Food Stamp Issue

I was going to tell you about that A. Food Ministries as well. And if or when you do get food stamps they accept food stamps as well. When you go to their site you can click on menu to see January's menu as well as they have bonus packages that you can by as well taht have 4 different family meals for $18 for all 4 and a meat package etc. We are definaltly going to start doing this. Best thing about it is there is no paper work or qualifying needed. Anyone who feels they need it can order from them.

When my husband was laid off 3 weeks after our daughter was born (I was not working, planned to go back to work, but my daughter has health issues so I am a SAHM)I went and filed for food stamps. With neither of us working, I figured we could get it, we really needed the help and did get approved to recieve Medicaid for our daughter (that was a godsend) for her 1st year. They denied the food stamps!!! We had no income coming in and their excuse was that we had too many vehicles. We have 3 vehilces: 90 Chevrolet Truck (mine), 91 Chevrolet Truck (his) and a 72 Chevrolet Truck that does not run (as you can see we drive fancy vehicles that cost a lot of $, all of them were bought used and paid for in cash when we were working). They told us to sell a vehicle and come back. No one is going to buy a vehicle that does not run and we needed our trucks (him to go look for a job - which he did do on a daily basis - and me to take our daughter back a forth to the doctors and hospital - which she has been admitted multiple times). I was so upset. My husband was off for 6 months, we almost lost the house. We are happy that we didn't have any car payments, but in the time of need, we were turned away. What really upset me is seeing all the people up there that stank of alchol and getting assistance!!!

The Food Stamp worker is required to explain to you (clearly) the income limits - she should have done this at your first meeting. You can call the main line at her office and ask to speak with that worker's supervisor - she needs to know how much time her worker is wasting. Anyone with any sense knows how much money they made last month - you should have been able to know whether you were eligible or not.

However, please call and see if you qualify for WIC - your children may be too old, I'm not sure. I haven't been a social worker for a while, but I do remember that you have rights!

I work for a partner agency to HHSC (Food Stamp office). She should have never told you that you qualified for a certain amount before she processed it. I would file an appeal and also file a complaint about it.

Not that this really should matter, but I do know that HHSC has had a very high turn-over rate the past year or so. Most new staff people last only 3 days before quitting. I know that has nothing to do with your situation.

211 is good. We tell our clients to use them, they can connect you with any agency that provides any assistance that you need.

Getting food stamps is like pulling teeth! Its a nightmare and they make it impossible to get them. Its sad b/c there are people that really need them and cant get the help.
When my daughter came home after being born at 24weeks only weighing one pound she was considered disabled. We thankfully were able to get Medicaid b/c her hosp stay and meds was so long. We had to see a ton of specialists after the hosp and couldnt have paid for that. I was of course let go from my job b/c they wanted me to try to make it to full term in the hosp but I only lasted for 5 days and then had her. I was in shambles after going through everything we were and the thought of her not surviving. I stayed at the hosp all day/night except for the 2 hours a day the unit was closed so i could be w/ my daughter. My husband had 2 jobs and we were bearly making it. We decided to try for food stamps and that was awful. We were reciving a disability check for my daughter and they tried to tell me that if I didnt have that and sold my car I could qualify. We were making around 1500 amonth at the time so I think they really need to take another look into peoples needs and not make it so hard to qualify. Its sad b/c if I gave up my daughters disability check (which helped w/ her special formula and preemie clothes/daipers) i would only have gotten like $100 in food stamps anyways and I would actually be struggling more then than I was. I feel for you very much. I do advise people to try for Medicaid and WIC if you qualify because it does make your life eaiser at such awful times. Good luck!

I am going to have to share my story with the Food stamp process... We are a family of 6 and my husband works a full time job where he makes and this is with some over time $545.00 after taxes a week.... and we pay a rent of $1195 @ month ok.. and right now I am home b/c I lost my job due to the daycare that was taking care of my baby son.. Kept calling me at work telling that my child was sick.. So I was paying the day care and I was at home.. TAKING CARE OF MY KID till the manager got tired of me and the day care and he fired me we also went and asked for assistance and just like you said.. B/C we have to think of our children not just the "PRIDE" and guess what they told us?? if you are talking about $140-160 get ready for mine... $20.00 a month.. You tell me how fare is that, I wonder where did my tax dollars have gonned and why right now that we need it, There nowhere to be found?? This is a family of 6 OK.. Not including light bill, water bill, phone bill and gas bill.. They told me that I was paying to much of a rent and that I should look for somewhere else to live with a lower rent. BUT you know what??? Where are those safe places for my FAMILY.. ARE they saying that I have to put my family in danger in order to feed them... I have 3 daughters, 1 baby boy.. You tell me. WHERE ARE MY TAX DOLLARS GOING TO?? B/c I am certainly not using them right now that we need them.

Sincerely,

Eva

I can totally sympatize with you!!! I to filed for food stamps a while ago and they told me I would get at least $100 and when I got my card and checked my balance they gave me $10 a month!!!! Like that $10 was worth the time off of work and everything to get!!!! I know that it is really complicated on the way they calculate everything and it is real hard to even go up there!!! You can appeal but that is another long drawn out process!!! Good luck with whatever you choose to do!!!

Food stamps can certainly be a pain in the behind and like any government assistance program, are very poorly managed at times. I'm sorry you didn't get the help you needed. I agree with the post below about dialing 211. They can put you in touch with several agencies, non-profit organizations and churches to help you.

Have you heard of Angel Food Ministries? You can purchase a big box of food for $25 each month (as many boxes as you like). It is good food, not dented cans and out of date stuff you sometimes find at food banks and such. You don't have to meet any income requirements or anything to purchase food. A co-worker of mine is a single lady with no kids and making what I'm sure is good money and she does it sometimes just because it is such a good deal and she said she's always received good stuff that she actually used. The website is: www.angelfoodministries.com. You can go there to find a local church or facility in your area to order from.

P.S. to the lady who mentioned she only gets $10 food stamps: no matter how much (or how little!) you get in food stamps each month, if you get food stamps, you automatically qualify for so many other programs (including free lunch program for school-aged children). I have a friend that has a special needs child. She applied for food stamps but only received $3 per month! She kept on getting them though because that helped her son automatically qualify for other medical programs they needed.

Hi,

If you live in the Fort Worth Area you can dial 211, for everything you need. They are funded, or connected to the United Way. They have a list of charities, mostly churches, that help with your circumstance. That’s what they are their for, they WANT to help you.

You need to go back after the first of the month if your income is any lower this month than last month.

Good Luck,

P. P.

That is the government for you. My sister applied for food stamps in Michigan when she was pregnant with her fourth child. She was only given $75 a month for a family of four when she only made $3.75 as a waitress. What a joke. Similar thing happend to me when I had to go on medical leave during my high risk pregnancy. We only had my husbands income which was not enough to support our family of three. We were denied.
S. G