~~Megeliza~~ Just a question....

r9stedt

*megeliza*:

I can't stand people who "use" public assistance and make no attempt to be able to support themselves. I'm talking the about the people who abuse it, have baby after baby because it's easy since someone else pays for everything.  But I will probably have to go on it myself to support LO and I while I finish school.  Just thinking about it makes me feel like a failure. 

Did you not get enough attention the day you posted this in a FFFC that you needed to make a whole separate post for this?

 

Just curious.    

Or are you trying to validate you yourself going on public support? 

carrieannew

I wish people did not believe all sterotypes and form opinions on them. But I think that will sadly always be the case.

I do agree with the posters who say it is extremely hard to abuse the system. Having been a single parent for over 12 years already, I have never been able to get free/reduced lunch, food stamps and only recieved WIC while I was not working right after Logan was born, and the same with my oldest. I just do not see how it is "easy".

 

DarthNBJenni

carrieannew:

I wish people did not believe all sterotypes and form opinions on them. But I think that will sadly always be the case.

I do agree with the posters who say it is extremely hard to abuse the system. Having been a single parent for over 12 years already, I have never been able to get free/reduced lunch, food stamps and only recieved WIC while I was not working right after Logan was born, and the same with my oldest. I just do not see how it is "easy".

 

The only abuse I've seen first hand is my ex-inlaws selling their WIC formula on Craigslist. But you know what? In the end some baby is going to benefit from that. 

carrieannew

DarthNBJenni:

The only abuse I've seen first hand is my ex-inlaws selling their WIC formula on Craigslist. But you know what? In the end some baby is going to benefit from that. 

I have seen that around here also, 10 cans of goodstart throws up a red flag to me. But you know what, someone is getting a discount that needs it.

My good friend gave me 10 plus cans a few months ago because her DD was done and she had them from WIC.

Also I do want to add I get daycare assistance, and I did with my daughter. But at 19 and making just above min wage it was the only way I was able to work. But I worked and managed. And now with Logan thank gosh the state picks up about 60% of my $1000 tab for daycare a month. Again I almost would not be able to work without it.

r9stedt

I even work with people who I see occasionally I feel like might be abusing the system .  However, those people are few and far between.   For the most part, people receive assistance while the times are really bad, or they are waiting on disability verdicts, etc.   I think that in some ways, new regulations that were passed last July in Kansas, were beneficial, but in others really were damaging to people.  Now they have the cut off for cash assistance and medical card for one year (in your LIFETIME).  Prior it was pretty much indefinite.    Fine and dandy for some situations, but for people are can declared disabled, the disability process in and of itself outlast that one year.  Or what if something happens when you are 25, need assistance, and thens omething happens again when you are 40?  You're just out of luck.

 

Okay, you see I could go on and on and on about this topic.

 

Side note-- you don't qualify for F/R lunches?!   I could qualify for WIC right now (never used it), and I do qualify for childcare (not using  as of September 30!).  I am grateful for assistance that has allowed me to stay on my feet during the past year. 

r9stedt

DarthNBJenni:

The only abuse I've seen first hand is my ex-inlaws selling their WIC formula on Craigslist. But you know what? In the end some baby is going to benefit from that. 

I know people that sell their food stamps.    Then I have to turn them in. 

*megeliza*

r9stedt:

*megeliza*:

I can't stand people who "use" public assistance and make no attempt to be able to support themselves. I'm talking the about the people who abuse it, have baby after baby because it's easy since someone else pays for everything.  But I will probably have to go on it myself to support LO and I while I finish school.  Just thinking about it makes me feel like a failure. 

Did you not get enough attention the day you posted this in a FFFC that you needed to make a whole separate post for this?

 

Just curious.    

Or are you trying to validate you yourself going on public support? 

 I didn't remember that I had posted this in a FFFC.  And no I'm not trying to validate myself going on public assistance, in fact I'm looking into getting a third job in order to avoid having to do this.  Simply thought I would spark some conversation, not start a witch hunt.

carrieannew

Nope. No free or reduced lunch. When it was just my daughter and I we lived in a city that per the website more than 70% of students qualified for free/reduced lunch. I was bringing home maybe $300 a week after taxes a week paying a $650 rent and did not qualify.

Now having 2 kids I checked again and I just make over too much. Same for WIC I make about $50 a week too much. But not having to buy 2 months of formula while I was out on leave with no pay was a huge benefit to me.

