Do you access public assistance programs?

valstulas · November 2013

There's a lot of shaming at my hospital of people who use state aid. I find it odd since over 50% of Mainers access public assistance. Just curious how many of you use public aid and if so, how you feel about it. I would consider WIC, health care, SNAP, and public healthcare benefits as public aid.

giraffeluvspi · November 2013

My mom collected SS after my Dad died, but I'm not sure if that would count. She never signed up for any other assistance although we probably would've qualified for it. She worked her @$$ off to raise us without additional help.

[Deleted User] · November 2013

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[Deleted User] · November 2013

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valstulas · November 2013

@Hannah&Alex if you qualify for it, it's because you need it. I'm sorry you're ashamed of it, but you should sign up for it if things are that tight.

@fayga big hugs to you! >:D<

bumpuser8571475 · November 2013

mermomo5 said:
I never have needed to but there should be no shame unless abused. Its there for a reason and should be used if needed.

Yes this...

MRads · November 2013

I think it depends on your definition. I was able to get state backed student loans, an FHA loan and a tax break for having a kid and owning a house. I wish we could change the perception of what people think of when they think of state aid.

valstulas · November 2013

@MRads I wouldn't consider any of that public assistance. I wouldn't think of RD loans or the EIC as public assistance, either.

MRads · November 2013

I know what you mean. I just wish we would consider that public assistance so some of the stigma might decrease.

stephyfaith · November 2013

I lost my job in February and Medicaid was my only insurance option other than COBRA which was way too expensive! I'm grateful that it covered my prenatal care and delivery but am happy to now be on my husband's insurance. We had trouble with DD being on Medicaid and no pediatrician accepting us... It also really sucked when people treated me crappy because of my insurance.

I'm glad it was there for us when we needed it though.

giraffeluvspi · November 2013

mermomo5 said:

I never have needed to but there should be no shame unless abused. Its there for a reason and should be used if needed.

@mermomo5 I agree, but it's the abusers who seem to have no shame. I'm sure we've all seen the video clip of the lady who had several kids, her husband went to jail, and she was upset public assistance wasn't covering her bills. "Somebody gots to pay for all these kids!" X(

abveld711 · November 2013

somerandomchick said:

I was on food stamps for a while in college, and we would get refunded more $ than we withheld. And now I'm making nearly six figures and paying taxes. I'm a big supporter of the social safety net and I don't believe its abused as often as we like to think. Everybody knows somebody who knows a 'welfare queen' just like everybody knows that those 'showy nursers' really do exist. And even if it is occasionally abused, that doesn't damage the legitimacy of the whole system or mean we should jump through hoops to stop all this rampant abuse (like requiring drug tests in FL... That worked out so well...)

YES!

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PrimRoseMama · November 2013

This might be a UO, but I think the threshold to receive assistance is woefully/shamefully low.

martyn17 · November 2013

MRads said:

I think it depends on your definition. I was able to get state backed student loans, an FHA loan and a tax break for having a kid and owning a house. I wish we could change the perception of what people think of when they think of state aid.

Us too... we have certainly benefited from government programs.

PrimRoseMama · November 2013

I put federal aid for school into the running too. Its still public assistance. I took out loans to go to college. So yes, I've had PA. Just because I'm paying them back doesn't mean that others' tax dollars didn't help me out at one time.

gutsymama · November 2013

Lucas qualified for disability while he was in the NICU, and we took it because that automatically qualified him for Medicaid. I clicked the "I'm embarrassed" option, but that's probably not quite accurate - it's more like I don't really want anybody to know because I still feel like we shouldn't have qualified, or shouldn't have accepted it, because we have a reasonable income and health insurance. And/or that I knew that people in the hospital would know he had Medicaid, and judge us for also having an expensive camera, etc. I am now the person with an iPhone and Medicaid (for Luke only, not for myself). But insurance doesn't cover everything, and we hit $1 million in medical bills sometime in July. A reasonable income just doesn't cut it for that.

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maryoosa · November 2013

I think that shaming people who use programs that exist for people in need is deplorable. My sister receives SNAP benefits and is on some sort of public healthcare. Without that she'd mooch off us even more than she already does. I'm also grateful that a safety net of some sort is there for folks who need it and incase we ever do. And hopefully, we won't. Also, if we're throwing student loans into the mix--- then hell, 1998-2008 baby.

DenverBride2005 · November 2013

I am pretty sure my family used WIC when I was younger, I don't know all the details. I also had federal aid for college and grad school, so I suppose that counts in some way. I definitely support these programs so that people and families can have the help they need, many times the circumstances are out of their hands and they just need a "hand up" not a "hand out."

