Octuplets' mother receives public assistance [UPDATED]

Nadya Suleman, the woman who gave birth to octuplets last month, is receiving $490 a month in food stamps, and three of her first six children are disabled and receiving federal assistance, her publicist confirmed to The Times.

Publicist Michael Furtney confirmed the information after two sources told The Times that Suleman was receiving food stamps and federal supplemental security income.

Suleman had told NBC News correspondent Ann Curry in an interview that she was not receiving welfare. Furtney said Suleman didn't consider the food stamps and SSI to be welfare.

“In Nadya’s view, the money that she gets from the food stamp program ... and the resources disabilities payments she gets for her three children are not welfare," he said. "They are part of programs designed to help people with need, and she does not see that as welfare."

Furtney declined to say what kinds of disabilities the three children have. Nadya Suleman told NBC that she was struggling financially to support her six children before the birth of her octuplets, but that she knows she will be able to support them, especially after she earns her master’s degree in counseling.

"I will feed them," Suleman said in the interview, responding to criticism that she would have difficulty providing emotional and financial support for them. "I will do the best I possibly can. In my own way, in my own faith, I do believe wholeheartedly that God will provide in his own way."

[Updated:

--Jessica Garrison and Garrett Therolf

Photo credit: NBC

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Comments

[hahaahah]

Her publicist trying to cover up the lie is hilarious.

“In Nadya’s view, the money that she gets from the food stamp program ... and the resources disabilities payments she gets for her three children are not welfare. They are part of programs designed to help people with need, and she does not see that as welfare."

So if welfare isn't designed to help people with need, then what is it? Money for the rich? What a blatant lie by the publicist too.

[SS]

I think it's time for our country to really have the discussion about responsible family planning. How selfish is it of this woman to want to have as many children as she wants, while both putting taxpayers on the hook to help sustain her choice and diminishing the quality of life her children could enjoy? Given the state of our economy -- brought to its knees by a narcissistic, I-can-have-whatever-I-want mentality -- I think such a discussion would be wholly appropriate.

[Frieda O]

What else has she been lying about?

[Sarah]

This woman is clearly mentally ill and on top of that, a liar and a thief.

Get those children out of there.

[turkey]

well maxwell, you and i are paying to feed these kids whether we like it or not. Bad as it may sound, maybe she does need a Jon and 8 plus Kate TV show so that she can earn a living....and not depend on taxpayers. did the drs. not know she was mentally unstable when they did this. What a crime and a shame for the kids.

[hahaahah]

Her publicist trying to cover up the lie is hilarious.

“In Nadya’s view, the money that she gets from the food stamp program ... and the resources disabilities payments she gets for her three children are not welfare. They are part of programs designed to help people with need, and she does not see that as welfare."

So if welfare isn't designed to help people with need, then what is it? Money for the rich? What a blatant lie by the publicist.

[isis]

Nadya seems intent on making her mother pay for raising her as an only child. At least the children won't inherit Nadya's plastic lips.

[KV]

this woman -and this situation-is SUCH a disaster, it;s almost like the powers that be hired her to distract us from the REAL issues in the world!

[John McKenzie]

The doctor who performed the procedure for fame should be responsible for caring the children until they are 18 years old. This doctor will make millions of dollars in the near future and so he must pay for them.

[Mary Ann]

And federal Law states if babies are born under a certain weight they qualify for SSI payments until they are re evaluated. It goes by parent income of which she has none . So now the system can pay SSI for almost all the kids and more for food stamps.

[Lola Cornwell]

Clearly the focus should be PROSECUTING or taking the medical license of the horrendous doctor(s) that implanted 8 embryos into the uterus of an unemployed, welfare recipient with ZERO means to care for the most basic needs of these children. Should we have laws to stop unethical doctors from engaging in this type of activity. And, there should be some legal means to deal with this SICK, SICK and right down mean woman who has may have used tax payer money to pay for physical enhancement surgeries for her while her elderly mother went bankrupt on taking care of SIX other kids. Her mother was quoted as saying she and her husband had financially taken care of the six kids and did not know this woman was getting state money. AN INVESTIGATION DOES need to take place. Where is the Attorney General?
What a bad mother, this must be neglect per se under the law to the existing six and the new 8 kids! Having no job, six kids already living with ma it is totally forseeable that the six kids would suffer deprivation of basic needs and lack of appropriate care and that not having a job, nor financial resources saved up she would not be able to take care of 8 more children. Can the attorney general take the medical license of the doctor and yest take these 14 kids away from this awful human being and put them in caring homes with more resources. This is all manufactured by sick people with access to advanced medical technologies!

[Dave]

How is this mother going to be able to get a masters degree? When will she have time to even study for a masters? Is she mentally together?

[Working Retired]

Actually, there is a positive side to this.

