHR.gov or Georgia. DHR.gov and there's a link on there for. I think they have a whole department that handles investigation.

[E]

Wow.

[G]

I do think anonymous. I don't know. I think it's a little cowardly, to be honest with you. You know, that's okay. Where she's too.

[E]

Still, at the end of the day, if you're doing the right thing.

[G]

I know it depends on if you're doing the right thing. I think the first cut, like the house thing, buying a house, would have tipped me. If you're on food stamps and you're going house hunting. Yeah, that would tip me off a little bit. Like, wait a second. That's a red flag. But I see where the first colors. Like, if she's doing the right thing and not doing it out of spite, then I get it. But if she's just trying to be kind of spiteful. Spiteful.

[E]

Your motivation is wrong. But still, at the end of the day, it's all you got.

[F]

If they investigate her and she's doing something wrong, it's really that woman's fault, right?

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