Encouraged to apply for public assistance but feel weird about it

[Anonymous]

If you can avoid TANF, that's great.

Apply for SNAP though, and if your kids are under 5, WIC. Also, Medicaid.

You won't be on it forever - but a few years of help can make a HUGE difference. I used it, it helped tremendously for a few years.

[Anonymous]

Do it, OP. I went on Medicaid when I was pregnant because I qualified for it. My insurance sucked and wouldn't have covered much of my prenatal care. My mother got food stamps when my dad wouldn't pay his child support.
I've been paying taxes since I was old enough to work. We have a social safety net for a reason. Use it.

[Anonymous]

Yes OP -- go for it for your kids. I have a sister who could use Public Assistance but she is too proud. I wish she would because the rest of the family has to help her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why didn't you get a good education before having TWO kids?

Get a life poster

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why didn't you get a good education before having TWO kids?

Get a life poster

Relax OP!

[Anonymous]

It's obviously too late for that. Her kids don't deserve to be screwed just because their parents made mistakes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why didn't you get a good education before having TWO kids?

Get a life poster

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why didn't you get a good education before having TWO kids?

OP here. I have a bachelor's degree, which is part of my hesitation to use assistance! I lived overseas for my husband's career and my career stalled (obviously). But thanks for the helpful input.

If you have a bachelor's degree why don't you get a decent job?

I've sent out a ton of resumes, but have gotten no response.

Do you live in the DC area? If so, I'm not buying that for a second. There are so many jobs here. You're not being proactive enough and not trying hard enough.

She needs to use the time posting multiple threads and responding to them, to job search. Would be a much better use of her time and yield a better life for her children and her.

[Anonymous]

Might be some kind of requirement so that the state can pursue child support?

Sign up.

[Anonymous]

If you are honest on the forms and you qualify, then you are who the program is designed to help. I only have a problem with people who lie or obscure the truth on the form in order to qualify when they otherwise wouldn't.

[Anonymous]

OP, I cannot believe you are for real at this point. You do multiple posts instead of one and haven't done anything anyone has told you to do. You clearly have money to survive, so no, you should not apply for benefits. You have been told to file for child support either through the child support office or directly through the courts. You argue it is pointless as they cannot collect. He is a US gov't employee so of course they can do a garnishment. You obviously have internet access to google where to apply at the office or through the court - most have paperwork online.

Instead of going today and filing for child support or benefits, you do another post on here. If you are for real, get off your rear and go apply. Otherwise, you are fine and stop complaining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you can avoid TANF, that's great.

Apply for SNAP though, and if your kids are under 5, WIC. Also, Medicaid.

You won't be on it forever - but a few years of help can make a HUGE difference. I used it, it helped tremendously for a few years.

If she went on TANF/cash assistance, they would provide child care before she gets a job in order to get her a job so it makes sense to get on TANF. She probably has insurance for her and the kids through her husband.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Might be some kind of requirement so that the state can pursue child support?

Sign up.

She will not. See previous posts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you also pursuing child support from your husband who is a fed? I don't think you should be granted public assistance without being required to file for child support.

Yes I am, but because he's overseas I've been advised that it may be impossible to collect. Of course filing for child support was my first priority - I didn't think it would come to this.

You were told in other threads what you are being told makes no sense. Yet, you are saying filing is important yet you haven't done it nor are you working. No excuse why you have not filed. Worse case you file and get an order and they cannot collect. Best case, you get it.

[Anonymous]

Childcare subsidy programs are designed for you, so you can keep working. No shame in that. The public assistance agencies may go after your ex for reimbursement but that's not your problem.

[Anonymous]

Apply for TANF, along with SNAP and Medicaid. Your application for Child Support Enforcement will be done as part of the process. It will help you get on a waiting list for subsidized child care and referrals for jobs. The programs are set up to help you and your children use temporarily until you can be self sufficient.