While in the military, my husband went to work in an office with midlevel oversight of a group of civilian employees. There was a lady who had been on "disability" leave for several years. My husband made it his mission to go through the German labor channels to get her back to work or off the payroll. It took him the better part of two years, but he was successful. She chose not to return to work. Yes, nice to get that nice US government check like clockwork and not have to work for it. I have instituted my own personal austerity measures. No money, no items, such as food, phone, gas for car, whatever I need at the moment with no money to pay for it!