Have you ever used any government assistance or programs? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Cynthetiq · 02-21-2009, 10:17 PM

Quote:

View: How to cope when misfortune puts even the basic necessities of life out of reach
Source: Latimes
posted with the TFP thread generator

Suddenly on the skids
How to cope when misfortune puts even the basic necessities of life out of reach
By David Colker
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

December 7, 2008

If you're eating three meals today and have a roof over your head, you've probably never heard of the 211 service.

It's like 411 or 911, except you use it when you're in such financial distress that you don't have enough money for food or perhaps even for a place to live.

In this economic climate, those conditions can arise alarmingly quickly.

"We have households that six months ago made $70,000, $80,000," said Michael Flood, chief executive of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, "and then the bottom falls out."

This is a consumer guide for the nouveaux poor, individuals and families who suddenly find themselves in financial peril. A good place to start is the 211 referral services, available in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.

The L.A. version is available 24/7, including holidays.

"All day long we have people saying to us, 'I never thought this could happen to me,' " said 211 staffer Irene Aceves while taking calls on a recent afternoon at the L.A. operation's headquarters, a former bank in San Gabriel.

Denial is common. Michelle Vu took a call from a woman in Hollywood who had lost her job, leading to the eventual loss of her home. For the last four nights the woman had slept in her car.

"I told her about shelters where I could possibly find a place for her," Vu said. "She said she didn't want that because shelters are for people who are homeless."

For someone who needs help, it's important to make the call promptly. Competition for services is getting fierce.

Maribel Marin, executive director of L.A. County 211, said the number of calls the service receives each month has jumped from about 30,000 last year to just over 50,000 now. With more people in need, food banks are coming up short, housing organizations have years-long waiting lists and the wait for medical services grows longer. Even the annual Christmas toy charities are hurting.

"More average people, not on the street, are calling to get Christmas presents for the kids and a Christmas meal," said Maggie Hutchinson, who has taken calls for 21 years at 211 L.A. County and its predecessor that used an 800 number.

It's not all bad news at 211. There are victories.

One recent evening, Miguel Serrano called numerous shelters until he found one that would provide a voucher -- rare for that late in the day -- for a woman and her two children to stay the night. As Serrano gave the woman the details, he quietly pumped his fist in victory.

Serrano had stayed past his quitting time to complete the call. But as he packed up he was beaming.

"A call like that can make your day," he said.

This is merely an introduction to navigating the system.

"If you've been a low-income mother of five, you know all the agencies and the nonprofits where you can get help," said John Kim, director of the Healthy City project that is working on a consumer-friendly online guide to these resources.

"But if you just lost your home and your job, you're new to this world. You are looking around, saying, 'Where do I turn?' "

Food

One of the most direct, nonbureaucratic paths to getting help is at food pantries that provide the needy with free groceries. The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank supplies more than 400 of these pantries, and there are others that get supplies from other sources.

Many of these operations are located at churches, synagogues and other faith-based facilities.

If you have access to a computer -- and most libraries have terminals that you can use free -- you can find a pantry near you by going to the food bank's website ( Welcome to the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank) and clicking on "Pantry Locator." Fill in a ZIP Code or city name to get a list of pantries in that area and their schedule of grocery distribution.

The locater also can be used to identify agencies that serve meals to people in need.

If you don't have access to a computer, call 211. The staff there has access to the list.

Each of the pantries has its own rules. Some allow anyone to line up; others may have geographical restrictions or limit the number of times an individual can participate.

The need is rising sharply, and donations aren't keeping up.

"Our pantry demand is up 41% over last year," Flood said, but the food bank has been able to increase its supply by only 33%.

Pantries affected by the shortfall are cutting back on the amount of food they give each person, he said, or by reducing the number of people they serve.

For longer-term help, people can apply to the county for food stamps, which can be used to purchase groceries at supermarkets and other stores that accept them. But there are a number of qualifications that must be met. For example, the maximum income allowed for a family of four in the program is $2,297 a month.