TheLittleRedM · November 2013

I'm on WIC. It's been a godsend but I can't wait for the day when I don't need to be on it to make sure we have food around

emandia · November 2013

Well I'm of the ashamed ones. I do use WIC, for the first time ever. My husband was laid off when I was on maternity leave and we literally made nothing that month. I'm very embarrassed because I'm one of those people who do own nice things. I have a BMW, an iPhone ect. and I just know people look down on me. When my husband worked we made great money and buying nice things wasn't a problem then. This wasn't something I expected. I know I shouldn't be embarrassed, but I know people who abuse it and I never want someone to think I do.

ROSARAMOS71156 · November 2013

I don't think people should be ashamed st all. I qualify in IL for wic, medicaid and a small snap amount with mine and my so's income and it helps alot. I also get assistance for school like others and am looking for a fha loan as well. I qualify, it helps and I still pay taxes so why should I or anyone else be embarrassed.

merc5411 · November 2013

My mom got govt assistance when I was a baby. She had just left my abusive father and worked full time and was in night school. It helped a lot and let us survive on our own. My mom now has 2 masters and a PhD. I hate when people assume only a " certain type" of people use pa

[Deleted User] · November 2013

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UTQT09 · November 2013

mermomo5 said:
I never have needed to but there should be no shame unless abused. Its there for a reason and should be used if needed.

Agree

valstulas · November 2013

@emandia I'm so sorry your H got laid off. How are things now?

MagickalNarwhal · November 2013

I really don't see why things like the mortgage interest tax deduction, EIC, subsidized students loans etc are not considered federal aid. Mortgage interest deduction alone costs the government more than a lot of other programs (don't have the exact numbers right now).

MagickalNarwhal · November 2013

Also, my parents were alcoholics and addicts and we were on benefits my entire childhood. I'm so, so glad that we were able to access them as we would have had serious food security issues if we hadn't been able to.

emandia · November 2013

@Valstulas Um we're ok. I'm back to work now so that helps a lot. His company called him back for a couple weeks, so I'm enjoying that paycheck for now. He applied at a college yesterday for an entry level position. The pay sucks for now...he'd be making less then half of what he makes now BUT all the kids would get free school! Like $30k a year saving per child! Sooo I'm praying he gets it. It would be great for our future.

Sorry this turned into a novel!

valstulas · November 2013

emandia said:
@Valstulas Um we're ok. I'm back to work now so that helps a lot. His company called him back for a couple weeks, so I'm enjoying that paycheck for now. He applied at a college yesterday for an entry level position. The pay sucks for now...he'd be making less then half of what we're used to BUT all the kids would get free school! Like $30k a year saving per child! Sooo I'm praying he gets it. It would be great for our future.

Sorry this turned into a novel!

Well I definitely hope things keep looking up. That's so tough. I don't deal well with money stress. Big hugs!

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Stina2012 · November 2013

etoille said:

ncchnat said:

@MeganNN12, no judgement here, either. If it made sense for you to work and you could cover the cost of childcare and you still stayed home, then I might side eye you a little. The truth is that the cost of childcare actually makes it prohibitive for a lot of moms to work.

Exactly. This is related to what I said in the UO thread. The reality is that the 'living wage' in this country is really, really out of line. But the rich people are doing too good a job at convincing half of them that the 'other' poor people are the problem and just a bunch of takers so we can't really do much to change it

The other reality is that everyone gets some sort of "government assistance" Depends on your definition. Student loans, tax breaks....the ability to enjoy things that you would not without Government.

Barack Obama was right (in the non edited for convenience sense). You didn't build that. You didn't build the road that brought the truck to your grocery store so you could buy food. You didn't build the firehouse down the road. No one in this country or any country is an island. There is a necessary interdependence and therefore resource reallocation at times to make things work efficiently. The problem enters when people have gotten their share of the pie and want the next guy to bake his own. Big corporations got that way through (in part) things like tax breaks. The blood sweat and tears of the little guy. But how quickly they forget the 60 hour work weeks put in by Bob when it
comes time to decide how to give
raises out of the double digit profit margins reserved for investors.

Preach!!! Talking about corporate profits makes my head spin!

ashie624 · November 2013

We did a few year back..we have food stamps..but we got #14 a month..and whole pregnant I checked to see about WIC..i think we made $50-100 over. We barely make ends meet each month..but still make too much.

[Deleted User] · November 2013

Since DD has a disability the state will pay for her PT if we qualify but alas they only pay part of it. I wish that they would pay more since it is expensive for her to have the state come out weekly. So no shame here. Every bit of help helps.

shara3333 · November 2013

I just realized I did get a small amount of aid for college. My parents were retired teachers at the time so their actual income was small. Not sure if that should count for PA.

shara3333 · November 2013

Also I have some family that have and still do receive more benefits than anyone I know (and have worked the system to their advantage) yet complain the most about ppl who receive assistance. I literally want to scream at the hypocrisy.