Octuplets mother Nadya Suleman says she's off food stamps, welfare

Octuplets mother Nadya Suleman said she is no longer receiving food stamps or other forms of public assistance for her 14 children.

The La Habra woman, who received worldwide attention when she gave birth to octuplets this year, said in an interview with NBC News that her family is not receiving any welfare benefits from California taxpayers.

She was pressed by NBC's Matt Lauer about the issue, and she repeatedly said she was receiving "zero" and "nothing" from the government.

There was some controversy when The Times revealed in February that Suleman was receiving food stamps and that some of her children received federal supplemental security income.

At the time, Suleman vowed to support her family on her own. She's been filming an upcoming reality TV show about her life. It's unclear how much money she is receiving for the production, but she told NBC she was covering all her child-rearing costs on her own. Experts have said Suleman probably also has incurred significant medical and hospital bills this year.

-- Shelby Grad

Photo credit: Associated Press

Comments

[TheBigPicture]

she's such an idiot...

America...the land of the misfits...they do stupid things and we the taxpayers pay for it...

[charlie]

i dont believe her. she is a stranger to the truth.

[jt]

I find it very hard to believe that this nutjob is able to support 14 kids, not to mention her regular lip injections, on just reality show money.

[jt]

I find it very hard to believe that this nutjob is able to support 14 kids, not to mention her regular lip injections, on just reality show money.

[Lilly]

Remember she did not consider SSI welfare? I do not believe her she is a parasite.

[Valerie]

Before last weekend, I was onboard the "Anti-Nadya Suleman" bandwagon. I encountered Ms. Suleman at our local Target - she had her 6 older children with her. I didn't really notice it was her until one of her kids dropped a toy from the shopping cart and my friend picked it up and handed it to to the mom - who turned out to be Ms. Suleman. She was very gracious, thanked my friend and continued loading her purchases on the belt. Two things struck me: I didn't notice a nanny or any other adult assisting her and her children were very well-behaved. I guess I felt compelled to post this comment because there is another side to this woman and her family that the tabloids don't always report/reflect.

[Valerie]

Before last weekend, I was onboard the "Anti-Nadya Suleman" bandwagon. I encountered Ms. Suleman at our local Target - she had her 6 older children with her. I didn't really notice it was her until one of her kids dropped a toy from the shopping cart and my friend picked it up and handed it to to the mom - who turned out to be Ms. Suleman. She was very gracious, thanked my friend and continued loading her purchases on the belt. Two things struck me: I didn't notice a nanny or any other adult assisting her and her children were very well-behaved. I guess I felt compelled to post this comment because there is another side to this woman and her family that the tabloids don't always report/reflect.

[California Working Mom]

I know this was written last month, but come on I am so bothered by this woman and her irresponsible ways. I feel so sorry for her children and not just the 8 babies.

I was told by a Kaiser Employee who I know well that while her 8 babies were in their care she hardly ever spent time with them and when she did it was only for photo ops (this information was also posted in the news, so it’s nothing new or private). Now I sincerely wish that someone would appoint a responsible person to watch over these 14 children so they are not exploited by their mother.