Housing

This is one of the toughest problems because of the scarcity of supply.

For short-term emergencies, free shelters sometimes have room, but vouchers are often good for just one night. And many shelters are set up for individuals, not families.

For longer-term subsidized housing, there are two main programs, generally known as Section 8 and public housing.

Section 8, funded by the federal government, puts people in low-cost housing. In most cases, the client household is required to contribute 30% of its income toward the rent. The rest is picked up by the program.

The public housing program puts clients in apartments owned by the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, with rents subsidized on a sliding, income-based scale.

The two programs are similar in an important way: It can often take years for a qualified family or individual to actually get a place.

The waiting list for Section 8 housing is currently closed, but the housing authority, which administers the program, plans to reopen it early in 2009.

Section 8 Director Lourdes Castro-Ramirez says that in 2009 the program should be able to place 3,000 to 4,000 families. But that's just a fraction of the expected number of applicants.

"We are estimating that about 300,000 will apply," Castro-Ramirez said.

The ones that stay on the list might get placed in five to 10 years, she said.

It's not much better at the public housing program. "There are about 17,000 on the waiting list," said Sanford Riggs, director of housing services. "We have about a 3% vacancy rate per year."

It generally takes two or three years to get into public housing.

So where does a family with more immediate need go?

"The speculation is that they will either move in with family or move into a unit with others that becomes overcrowded," Castro-Ramirez said. "Or they may end up on the streets."

Healthcare

The most generous safety net in healthcare is provided by the state Medi-Cal and federal Medicare programs.

But if you don't qualify because of age or income and don't have medical insurance, you'll probably have to rely on the county-subsidized healthcare system.

Although highly qualified and dedicated people work in that system, you'll be entering a world of delays and bureaucracy. If your health problem is an emergency requiring an ambulance, by law you're supposed to be taken to the nearest emergency room that can accept a patient.

"The hospital has to do a medical screening examination, and they have to stabilize you," said Carol Meyer, interim chief network officer for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.

In many cases, Meyer said, you'll be treated and sent on your way. If it's a private hospital, you'll probably get a bill later that you can't afford to pay. But most hospitals have programs to reduce or cancel bills based on financial hardship.

If you need more care and can be stabilized for transport, the private hospital has the right to send you to a public hospital, such as Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center.

Nonambulance visits to a public hospital emergency room can involve a long wait. "It can range from a couple of hours to 16, 17 or longer," Meyer said.

Nonemergency primary care is available at county-run clinics. In Los Angeles County, there are six of them. But patients are also accepted at about 100 other clinics that have contracts with the county.

For a list of clinics accepting new patients, go to the L.A. County Health Department website and click on "Clinics."

Getting an appointment can be a challenge, especially for specialty care that the insured might take for granted.

Eye exams, for example, can take weeks, Meyer said.

Preventive care, such as check-ups, can be difficult if not impossible to obtain, even though such care can catch minor conditions before they become serious and much more expensive to treat.

"The evidence for that is well documented," Meyer said. "But the demand to treat patients who have specific conditions is so high that it uses most of our resources."

Many don't know what services are available to them until it is too late.

I've done it before in preparation for fiscal disaster. I've looked at what social programs and things will be available to me from time to time since they do change over years and administrations.

But for most of my life, I have not used any assistance whatsoever. I didn't use any of the things I paid into out of pride. I never collected unemployment until I was 33. I looked into collecting food stamps since at that time I was concerned that maybe we'd not make it if the dot com and 9/11 downturn didn't pick up. In that time I was laid off at least 3 different times. I paid into it fairly and deserved to collect the monies that were due me. I didn't like to collect it. It was reminded to me each and every week that I placed that phone call or went into the office.

So far, my only usage has been unemployment. I know that while it was difficult to swallow my pride, I'm happy to swallow it again if need be. I know that I'm a better person because I was able to actually ask and accept for help.

What about you?

n0nsensical · 02-21-2009, 10:21 PM

Unemployment. That's it. Not that I necessarily have a problem with them.

