State assistance is for WHO?

[mudnuri]

UGH!

I've about had it. I've worked since I was 15 paid in my share of taxes to support those less fortunate than me.

I decide to better myself and provide a better future for my DD's and go back to school. Take out the MAX allowed in federal loans, and apply for every possible grant.

I apply for Fuel Assistance beginning of September, because thats what they said to do. I explain, well your going to go by my August income, and well that's way too much for assistance...dont worry they say- just check the box, and write in your end date of work and that your attending school etc.. Okay I do.

Today i get a "rule 2904 way too much income sorry too bad soo sad"

I apply for reach up a state program to assist in school costs etc.. travel costs, books, etc...

What do they want? Oh- lets see

Turn over my child support to them - YES you read that right...they will send me $50 a month...yup thats it- so the rest they keep...

Turn over my child support RIGHTS to them- yes thats right... I asked why- they said- come April when the X files income taxes, they will pull his return, and if his income has gone up- they'll take him back to court...hhhmmm do you count the $800 he gave me for school clothes/winter outerwear? NOPE...just the check amount...aight..do you count the fact that he pays for all medical? Not court ordered by the way- but he does it...anytime I call him for something- he will pay it...NOPE dont count that

Okay then- scratch that off my list, because I will not do that.

Oh i said I have student loans- yes, ma'am I do...okay well thats income...well wonderful- but you see that paid for my tuition, so I dont really have that as income now do I?

I HATE state assistance when someone doesnt ask for much and they get denied, but others can live off the **** for years and years and NEVER work.....

Vent over
Brandy

 

[Free4Life11]

I know what you mean! It is such a pain.

I tried appling for food stamps last year. I was making about $500 a month and everything was going to bills. I was denied because I was a student -- they said if you are a student you have to have a workstudy. Well I called and said the federal government GAVE me a workstudy. "Sorry, that doesn't count" the lady on the phone said.

I'm pretty sure she was just feeding me a bunch of crap and I didn't bother pursuing it.

That program is just plain fishy. If a tax-paying, law-abiding citizen making less thean $500 a month can't even get some help then who can? It makes no sense to PUNISH people who are going to college -- odds are they wont be on food stamps the rest of their lives.

 

[Free4Life11]

Oh i said I have student loans- yes, ma'am I do...okay well thats income...well wonderful- but you see that paid for my tuition, so I dont really have that as income now do I?

THIS is what makes me so angry! It's like if you choose NOT to take out loans and not go to college, you can get help.

But if you DO take out loans so you can go to college, which in turn will hopefully give you a better life and allow you to NOT live off the government for the rest of your life, you're screwed.

 

[mudnuri]

THIS is what makes me so angry! It's like if you choose NOT to take out loans and not go to college, you can get help.

But if you DO take out loans so you can go to college, which in turn will hopefully give you a better life and allow you to NOT live off the government for the rest of your life, you're screwed.

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I called and left a message with the fuel assistance lady, hopefully she'll call back

Brandy

 

[olena]

to you. With Chris back in school, we've dealt with similar ridiculous hang-ups. The system isn't geared towards those who want to help themselves.

 

[goofyforlife]

Been there Brandi.....

After college I found myself in a dead end town with a 1 yr old.....

I got a part time job but my pay barely covered the day care for DD

I tried to apply for some help...since I could barely keep my $500 heap of a car running at that point.....

They told me that the 20-30 hours I was barely working each week was too much money for assistance.. They did give me medical assistance but noone in town took it.....

I almost cried when I saw the jerks who pulled up in BRAND NEW cars (not fords or gm's either) going in to collect their cash checks at the office though.......

So glad those days have passed......

 

[Tiggeroo]

I think she's mistaken. Ask to speak to her supervisor. Student loans aren't income. They are a loan which you must pay back. You probably shouldn't have reported them in the first place. When you pay taxes you don't report student loans as income. And you also don't report scholarships as income unless it exceeds certain formulas.

 

[goofyforlife]

I think she's mistaken. Ask to speak to her supervisor. Student loans aren't income. They are a loan which you must pay back. You probably shouldn't have reported them in the first place. When you pay taxes you don't report student loans as income. And you also don't report scholarships as income unless it exceeds certain formulas.

