(no subject)

[green]

hi. did you know there was a federal regulation that says if you're a college student, you have to work on top of that in order to get food stamps? but you know how much you have to work to get food stamps if you're NOT going to college? NADA. the woman who informed me of this lovely regulation says it's set in stone and there is no free pass on it.

wtf, america? how do I get ahead if I can't eat? my situation cannot be that unique. I can only go to school while meg is in school. come 2 o'clock, I've got to be home. I can't work on top of going to school full time.

ugh.

UGH.

*cries*

eta: okay, I have done some research. I've read the regulation, and there's no exception for me. at all. there's no exception for students with children who are disabled. none. there's an exception for if you have a child 12 and under, but meg is 15. I don't know what I'm going to DO.

Comments

[wolfshark]

Oh, that sucks, honey! *hugs hugs hugs*

[green]

it really really sucks. the woman I talked to said she'd send a note on to the worker who will process my case, but that's all she can do and it still looks pretty grim.

[this_caia]

I'm sorry. That sucks.

I bet it was written with 17-22-year-old college students without kids in mind -- because they typically don't have much income, but they're also often being supported by their parents.

It doesn't sound like they thought about older students or students with kids at all. :(

[green]

there's got to be something there that helps people like me. somewhere, someone must have thought of a situation like mine. :\

[eledhwenlin]

God, that sucks. *hugs*

[green]

it really does. I just have to really, really hope that there's some kind of workaround on it.

[asdi]

This regulation is really idiotic *hugs*

[green]

I'm reading the regulations on the gov. site, and it has no exemptions for my situation. it's ... yeah. :\

[turlough]

WTF??!!!!

[green]

yeah. :\

[alpheratz]

That is ridiculous. I think this_caia is right about the intent of that regulation, but wow, does that ever not take all situations into account. The safety net in this country sucks so hard. *hugs*

[green]

*hugs back* ty, bb.

[tempore]

I remember a girl taking class in college part time with me who was struggling with this very thing. She was pointing out that she was trying to get out of the system, but the system makes it just about impossible to get out once you're in.

I'm sorry you're dealing with this. And that's so completely stupid. :(

[green]

thank you, bb.

[raaven]

::hugs::

I wish I had something helpful to add. :(

[green]

there's no help, I don't think. hugs are good. *hugs back lots*

Linkspam

[raaven]

Okay, I've been rummaging around the internets and have found some links that may or may not be useful to you:

http://www.wispinc.org/Links/tabid/57/Default.aspx

http://www.livestrong.com/article/196170-scholarships-for-moms-going-back-to-college/

http://www.soroptimist.org/

http://www.collegescholarships.org/grants/women.htm

And many, many ::hugs::

Re: Linkspam

[green]

I will check these out tomorrow. thank you so much. <3

[amadi]

Would Meg qualify on her own, if you don't? It wouldn't be as much, but it'd be something.

[green]

yes, I think meg would still qualify, so YAY for that. :)

[amadi]

At least there's that. It's absolutely disgusting that they do this. Michigan used to allow students to get SNAP, and they just changed the rule and abruptly threw literally tens of thousands of people off of the rolls up there. In Michigan, which has had a total economic collapse. it's like they don't want people to ever have a better life.

[kerri]

The thing that pains me about the decision in Michigan is that it's obviously aimed at getting rid of people who abuse the system - students getting support from their parents who legitimately don't need anything more - but they're just, well, throwing out the baby with the bathwater. It's ridiculous.

[amadi]

Right, and anyone who would've otherwise been eligible has to now go through the application process all over again and in the meanwhile, well, I hope they have some canned goods.

[soundingsea]

Okay, that is just not right. WTF.

[lunalore]

UGH, that's the biggest bullshit I've ever heard. I've been denied food stamps and disability several times, because they say I've got a long work history. Yeah, I can work, but it's incredibly difficult for me, and I can't work full-time. It's really frustrating.

[noxie]

Ugh, that sucks so much! Another regulation that makes *no sense whatsoever* I'll keep my fingers crossed for a good solution being found, bb. *HUGS*

[turps]

That is so ridiculous.

I'm sorry, bb. *hugs*

[gorgeousnerd]

What the actual hell. That's such crap.

[glitteryv]

*hugs* That does suck. I get that, like someone said upthread, it's a way for people not to abuse the system. OTOH, one would think the regulations would allow for certain exceptions. *hugs you again just 'cause*

[green]

ty, bb. *hugs*