Has anyone ever applied for food stamps?

[ready2puke]

I'm going to call tomorrow and see what the qualifications are. I dont care if they only give me 20.00 a month. Something is better than nothing. And Angel Food takes them.. I tried seeing if I can get some kind of gov. health care but they are closed and not taking anyone else. Im paying 720. mth on health issurance and its doing me in...Im not sure how long I can pay it..I've tried getting another provider but I have a few health issues and they wont take me..Some disc problems that arent a problem now, a screw in my knee from a skiing accident a million years ago and a tube in my ear...Not cancer or anything really bad but its bad enought for them to send me a denial letter.

[fltoo]

I had the same problem and I hear ya.

I switched from full coverage at 600./mo. to "crisis" coverage at 140./mo.

It is cheaper to pay for your yearly physicals, doctor visits, etc. than paying high premiums for a year.

The crisis coverage has a deductible of 5000. and then covers all major medical bills in case of a serious illness.

If you switch and put a couple of hundred dollars away for the deductible IF something happens, it is cheaper than paying these outlandish premiums. Do the math. It is not the perfect answer, but it is the lesser of two evils.

[StartingOver08]

You probably know this already, but if you go to the dr there are basically two pricing systems: one for people with insurance and one for people without insurance. For many years I could not get coverage due to a pre-existing condition and no group coverage so I discovered that most dr's will negotiate their prices for cash payments. By cash, I mean paid at the time of service. You have to negotiate up front, at the time of service. It is not unusual for the service to be reduced substantially - you can usually get at least a 50% reduction. This works for normal checkups and other routine matters - not for something like cancer. But it does help you contain your costs. So if you take the crisis coverage, as fltoo has posted, you can really save some money.

[lillaimof2kids]

Yep, I tried to get food stamps and health coverage. I was bringing home $330/week. The only income for our house - DH was unemployed.
House payment $714
Health Insurance $700
Gas for cars $150/week (at the peak of gas prices)
Monthly medications with insurance $200
I'm not even figuring in food, electric, utilities, etc.

I made to much money to qualify!! Needless to say I was PISSED!!! OH wait, I qualified for health coverage, but I had to keep my health insurance I already had! WTF?? This was around January/February 2008 when DH closed his business. Before he closed the business, he stopped paying himself. In 2007 he made $3000 for the year!!!

I hope our government assistance program works for you! I no longer have any faith in our gov. programs to help those who need help. I still don't know how we didn't end up on the streets, living in our car, before the bank took it.

[lookingforward]

I applied last week. My husband has a small business and sales have dropped off sharply since the hurricane here in Louisiana in September. The drop off in sales may or may not have anything to do with that. We haven't paid cc bills since August. I don't have two nickels to rub together right now. I was told that the profit and loss information I brought wasn't "accurate" because his loss in business may be due to the hurricane. I didn't understand that, because whatever reason, we can't afford to pay bills and buy groceries right now. I asked if it would be better to bring our tax return in January and they said, well lots of small businesses will have losses, so that won't be accurate either. I could NOT believe it, because the numbers showed that we definitely qualified. I was completely and totally crushed and cried all the way home. This is the first time I've ever asked for help from the government this way and to be turned down this way was devastating to me. I guess if we starve to death we won't be really dead because of the hurricane.

[ready2puke]

Oh man, what a shame...I havent tried yet but Im sure it'll be the same for me.. Now if we were illegals (hate to say this but...) we'd qualify..It really is sickening.
I will do something about my health insurance, but I want to wait until I file, just in case my Monavie business takes off (or should I say makes some money lol) or my business gets alittle busier. I may need the deduction. Right now Im still eating my Anglefood food. I made the meatloaf last night and it was good. Having the rest tonight. I still have a few steaks and other stuff. So Im not starving. It would be nice to have alittle extra for food tho...so sorry this really sucks.

[WhatMoney]

Adult age Illegals are not eligible for food stamps, but their children are even if the children (under 18) are also aliens.

California (like other states) does not in fact offer food stamp assistance to illegal alien adults, who are ineligible under federal law. Rather, California (like other states) permits illegal aliens to apply for food stamps on behalf of their American-born children who (under the 14th Amendment) are citizens and hence entitled to such assistance under federal law.

Only the legal members of a household are counted when considering food stamp eligiblility. Illegals can put down "non-applicant" on the enrollment form so they are not counted, but their income must still be considered for the FS qualification.

Of course the adults could have a fake Social Security card and drivers license and claim to be legal, but SSN are supposed to be verified, as well as your status verified by the INS.

The maximum fine for giving false information is 10 years in prison for each offense.
The maximum you can be fined is $250,000 and 20 years in prison, or both.

So you can't claim the laws are not on the books. How and whether this is all enforced is another thing...

[Genenco]

Recalling my time in MO. Yep, got FS for 2 months, but they delayed one month as I had $400 in checking account.

After they "approved" me, got $155 a month..Sheesh, I spent that I gained weight..Silly as I do nicely (Here in Vanc WA) for about $130 a month and that's with the higher prices here...

So they'll probably deny you FS if you're making more then "minimum wage"

To top it off? They now require you to register with the employment division. Oh that's not too bad, but you're looking for work and have no gas? Bummer, you have to drive 40 MILES to nearest employment office.

Hmmm..Somethings not right there...

[Bandit]

No, But I have always wondered what government cheese is like. If I thought I could qualify for food stamps I surely would get them.

[Mi Bankruptcy]

We might qualify to get food stamps from what I have read previously about the program in my state. However, they would force my wife to get a job ( min wage). She does not have the education or "resume skills" to qualify for a better job. So, the money should would make would go back into finding a sitter??

[WhatMoney]

FS Calculator

While the numbers will be different for every state and county, as living expense adjustments are made in the USDA SNAP FS program, here is a FS eligibility calculator for my state. Note you need to include the total household income for all applicants in your household. Applicants must be citizens or have legal alien status. Click on "Proof" to see what documents you must bring when applying.

https://apps.state.or.us/fsestimate/

Bandit - I don't think there is any "government cheese" anymore - cheese is now considered a luxury food.
.

[BROKENN]

Wow, we qualify. I hadn't thought of that, so this was a good tip! Just to check was easy:

http://www.snap-step1.usda.gov/fns/

[willowhare]

My housemate

who recently lost his job applied on Tuesday. He is waiting back for word.

Ready2puke, are you considered legally disabled (i.e. are you eligible for one of those placards so you can park in the handicapped zone?). If so, you may be eligible for SSI (something supplimental income). It's money the feds give to handicapped people (even if they are working) to make up for the diminished standard of living they experience.

It turns out both my housemate and his wife may be eligible for SSI. If you are not now "officially" handicapped, ask your doctor about it.