I think state programs that allow mothers to work are a godsent to me, anyways. But that is just me.

And I never want someoen telling me what I have to do to my body.

r9stedt

Carrie- I knew I liked you.  

I know in Kansas that rent/mortgage doesn't go into factor for assistance.  

LOL-- Can you tell I tell with assistance on an almost daily basis in my job?!    

carrieannew

r9stedt:

Carrie- I knew I liked you.  

I know in Kansas that rent/mortgage doesn't go into factor for assistance.  

LOL-- Can you tell I tell with assistance on an almost daily basis in my job?!    

Yes! But that just means you have knowledge and are not being just going off "opinion" which is another reason why I think your swell!

Back when I tried to get assistance I actually went down and applied. That process in itself is hard enough, then to be denied. But you know what, it just made me a stronger person.

 

r9stedt

Assistance is a hard process.  It is a very humbling process as well.   

 

Disability process is way  harder. 

achase123

I receive WIC for P's food (mostly whole milk, fruit, whole grains, cheese, pb, etc.).  They don't cover me anymore.  For this last year because I was EBF I got coupons for my nutritional needs.  Now that I have weaned him it's for him.  It does help though. 

However, I have to agree with R, it IS an extremely humbling process.  I get very embarassed using the coupons and some of the grocery clerks are just plain rude, as are patrons in the store.  I try to have everything in order as much as I can and move it along as quickly as possible but it still takes a little longer. 

I definitely appreciate that I qualify for a little bit of assistance but I certainly wouldn't be using it if I didn't need it to get by. 

BMenz

r9stedt:

I even work with people who I see occasionally I feel like might be abusing the system .  However, those people are few and far between.   For the most part, people receive assistance while the times are really bad, or they are waiting on disability verdicts, etc.   I think that in some ways, new regulations that were passed last July in Kansas, were beneficial, but in others really were damaging to people.  Now they have the cut off for cash assistance and medical card for one year (in your LIFETIME).  Prior it was pretty much indefinite.    Fine and dandy for some situations, but for people are can declared disabled, the disability process in and of itself outlast that one year.  Or what if something happens when you are 25, need assistance, and thens omething happens again when you are 40?  You're just out of luck.

 

I can't even imagine that. Has there been any outrage that?

I know in MN, if you have a job, you automatically DO NOT qualify for any cash assistance, so it's not like you can lie to get it (they go through their computer systems with your SS# to verify things) and most times, they don't use your current income for verification, they use the past 3 months worth to get an average and then that's what they base it off of.

inbetween

achase123:

I receive WIC for P's food (mostly whole milk, fruit, whole grains, cheese, pb, etc.).  They don't cover me anymore.  For this last year because I was EBF I got coupons for my nutritional needs.  Now that I have weaned him it's for him.  It does help though. 

However, I have to agree with R, it IS an extremely humbling process.  I get very embarassed using the coupons and some of the grocery clerks are just plain rude, as are patrons in the store.  I try to have everything in order as much as I can and move it along as quickly as possible but it still takes a little longer. 

I definitely appreciate that I qualify for a little bit of assistance but I certainly wouldn't be using it if I didn't need it to get by. 

This! Dd gets wic and has since she was born. It has been extremely helpful, but it is very embarrassing. If i didnt have to use it, i wouldnt. I can say from personal experience it is hard to get approved for things. I had no health insurance when i wasnt pregnant and wasnt eligible for state coverage because i was working 60-70 hours a week to keep our house. It wasnt until i was in labor, laid off work and about to have an additional family member that i got approved for state medical. It covered dds birth, my 6 week checkup and my iud. Im very thankful, but it most certainly was a long stressful 9 months of pregnancy qnd no health insurance.

blondnearby

I just got on foodstamps while I am in school.  All of us automatically get medi-cal regardless if we need it or not (we don't).  The girls also get subsidized childcare through the university.  DD#1 would be $1400 a month while DD#2 would be $1650 a month if I didn't have help from the government.  They also have all meals provided to them while in school (breakfast, lunch and a snack).  I am using the programs right now so that I can get the education I need to get a job where I can provide the type of lifestyle I want for my kids.  Going on public assistance was a very humbling experience for me.  I wouldn't be using it if I didn't absolutely need to. 

LoriFalce

r9stedt:

Assistance is a hard process.  It is a very humbling process as well.   

 

Disability process is way  harder. 

Anyone who thinks otherwise is really just the person standing in line behind the woman using WIC checks and judging her for not looking poor enough.