JumpinJesus · 02-21-2009, 10:24 PM

I've used federally subsidized student loans and aside from the benefits I get from paying taxes, I've never used federal assistance. On that note, I'd rather my taxes go to help buy food for impoverished families than to bailouts for banks.

Martian · 02-21-2009, 10:34 PM

I relied on employment insurance when I had to take time off work due to illness.

I don't have an issue with people who are going through tough times taking advantage of government assistance. I don't think less of someone for going through personal hardship, and this is why these programs exist in the first place. EI and welfare are useless if they're not available when people need them. Same goes for food banks, shelters and the like.

Life's hard right now, and there's every possibility that it's going to get worse before it gets better. Pride's a funny thing, and too much of it usually does more harm than good.

Plan9 · 02-21-2009, 10:41 PM

I don't know if VA education benefits can be shoehorned in here, but yeah, I'm basically living off of the MGIB right now.

It's a great program... sell some years of your life in exchange for a relatively nice coasting period when you get back.

World's King · 02-21-2009, 11:29 PM

Does being in jail count?

Xerxys · 02-22-2009, 04:48 PM

LOL

Martian, Your a better person than me then .... I DO in fact think less of people who take advantage without DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN to prevent themselves from being in the said situation.

Fact .... McDonalds are Always hiring!! You can get a job and feed one person of MickyDees pay while gearing up for more things. I would work 80-85 hours a week just to keep my head above water when I want something real bad. YOU WILL ALWAYS GET A JOB somewhere.

For this reason, I have never needed any help from the social services. Of course I am linient on folks who are disabled but I detest giving to lazy people. If your as poor as a church mouse you deserve to work like a donkey until you get yourself situated. Period.

genuinegirly · 02-22-2009, 05:08 PM

Not sure if others consider educational grants government assistance, but I do.

California Grants in Aid paid for the last two years of my undergraduate education and provided a living stipend so I didn't have to work much while in school. I've also accepted federal pell grants.

I'm willing to look into government funding when I realize that I could use some help.

---------- Post added at 05:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:03 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xerxys

YOU WILL ALWAYS GET A JOB somewhere.

Er, actually... my husband and I moved to a small town where the only thing here is the university. He has six months before his grad program starts and would like some temporary work. He has applied to every single position possible, including taco bell. No leads.

You can't always get a job somewhere.

Sometimes the universe just doesn't give you a chance. The programs are there to help you get on your feet. Then you can fly without pent up debt when you're in a better place.

vanblah · 02-22-2009, 05:19 PM

Yes. I used food stamps many, many years ago when I was working min. wage ($3.35/hour). In the Winter, after bills, I had nothing left.

There is nothing wrong with getting assistance. I don't look down on anyone who is working to get themselves out of a bad situation ... I do look down on people who take advantage of the system. But, before I pass judgment I have to KNOW they are taking advantage. I've only known one person in my life who did that. If I don't know what the situation is I don't think about it.

mixedmedia · 02-22-2009, 05:26 PM

My two daughters and I were on food stamps for about 9 months after my first divorce.
I have collected unemployment twice in my life after being laid off.
I am going to school now on the Pell Grant and with assistance from an organization that helps single mothers get through college.

Accepting this assistance has had no effect on my self-pride. I have a strong work ethic and I excel in school. Why should I be ashamed?

There are many hallmarks of personal success in life.
Never having to ask for help from anyone is perhaps but one of them.
Feeling superior to those who do is not.

highdro69 · 02-23-2009, 06:40 AM

Food stamps. Any broke college student who isn't on them should be slapped.

Zeraph · 02-23-2009, 08:33 AM

Yes, my state has this health insurance thing, was on it for a year when I was in really bad health.

shakran · 02-23-2009, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xerxys

YOU WILL ALWAYS GET A JOB somewhere.