Let's start the initiative for "Nadya's Law"...decreasing welfare for each child born after applying for aid...Three strikes & you're out !

[Collins]

Does her publicist get 10% of the $490 per month?

[JG]

A more important question... What's with the Angelina Jolie wanna be looks?

[James Wilson]

This lady is a monster in wolves clothing. She needs to be locked up in an institution and the key thrown away. Her kids need to be put up for adoption as soon as possible. Her "welfare" that she said she didn't know anything about should be taken away. If she is that stupid to have these kids, then we should not subsidize them. As matter of fact, there should be a law that says you must prove that you can take care of a child before you have one. What an idiot.

[Disgusted]

First of all, Workman's Comp needs to investigate her for fraud. If you have a serious back injury then the last thing you do is go and have 14 kids. Obviously she wasn't in that much pain. If she is able to carry that many babies then she is able enough to go to work. Second, Child Services needs to thoroughly investigate her to see if she is even mentally competent and physically capable of raising these kids. They need to assess the living conditions. You cannot possible crowd 3 adults and 14 kids into a 3 bedroom home. They need to take these babies away from her and adopt them out to real couples that can't have kids. This woman is selfish and is only thinking of dollar signs. She knew exactly what she was doing when she filed for workmans comp. She also knew that it wouldn't last forever so she got pregnant with her first litter. But wait! If I have a crapload more babies then I can be on tv like those other people and get even more money and free stuff too! Maybe even a brand new house and a brand new car!! So what if I can't handle all of them, sheez with all of the money I get I'll just hire a bunch of nannies!

[dicky dickerson]

Does anybody know if the donor has any financial responsibility. someone told me he still has to pay child support. i think this situation is sad all the way around she was better off keepin her big mouth shut

[Herb Michelson]

Her real name is Gutierez so they have changed their name to Suleman not to be stereo typed.

[Jim in Pasadena]

The mom obviously has mental issues, the Beverly Hills doc, not so much. How much more irresponsible, greedy and dangerous could this idiot be? He reportedly implanted 6 embryos, 3 times as many as recommended in a woman he knew could carry, possibly endangering the life of his patient and the fetuses. Some experts say some of these kids will have lifelong health problems and disabilities related to extremely permature birth. She had to fill out all those standard forms, so he knew she was single, her income consisted of disability and welfare, and with the history of 6 prior kids, he probably knew she lived with her parents in a 3 bedroom house.
These procedures are elective, so he had no legal obligation to accede to her wishes just because she could pay his fees, But he went ahead anyway, why? This clown should have his license pulled for malpractice, be billed and sued by the HMO for expenses, and vilified and condemned in the court of public opinion so no doctor would ever again consider doing such an irresponsible thing.

[Tracy]

Actually, She does not need a Jon and Kate plus 8 show. That is what she was hoping for. She needs to learn a hard lesson and have to realize the choice she made. She needs to have to worry about buying diapers,food,clothing etc. It is kind of funny.....She is one to say she will not take "welfare" but I don't see her turning away all the free diapers, clothes, cribs etc that good hearted people and companies are dishing over. I think she did this to make her mark in the TV world. I personally wish they would cancel Jon and Kate plus 8. I could see if they had their children naturally but they also used invetro twice. They live for the perks, freebies, free vacations....all of it. It seems now as if that show is about Kate instead of the kids. Look at Maddy acting out. It is a cry for help. Could it be that Nayda was hoping for the same deal as Jon and Kate got? PROBABLY!!!!! I feel really sorry for her mother. She raises the 6 grand children already. I love the parenting skills of Nayda......she got out of the hospital and instead of picking up her 6 children and sharing the excitement , spending time with her children or cleaning her house.....She ran off to do an interview! WOW to go....Octuplets Mother of the Year Award

[indenvernow]

She is beyond revolting. And the CNN interview was definitely a mistake, if she thought it would help garner some empathy. If anything, you end up disliking her even more.

I thought I heard the CMA was investigating her fertility specialist for ethics abuses (for implanting so many embryos). Wonder what will come of that?

[Bud]

This story just gets better and better...

[Ruby Jackson]

No matter what we all think about this freeloading nutcase, let's remember NOT ONE of those fourteen children ASKED to be brought in to this world. They are not guilty of fleecing the system, they are not guilty of irresponsible behavior. They are all innocents, and we should all take a minute to say a prayer for them. Their life will not be easy because of both circumstance and notoriety. Make sure all our thoughts and comments are directed at the mother, not the children. They had nothing to do with this mess.

[Mary]

The sadest part of all of this is that the news outlets WILL pay her for interviews and likely a reality show as well. She will get exactly what she wants which will lead to other unstable women to follow in her footsteps.
What a sad thing, have babies and take hardworking tax payer's money, lie about it, have eight more children, take even more and then get paid interviews and heavens knows what else.