Actually they do count these as income now which is why if you borrow more than what tuition is you get taxed on the rest....I graduated college just in time before they changed the rules....

Another penalty is that on campus students can deduct for tutition, room, and board whereas off campus ie single parents can't deduct for room and board....

 

[Tiggeroo]

that is ridculous. If I take out a mortgage to buy a house it isn't taxed as income. I have three in college and am going back to school in the spring. I inquired about whether their scholarship money or loans needed to be reported as income and was told no. I wonder if this is state specific. We do pay an origination fee on the loans.

 

[Free4Life11]

All I know is that I was making less than $500 a month and was specifically that I was denied for food stamps because I was a student. It shouldn't matter if you are or are not a student! I guess they just assume that all students receive help from their parents???

If anything students should get MORE help -- shouldn't we be ENCOURAGING people to go to school and get a degree???

 

[coolmom99]

I'm sure that this won't be the popular opinion but here goes. Why should we (the taxpayers) pay for you to go to school? I'm not saying that many others who get assistance are entitled to it, either, but that's not what we're talking about here. You decided to have your children before you got an education so it's not up to us to support you now that you realize that you need that education.

 

[Free4Life11]

I don't know of a single person who had the government pay for their college costs. Yes they give out Pell Grants, which I believe have a max of about $4500. But Stafford and Perkins loans have to be paid back. Some are interest-free while in school, so that will save you a few hundred a year.

Someone should not be denied from having food stamps, or other assistance programs just because they are in school. And loans should be not be counted as income on the applications.

 

[mommaU4]

I agree that it can be a pain sometimes. We needed help many years ago in CA and I went to apply and was denied because of too much income. Then in the grocery stores I would see people paying with their food stamps while they had on designer clothes and then I'd see them getting into brand new cars. I don't get it.

It seems as though you have to be really wealthy and able to survive on your own or extremely poor before you can get help. If you fall any where in the middle of those two extremes and need help you won't get it.

Another crazy story....
Way back when we were struggling a little I called one of my credit card companies to ask for some sort of payment plan because we were going through a rough patch. They said they couldn't do that for me because our credit with them was excellent without any late payments and the payment plans were only for those in default. I said that's what I'm trying to avoid!! They said sorry can't help you. Unbelievable.

 

[C.Ann]

Kind of gives you the warm fuzzies, doesn't it? NOT!!!

I have ALWAYS said the state (and federal) assistance programs are so far off the mark it isn't even funny.. They would rather pay for ALL of your living expenses than subsidize the little extra that you need beyond what you can do on your own.. How does that make sense? It DOESN'T !! And then they cry that they don't have enough money for these assistance programs.. It's a big joke - except to the people that really need it..

They're long on "hand outs" and woefully short on "hand ups".. BIG difference..

Personally I would keep after those heat assistance people.. I know what the guidelines are in NY and they're fairly high for a family of 3 before you don't qualify..

Don't give up the ship!

 

[Crankyshank]

Playing devil's advocate here for a second. I know someone who grants fuel assistance vouchers for a living so I'm going to give her side of it.

Energy costs are going up significantly across the board. I don't know about your state, but I do know that in mine and in MA the government hasn't increased the fuel assistance budget to reflect the rise in energy costs. In addition, rents have increased. As a result there's less money to help more people requesting fuel assistance. Someone has to be turned down. Either it's going to be Grandma who has to choose between heat and food because her p/t as a Walmart greeter is going towards her heart medication, or it's going to be an able bodied adult with a decent immune system who can pick up a p/t job or stand to keep the heat down a little more than an elderly person.

I'm not saying it's right. I'm not saying it doesn't bite no matter how you look at it. I'm just giving the perspective of the people actually saying no. Because no matter how much they want to help, the reality is that they have only a certain amount of money to play with.

 

[mudnuri]

I'm sure that this won't be the popular opinion but here goes. Why should we (the taxpayers) pay for you to go to school? I'm not saying that many others who get assistance are entitled to it, either, but that's not what we're talking about here. You decided to have your children before you got an education so it's not up to us to support you now that you realize that you need that education.

Well, the way I see it is for 14 years I paid in my fair share to programs that others received from. I'm not asking for cash, I'm asking for assistance, the money wont come to me. Fuel assistance is paid directly to my fuel supplier, food stamps- are paid directly to the grocery store, and the reach up program- is paid directly to the school, I would get a voucher for the bookstore etc.....this is NOT the same as AFNC....I wont get a check or money each month...