Not necessarily. Let's say you're the hiring manager at McDonalds. You've got the choice between two candidates. One is PhD who's recently lost his job at a high-powered biotech company. Needs the McD's job to tide him over while he finds another "real" job. The other is a highschool dropout. Who're you gonna hire?

I'm gonna hire the dropout. He's not gonna be looking to bail in 3 weeks if he can find a high-paying job, because he can't find a high-paying job. I know I'm gonna lose the PhD the minute something opens up in his field. Why go through all the hassle of training him when he'll be leaving so much sooner than the dropout?

ring · 02-23-2009, 09:43 AM

The Op asks a very personal question,
and I will go ahead with a very personal revealing response.

I have been on Social Security disability since 2003,
and haven't worked any other job since then, to supplement income.
Medicare for health insurance.
Foodstamp allowance is 14 dollars a month.

The disability check is now up to $743.00 a month.
Rent takes 30% of that. (utilities and cable included)

I drive with no insurance, (which is still legal in this state),
if I were to get in an accident, then I would have to have insurance.
I share the vehicle and its expenses with my mom,
who is also on disability.

I have been out of work long enough now,
that a sense of 'learned helplessness', that I was warned could happen, has set in.

The population of my town is 7000.
Most people that have better than minimum wage jobs,
have to commute at least a half hour or more away.

I started to look for work about a month ago.
With the recent economic implosion,
and the many many layoffs in the area...people are scrambling for any type of work.

The skills I have: (machinist-tool and die maker) I cannot use anymore
on a consistent level that an employer would require.

The pain level in my body from day to day is so variable that even
a simple cashiering job would be difficult to maintain with any consistent attendance,
but I am searching...perhaps I can find something that would only be a few hours a day.

I plan on moving towards a much larger city for a variety of reasons.
Part of what holds me back from moving is that my mother depends on me for many things.

I talk too much,
I am done for now.

This is relevant to this thread perhaps.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/communit...,4560185.story

snowy · 02-23-2009, 11:06 AM

I've taken advantage of subsidized student loans, and I had a Pell Grant for my first degree, as well as an Oregon Opportunity Grant.

And Xerxys, like others have already said--sometimes no one is hiring, or sometimes the only jobs available are ones you are not qualified for. In this economy, places like McDonalds are saturated with applications. I was looking for work this last summer and sent out about 60 resumes in addition to filling out countless applications. I got one job that varies from 5-10 hours a week. I was looking for full-time employment, but it's just not out there right now. So I took advantage of the resources available to me, and decided to go back to school.

I'll be applying to put my name in the lottery for the Oregon Health Plan this year. I don't have insurance, can't afford it, and OHP is meant to be a safety net for people like me. I'd rather not have to put my name in the lottery, I'd rather have regular, good insurance, but unfortunately it just isn't feasible at this point in time. I could possibly afford a limited plan, but what's the point in having it if I can't afford the co-pay when I do need to go to the doctor or hospital? I'm just glad that this program exists in my state, and so I can get medical coverage (once I jump through all the bureaucratic hoops).

I was also eligible for the Earned Income Credit this year on my taxes. I didn't pay anything into the system this year, but I'll be getting just over $60 back.

I'm going to be paying for these things for the rest of my working life, once I'm out of school and in the workforce (and already have, via taxes from former jobs), so why not use them?

Strange Famous · 02-23-2009, 12:19 PM

Yes

1 - I signed on the dole for about 8 weeks after graduating
2 - I claim a "single occupant discount" on my council tax
3 - I claimed a refund on some fillings I had from the dentist when I was a student
4 - I claimed compensation for a burgulary I was victim of (still dont know if I'll get paid anything back)

Xerxys · 02-23-2009, 12:26 PM

I conducted an exercise. I was well dressed for work, today, so I went to lunch at the walmart here in cary and got myself a doublecheese burger and the small fries. I noticed the lady serving it was the manager so I asked if she were hiring. She said yes. And gave me an application.

How exactly do you guys look for jobs when applying for entry level jobs? All entry jobs that I've had, I just walked up and asked for a job.

