Americorps and food Stamps -Experience?

[Anonymous]

Any experience?
Have concerns. TIA

[Anonymous]

I looked into FEMA Americorps as a potential post college thing but the food stamps part really turned me off. I don't feel like the government should be sponsoring a program that does not provide enough to be able to eat. Couldn't decide if it attracted affluent kids who parents basically support them through it or struggling kids who do not have many options.

You can read more on reddit.

[Anonymous]

What’s the story here?

[Anonymous]

Its a fed gov program designed to mirror the Peace Corp but in the US. The pay in extremely low. They recommend participants apply for food stamps to stretch salary since rent is obviously an issue too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I looked into FEMA Americorps as a potential post college thing but the food stamps part really turned me off. I don't feel like the government should be sponsoring a program that does not provide enough to be able to eat. Couldn't decide if it attracted affluent kids who parents basically support them through it or struggling kids who do not have many options.

You can read more on reddit.

I don’t have an issue as both come from the Federal Gov.

[Anonymous]

you mean EBT card?

[Anonymous]

I did if, 2009-2010. They kind of set it up as though food stamps are part of your compensation. It wasn’t difficult to get approved for benefits quickly. What is your question exactly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did if, 2009-2010. They kind of set it up as though food stamps are part of your compensation. It wasn’t difficult to get approved for benefits quickly. What is your question exactly?

Also, I’m the PP above. My parents sounded mortified when I told them I took this job, with the food stamps situation, but I graduated in the middle of the recession and this was the job I could find, and I thought it seemed like a decent solution to my problems at the time. I also didn’t exactly consult my parents about their opinion, I mean I was 25.

[Anonymous]

As pp noted, are lots of kids of means supported or supplemented by their parents? I know several who were not, and the parents, who had no extra to give, were concerned. Also heard the amount of EBT funding depended on bank account. So if a recent grad of no means was saving for grad school, they had less ebt money bc they were viewed as not needing it. This is all anecdotal and not easy to get a handle on.

[Anonymous]

I guess its not a desirable option but if you don't have employment or higher education opportunities available, its better than nothing. You aren't unemployed, paying basic bills and getting some experience to fill the gap on your resume.

[Anonymous]

I did it my senior year of college. It was awful, crappily organized, and pay was abysmal. I couldn't apply for food stamps because I had made a lot of money the prior year. Its an awful organization and preys on lower-and-middle-income kids.

[Anonymous]

I did AmeriCorps as a college grad. I never got the food stamps because I was living at home and I didn’t think I was entitled due to my “household” income but I think it’s a good thing for people to learn the process and have more perspective about poverty, especially for gap year types like me (I did it as a law school gap year).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As pp noted, are lots of kids of means supported or supplemented by their parents? I know several who were not, and the parents, who had no extra to give, were concerned. Also heard the amount of EBT funding depended on bank account. So if a recent grad of no means was saving for grad school, they had less ebt money bc they were viewed as not needing it. This is all anecdotal and not easy to get a handle on.

Its need based help and higher need you have (legit due to adversity or just because you and/or parents were irresponsible), more funding you get. Isn't that's how all aid works?

[Anonymous]

The people I knew who did it were wealthy and taking a break before graduate school. Personally, I think it's gross to have a government funded program that is supposed to be prestigious and then have it pay so little that an independent adult would need food stamps

[Anonymous]

My kid's medical school actually encourages students to sign up for EBT card. My signed up too. I actually believe this can be a humbling experience for young people. I don't see any downsides.