Anyone Have Experience with / Knowledge of Food Stamps? Do I Qualify?

[lightattheend?]

I just graduated from college and for a couple years now I have been having trouble getting by. I barely have enough $ to eat. my bf and I (we live together) only go grocery shopping once a month. I got my bachelors degree in the arts and I have been looking for a new job for a while, but there is little out there.

 

I was wondering if I am even qualified for stamps, before I go down there and make an appointment thinking I can get help...when I can't.

 

So here is the situation. Maybe some of you have been on stamps or have worked for a place that distributes them. I make 8.50 an hour, works out to be around $1000 a month. My bf and I split bills, so my half of the bills are about $450. plus i have $90 car insurence, $40 in gas for my car, and over $200 a month in student loans coming up in 2 weeks.

 

The one loan is $170 and can't be consolidated. The other is consolidated as low as possible. That is not to mention the cost of food. I am sick of barely being able to eat because I have no money. I want to move out of state and find a job somewhere else, but how can I save money to do that, when I am barely breaking even?

 

I am to the point where stamps seem like the smart thing to do, and I am not too proud to take help anymore. Will the state still give me stamps when I could defer my loans? I have $600 in my savings account, but I wanted to use that for loans. It will be gone before I know it. I don't want to defer my loans. I owe $40,000 and I want to start paying it off asap.

 

I can't get married, have a baby, get a house or a new car until i get out from the majority of this debt. Since my speciality is in the arts, I can't count on a good paying job to help me out one day. Can I still get assistence? Will I have to continue to eek out a living until a great job happens to come along one day?

 

Any imput would really help! Thanks.

[dizi]

Boy, I know how those student loans can bury you... and I've been in a similar situation...

My suggestion would be to call them and ask them what the maximum income allowance is for food stamps. You can probably find out before you make an appointment. Oh, and they will want to know if you have a bank account, and they might want to see your bank statements from the past 3 months. You might want to take your money out and pay on whatever, then say that you thought you could make it, but can't-or something! (Not sure how much they will take savings into consideration) They will also want to see your last 3 months worth of pay stubs. It might be different in your state, so call the office and ask max income and information that they will require. You can do this anonymously. OR-- If your state has a web site, you might be able to find that information online as well!! Not much , but hope that was somewhat helpful

[hurtinheart]

THEY TAKE YOUR GROSS INCOME NOT WHAT U BRING HOME!!! THEY WILL WANT U & UR BF'S INCOME!!!!CAR PAYMENTS & INSURANCE THEY DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT!!! THEY WILL SAY U TAKE A BUS!!!! IT'S WORTH A TRY! WHAT STATE ARE YOU IN??? WELL MY GUESS WOULD BE NO!!! WELL GOOD LUCK!!!!!

[LittleMiss]

Tell them that you live alone. Don't mention your boyfriend or they will count his income as well. Another thing, don't tell them that you have any bank accounts because they will use that money to see if you qualify as well.

[lightattheend?]

I know there are people worse off than me and I would hate to go down there and make an a$$ out of myself thinking I can get help. I guess I could take all my $ out of my savings account and close that down. I live in maine and there are no jobs in the area. We want to move but you need to have $ saved up to do that. Chances are both of us would not find jobs right away. I am bearly breaking even so it makes it really hard to get out of the situation. I am sick of not being able to eat like a normal person. My bf and I work full time and I still eat ramein for lunch 1/2 the time. Do they really expect me to sell my car and start taking the bus? I never really thought about food stamps until the cashier at the food store mentioned it to me. Its not like I want a hand out, I just need some help for a little while.

 

hurtinheart you sound like you have had issues with this stuff. What was your situation, if you don't mind me asking? Any advice?

[quankanne]

Its not like I want a hand out, I just need some help for a little while

 

Light, there is something glowing out there, and it's within your grasp: look in your local yellow pages for a community foodbank, or if there's none listed, check around the local churches to see if they've operate a food pantry. Many of the Catholic churches in our diocese either have a St. Vincent De Paul Society which operates a food pantry, or they take part in a city-wide, church-supported food pantry. Best of all, these folks understand your situation, that you need a helping hand for a spell of time, and that's exactly why they're in operation.

 

you might be able to do a websearch on "Food pantry" or "St. Vincent De Paul" in your part of your state, or if it's easier call a local church to see if they are aware of any such services.

 

help is out there, and don't ever be ashamed of needing that kind of assistance, because that's why those kinds of organizations are in existence.

 

good luck, and keep us posted. If you'd like, PM me and I'll check through the Catholic church grapevine to see what's available and near to you.

[bluechocolate]

I like quankanne's suggestion.

 

And they won't means test you to determine if you're eligible for assistance.

[dizi]

Quankanne has a very good idea! But like I said, if you want to get that information, you can do so anonymously just by making a phone call to your local state agency. You can ask them ANYTHING without having to give any personal information. Just call-what will it hurt??

[honey2005]

THEY TAKE YOUR GROSS INCOME NOT WHAT U BRING HOME!!! THEY WILL WANT U & UR BF'S INCOME!!!!CAR PAYMENTS & INSURANCE THEY DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT!!! THEY WILL SAY U TAKE A BUS!!!! IT'S WORTH A TRY! WHAT STATE ARE YOU IN??? WELL MY GUESS WOULD BE NO!!! WELL GOOD LUCK!!!!!

 

Ahh don't scream.