Cynthetiq · 02-23-2009, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xerxys

I conducted an exercise. I was well dressed for work, today, so I went to lunch at the walmart here in cary and got myself a doublecheese burger and the small fries. I noticed the lady serving it was the manager so I asked if she were hiring. She said yes. And gave me an application.

How exactly do you guys look for jobs when applying for entry level jobs? All entry jobs that I've had, I just walked up and asked for a job.

Getting an application isn't the same as getting the job. I can collect 100s of applications.

Apply. Go Interview. See if you actually get offered the job. That's the definition of getting a job, not getting an application.

I'd not even get to the interview part.

/threadjack.

Xerxys · 02-23-2009, 01:23 PM

Cyn, I swear I'm not trying to be dim .... all these places need are extra bodies and SOMETIMES if youre registered to work in the USA. Iz all... I have gotten every single entry level job I went up to and asked for withing asking a maximum of 3 places. If I would have stretched the number to maybe 6, I would have found a job that gave me a 7-3 shift and one that got me 4-12 shift!!!

highdro69 · 02-23-2009, 04:50 PM

I have a degree and a decent resume, yet when I talk to managers at places like blockbuster, or even mid level sales in retail, I get this look like "WTF?! You've got a degree and you're previous job paid 40% more than we offer. GTFO" Most of the people who say "go get a job" haven't even tried to see what its like gaining employment in this economic environment (and if you have, getting a clerk job for mommy/daddy's office DOES NOT count).

In these times when social programs (and good god, let's not call it socialism, lord only knows how semantics infuriates the sheep) are what are keeping many people afloat, it really is scary to think would happen if the government essentially ran out of money for what it owes (Discount Army march on Washington back in the day anyone?)

Back to the OP, though. You should not even allow pride or shame to enter into the equation here if only cuz at the basest of facts that YOU HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR IT. That is, if you're a law abiding tax payer. And as a law abiding tax payer, you've been raped and reamed enough from unfair taxes that you have earned some free spaghettio's from time to time.

mixedmedia · 02-23-2009, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highdro69

Back to the OP, though. You should not even allow pride or shame to enter into the equation here if only cuz at the basest of facts that YOU HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR IT. That is, if you're a law abiding tax payer. And as a law abiding tax payer, you've been raped and reamed enough from unfair taxes that you have earned some free spaghettio's from time to time.

Good point.

and your signature is interesting.

amonkie · 02-23-2009, 05:43 PM

When I was working at a job where the employer did not cover any costs of health insurance, I attempted to take advantage of state healthcare but made too much by $50. However, at $10/hr I did not make enough to shell out $250/mo (just for 1 person!) to have health insurance to help cover a medical condition I've had since near birth. I went without health insurance until I was able to located a job which provided it.

What bugs me is that I'm in the tax bracket that seems to always be in between everything - I make just barely enough money to not qualify for most assistance, but because I don't qualify, I'm actually worse off than those who can get the assistance. Some days I want a refund of all the tax dollars I've paid, that are just on the other side of the glass taunting me.

highdro69 · 02-23-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amonkie

What bugs me is that I'm in the tax bracket that seems to always be in between everything - I make just barely enough money to not qualify for most assistance, but because I don't qualify, I'm actually worse off than those who can get the assistance. Some days I want a refund of all the tax dollars I've paid, that are just on the other side of the glass taunting me.

Back in my employment days, they wanted to make me an assistant manager. I honestly could not afford their raise.

Daniel_ · 02-24-2009, 12:04 PM

I pay taxes and use whatever state assistance I am elligable for.

I have taken unemployment benefit. I have taken discounts on local taxes for single occupancy. I receive child benefit and working families tax credit. My daughter is in a state school, she was born in a state hospital, and my family all use state doctors.

If I lost my job, or became ill, I would be at the front of the queue and I would take every penny I could. Why? Because when I work I pay for the other people in the line, when I can'twork they can pay for me; it's how my vision of a just society works.