I'm not asking to sit at home on my *** each month while those working full time support me, and in reality, when I am done with my degree, I will be paying in a LOT more to the state than I was working in my last job, just based on the % they take out of each paycheck in taxes, so help me get my degree, so I can help others with my taxes right?

OH and fyi, not that i owe you an explanation...I never thought I'd be raising my girls on my own either, but ya know life doesnt always deal roses to ya does it. I sure hope that NOBODY you know ever needs help in anyway from federally funded programs, i can't imagine being a friend of yours and being looked down upon like you have me

Brandy

 

[mudnuri]

Playing devil's advocate here for a second. I know someone who grants fuel assistance vouchers for a living so I'm going to give her side of it.

Energy costs are going up significantly across the board. I don't know about your state, but I do know that in mine and in MA the government hasn't increased the fuel assistance budget to reflect the rise in energy costs. In addition, rents have increased. As a result there's less money to help more people requesting fuel assistance. Someone has to be turned down. Either it's going to be Grandma who has to choose between heat and food because her p/t as a Walmart greeter is going towards her heart medication, or it's going to be an able bodied adult with a decent immune system who can pick up a p/t job or stand to keep the heat down a little more than an elderly person.

I'm not saying it's right. I'm not saying it doesn't bite no matter how you look at it. I'm just giving the perspective of the people actually saying no. Because no matter how much they want to help, the reality is that they have only a certain amount of money to play with.

the kicker is- when I reapply like I will, I will not be denied, because my income is NOT what it was......yes, this was my choice, I understand that.

HOWEVER I did a prebuy of 400 gallons, hoping that I will only need 600. I planned it this way- with the hope that i can get to February before needing any more oil, and was planning on using a income tax refund to pay the rest, NOT relying on the fuel assistance

Brandy

 

[Toby'sFriend]

well, suck as it may - I don't think any State Government at the moment can afford to pick up the food and fuel costs of every student out there who decides they want to quit their job and go back to school. The cost involved in that would be astronomical.

I think what you are looking for is a displaced Homemaker grant or assistance program. Some schools do not have very proactive Financial Aid departments that can help you and you have to do significant searches yourself.

I had children when I was in college - all the way Bachelor's through Master's degree. Most of us were working 30 or so hours a week in addition to classes to pay the rent and feed the kids. I have a friend who just finished an MS in Nursing - the hospital she works at has paid almost all of her education and she has worked nasty night shift hours to earn a living. There are similar fields where significant assistance is available...so you career choice also matters.

 

[coolmom99]

OH and fyi, not that i owe you an explanation...I never thought I'd be raising my girls on my own either, but ya know life doesnt always deal roses to ya does it. I sure hope that NOBODY you know ever needs help in anyway from federally funded programs, i can't imagine being a friend of yours and being looked down upon like you have me

Brandy

I never said anything about looking down on you. I just said that I don't think others should have to support you because you decide to go back to school. You intentionally put yourself into a situation where you cannot support yourself and your family. I would never look down on anyone needing help from a federally funded program as long as it was legitimate.

 

[C.Ann]

OH and fyi, not that i owe you an explanation...I never thought I'd be raising my girls on my own either, but ya know life doesnt always deal roses to ya does it. I sure hope that NOBODY you know ever needs help in anyway from federally funded programs, i can't imagine being a friend of yours and being looked down upon like you have me

Brandy

---------------------------------

You're right, Brandy.. You don't owe ANYONE an explanation.. Every time a subject such as this comes up you get those certain individuals that crawl out of the woodwork and start screeching about how "they" are paying for you - like they're doing it single handedly.. They look right past the years you have paid YOUR share - skip right over the part where you're bettering yourself and only asking for a "hand up" rather than a "hand out" - completely ignore the fact that after all is said and done YOU will be paying back into the system again - and most importantly, sit in their ivory towers 100% secure in the fact that they will "never" be in a situation where they too may need to avail themselves of some sort of assistance.. If it weren't so scary that there are people who are actually naive enough to think that way, it would be laughable..

You're doing the right thing, Brandy.. Just get out there and fight for what you need..