where does the word pogy (social assistance) come from?

[brentw73]

just a question going around the office today?

anyone know where the word for social assistance (POGY) originated
from?

[Sheila]

I thought POGY was EI (Employment Insurance).

"brentw73" <bren...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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[Young Martle]

from urbandictionary;

Derived from the Scottish word "pogie" which means workhouse. A
workhouse being a place in the 1500's where beggars, children and
others unable to support themselves were sent to work and in turn be
taken care of.

[Carter]

Google your friend;

po⋅gey
  /ˈpoʊgi/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [poh-gee] Show IPA noun,
plural -geys, adjective
–noun
1. Slang. Also, pogy.
a. a package of food, candy, or other treats sent to a child at
boarding school, a person in an institution, etc.
b. candy or a treat.
2. Canadian Slang.
a. an institution maintained by private charities or government
funds for the housing of the aged, sick, orphaned, or
feeble-minded; an old-age home, charity hospital, orphanage, or
the like.
b. any form of charity or government relief.
c. unemployment insurance provided by the government.
–adjective Canadian Slang.
3. of, pertaining to, or obtained through charity or government
relief: pogey shoes.
Origin:
1890–95; earlier pogie workhouse < ?
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.

Carter

[Dion]

I thought pogy referred to unemployment cheque.

"brentw73" <bren...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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[Stormlady]

I believe it does, Dole is the slang for Social assistance.

"Dion" <d.re...@nf.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:4a268437$0$23779$9a56...@news.aliant.net...

[Uncle Mose]

On the pogie BY'E. Applies to the UIC system or EI system now. Get me
10 stamps and I'se good for 42 weeks by'e. This use to be the saying
where I came from in rural Newfoundland. It still exist to a certian
extent in Newfoundland and Labrador today. That whole idea of getting
enough stamps so you can take the rest of the year off. Having said
that there were plenty of men and women who had no other choice but to
do this as they had to survive the harsh winter when there was no work
to be had. Some took advantage of the system and I know many,
especially young people who would quit jobs here and on the mainland
after they got their necessary amount of stamps and then come home and
relax for 30 or 40 weeks. They didn't want to work any longer than it
took to get those few stamps. I think this is not a common as it used
to be. For one thing you need more than 10 weeks and you cannot draw
for as long. The system was never meant to be used in such a way but
it quickly became a way of life for many. It was ok for seasonal
workers but not the person who was to lazy to work more than the few
weeks it took to qualify. Yoyr View??