You pay your share when you can, and take back your due when you can't.

yournamehere · 02-26-2009, 06:57 PM

I'm collecting unemployment right now, since 12/15/08.
I'd rather be paying into it.

ngdawg · 02-26-2009, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yournamehere

I'm collecting unemployment right now, since 12/15/08.
I'd rather be paying into it.

Beat me to it.

I have gotten laid off or fired a lot and contacting the unemployment office is the first thing I do.

I remember years ago my grandparents would go to get their free government cheese and then give a 5 lb block of it to my mom. We'd be knee-deep in grilled cheese sandwiches for months.

If someone offers me something for free I am not above taking it. A friend who worked at the senior's center in town had a trunkful of donated bread that no one took-I took a few bags.

When I went to school, the spouse's salary was the detriment to not getting Pell, even though his take-home barely gets us by. Same with reduced school lunches-missed their guidelines by $50 a week.
We don't make enough to breathe any sigh of relief, but we make too much to ask for help.

I'm hoping that the unemployment increases apply to those of us who are already collecting. My checks are less than half what I was making and I don't see me getting called back.

02-21-2009, 10:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
n0nsensical Junkie Location: San Francisco	Unemployment. That's it. Not that I necessarily have a problem with them. __________________ "Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded." --Abraham Lincoln

02-21-2009, 10:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
JumpinJesus Junkie Location: Chicago	I've used federally subsidized student loans and aside from the benefits I get from paying taxes, I've never used federal assistance. On that note, I'd rather my taxes go to help buy food for impoverished families than to bailouts for banks. __________________ "I can normally tell how intelligent a man is by how stupid he thinks I am" - Cormac McCarthy, All The Pretty Horses

02-21-2009, 10:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	I relied on employment insurance when I had to take time off work due to illness. I don't have an issue with people who are going through tough times taking advantage of government assistance. I don't think less of someone for going through personal hardship, and this is why these programs exist in the first place. EI and welfare are useless if they're not available when people need them. Same goes for food banks, shelters and the like. Life's hard right now, and there's every possibility that it's going to get worse before it gets better. Pride's a funny thing, and too much of it usually does more harm than good. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

02-21-2009, 10:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	I don't know if VA education benefits can be shoehorned in here, but yeah, I'm basically living off of the MGIB right now. It's a great program... sell some years of your life in exchange for a relatively nice coasting period when you get back. __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake."

02-21-2009, 11:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
World's King Here Location: Denver City Denver	Does being in jail count? __________________ heavy is the head that wears the crown

02-22-2009, 04:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
Xerxys Junkie Location: My head.	LOL Martian, Your a better person than me then .... I DO in fact think less of people who take advantage without DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN to prevent themselves from being in the said situation. Fact .... McDonalds are Always hiring!! You can get a job and feed one person of MickyDees pay while gearing up for more things. I would work 80-85 hours a week just to keep my head above water when I want something real bad. YOU WILL ALWAYS GET A JOB somewhere. For this reason, I have never needed any help from the social services. Of course I am linient on folks who are disabled but I detest giving to lazy people. If your as poor as a church mouse you deserve to work like a donkey until you get yourself situated. Period.

02-22-2009, 05:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
vanblah Junkie	Yes. I used food stamps many, many years ago when I was working min. wage ($3.35/hour). In the Winter, after bills, I had nothing left. There is nothing wrong with getting assistance. I don't look down on anyone who is working to get themselves out of a bad situation ... I do look down on people who take advantage of the system. But, before I pass judgment I have to KNOW they are taking advantage. I've only known one person in my life who did that. If I don't know what the situation is I don't think about it.

02-22-2009, 05:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
mixedmedia has all her shots. Location: Florida	My two daughters and I were on food stamps for about 9 months after my first divorce. I have collected unemployment twice in my life after being laid off. I am going to school now on the Pell Grant and with assistance from an organization that helps single mothers get through college. Accepting this assistance has had no effect on my self-pride. I have a strong work ethic and I excel in school. Why should I be ashamed? There are many hallmarks of personal success in life. Never having to ask for help from anyone is perhaps but one of them. Feeling superior to those who do is not. __________________ Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

02-23-2009, 06:40 AM	#11 (permalink)
highdro69 Crazy Location: Tampa Bay, Florida	Food stamps. Any broke college student who isn't on them should be slapped. __________________ "It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society."

02-23-2009, 08:33 AM	#12 (permalink)
Zeraph Banned Location: The Cosmos	Yes, my state has this health insurance thing, was on it for a year when I was in really bad health.

02-23-2009, 09:43 AM	#14 (permalink)
ring ░ Location: ❤	The Op asks a very personal question, and I will go ahead with a very personal revealing response. I have been on Social Security disability since 2003, and haven't worked any other job since then, to supplement income. Medicare for health insurance. Foodstamp allowance is 14 dollars a month. The disability check is now up to $743.00 a month. Rent takes 30% of that. (utilities and cable included) I drive with no insurance, (which is still legal in this state), if I were to get in an accident, then I would have to have insurance. I share the vehicle and its expenses with my mom, who is also on disability. I have been out of work long enough now, that a sense of 'learned helplessness', that I was warned could happen, has set in. The population of my town is 7000. Most people that have better than minimum wage jobs, have to commute at least a half hour or more away. I started to look for work about a month ago. With the recent economic implosion, and the many many layoffs in the area...people are scrambling for any type of work. The skills I have: (machinist-tool and die maker) I cannot use anymore on a consistent level that an employer would require. The pain level in my body from day to day is so variable that even a simple cashiering job would be difficult to maintain with any consistent attendance, but I am searching...perhaps I can find something that would only be a few hours a day. I plan on moving towards a much larger city for a variety of reasons. Part of what holds me back from moving is that my mother depends on me for many things. I talk too much, I am done for now. This is relevant to this thread perhaps. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/communit...,4560185.story Last edited by ring; 02-23-2009 at 10:11 AM..

02-23-2009, 11:06 AM	#15 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	I've taken advantage of subsidized student loans, and I had a Pell Grant for my first degree, as well as an Oregon Opportunity Grant. And Xerxys, like others have already said--sometimes no one is hiring, or sometimes the only jobs available are ones you are not qualified for. In this economy, places like McDonalds are saturated with applications. I was looking for work this last summer and sent out about 60 resumes in addition to filling out countless applications. I got one job that varies from 5-10 hours a week. I was looking for full-time employment, but it's just not out there right now. So I took advantage of the resources available to me, and decided to go back to school. I'll be applying to put my name in the lottery for the Oregon Health Plan this year. I don't have insurance, can't afford it, and OHP is meant to be a safety net for people like me. I'd rather not have to put my name in the lottery, I'd rather have regular, good insurance, but unfortunately it just isn't feasible at this point in time. I could possibly afford a limited plan, but what's the point in having it if I can't afford the co-pay when I do need to go to the doctor or hospital? I'm just glad that this program exists in my state, and so I can get medical coverage (once I jump through all the bureaucratic hoops). I was also eligible for the Earned Income Credit this year on my taxes. I didn't pay anything into the system this year, but I'll be getting just over $60 back. I'm going to be paying for these things for the rest of my working life, once I'm out of school and in the workforce (and already have, via taxes from former jobs), so why not use them? __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

02-23-2009, 12:19 PM	#16 (permalink)
Strange Famous follower of the child's crusade?	Yes 1 - I signed on the dole for about 8 weeks after graduating 2 - I claim a "single occupant discount" on my council tax 3 - I claimed a refund on some fillings I had from the dentist when I was a student 4 - I claimed compensation for a burgulary I was victim of (still dont know if I'll get paid anything back) __________________ "Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate, for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain without being uncovered." The Gospel of Thomas

02-23-2009, 12:26 PM	#17 (permalink)
Xerxys Junkie Location: My head.	I conducted an exercise. I was well dressed for work, today, so I went to lunch at the walmart here in cary and got myself a doublecheese burger and the small fries. I noticed the lady serving it was the manager so I asked if she were hiring. She said yes. And gave me an application. How exactly do you guys look for jobs when applying for entry level jobs? All entry jobs that I've had, I just walked up and asked for a job.

02-23-2009, 01:23 PM	#19 (permalink)
Xerxys Junkie Location: My head.	Cyn, I swear I'm not trying to be dim .... all these places need are extra bodies and SOMETIMES if youre registered to work in the USA. Iz all... I have gotten every single entry level job I went up to and asked for withing asking a maximum of 3 places. If I would have stretched the number to maybe 6, I would have found a job that gave me a 7-3 shift and one that got me 4-12 shift!!!

02-23-2009, 04:50 PM	#20 (permalink)
highdro69 Crazy Location: Tampa Bay, Florida	I have a degree and a decent resume, yet when I talk to managers at places like blockbuster, or even mid level sales in retail, I get this look like "WTF?! You've got a degree and you're previous job paid 40% more than we offer. GTFO" Most of the people who say "go get a job" haven't even tried to see what its like gaining employment in this economic environment (and if you have, getting a clerk job for mommy/daddy's office DOES NOT count). In these times when social programs (and good god, let's not call it socialism, lord only knows how semantics infuriates the sheep) are what are keeping many people afloat, it really is scary to think would happen if the government essentially ran out of money for what it owes (Discount Army march on Washington back in the day anyone?) Back to the OP, though. You should not even allow pride or shame to enter into the equation here if only cuz at the basest of facts that YOU HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR IT. That is, if you're a law abiding tax payer. And as a law abiding tax payer, you've been raped and reamed enough from unfair taxes that you have earned some free spaghettio's from time to time. __________________ "It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society."

02-23-2009, 05:43 PM	#22 (permalink)
amonkie Drifting Administrator Location: Windy City	When I was working at a job where the employer did not cover any costs of health insurance, I attempted to take advantage of state healthcare but made too much by $50. However, at $10/hr I did not make enough to shell out $250/mo (just for 1 person!) to have health insurance to help cover a medical condition I've had since near birth. I went without health insurance until I was able to located a job which provided it. What bugs me is that I'm in the tax bracket that seems to always be in between everything - I make just barely enough money to not qualify for most assistance, but because I don't qualify, I'm actually worse off than those who can get the assistance. Some days I want a refund of all the tax dollars I've paid, that are just on the other side of the glass taunting me. __________________ Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna Last edited by amonkie; 02-23-2009 at 05:45 PM..

02-24-2009, 12:04 PM	#24 (permalink)
Daniel_ Evil Priest: The Devil Made Me Do It! Location: Southern England	I pay taxes and use whatever state assistance I am elligable for. I have taken unemployment benefit. I have taken discounts on local taxes for single occupancy. I receive child benefit and working families tax credit. My daughter is in a state school, she was born in a state hospital, and my family all use state doctors. If I lost my job, or became ill, I would be at the front of the queue and I would take every penny I could. Why? Because when I work I pay for the other people in the line, when I can'twork they can pay for me; it's how my vision of a just society works. You pay your share when you can, and take back your due when you can't. __________________ ╔═════════════════════════════════════════╗ Overhead, the Albatross hangs motionless upon the air, And deep beneath the rolling waves, In labyrinths of Coral Caves, The Echo of a distant time Comes willowing across the sand; And everthing is Green and Submarine ╚═════════════════════════════════════════╝

02-26-2009, 06:57 PM	#25 (permalink)
yournamehere Invisible Location: tentative, at best	I'm collecting unemployment right now, since 12/15/08. I'd rather be paying into it. __________________ If you want to avoid 95% of internet spelling errors: "If your ridiculous pants are too loose, you're definitely going to lose them. Tell your two loser friends over there that they're going to lose theirs, too." It won't hurt your fashion sense, either.