Comments on: Things I Learned This Week: Food Stamps

By: Milehimama

Milehimama — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:07:55 +0000

Kristi, are you in Houston? After 90 days of runaround, I had to join a class action lawsuit. My stamps were approved the next week.

By: Kristi

Kristi — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:05:11 +0000

I know I’m late, but I just read this article and I share in your frustration! I applied for stamps in June, was told I had a case open in the state we just moved from and I would have to wait until that case was closed. I told them the case IS closed. They informed me they had to contact the caseworker in the previous state. In July, I ASKED would it speed things up if I drove back to the other state and requested a verification letter that my case was closed. Oh no, they wouldn’t need me to do that. SMH They would NEVER get thru and I KNEW IT, so I drove back to my state, waited in line to get a letter that stated my case closed in MAY!!!!! So, July comes and goes, no stamps, August comes and goes, no stamps. MIND you I’m going to the office once a week to inquire about what’s goin on!!! Constantly being told “Oh we’re working on it. September comes, I go down ONCE a gain to find out about the stamps, and I’m told I have to reapply because my case is two months old and now closed. Really??? So I apply, and I’m not eligible for the expedited appointment because I have a checking account with $19.27 in it. I too was told 30-45 days. SMH Yes, I’m frugal….I can pull meals out of places the sun doesn’t shine, but even I can’t pull off the miracle of 45 days worth of food on less than $20. I’m a full time nursing student and mother of 3 and my fiance works for barely $10 an hour and pays child support PLUS gets his daughter every weekend. Penalized if he takes overtime, can’t make ends meet if he doesn’t. SMH SO DAMN FRUSTRATING!!!

By: eve

eve — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 05:18:36 +0000

Back in the eighties, we came on hard times and went to the food stamp office for help. They told us, both of us, had to go and put in fifty applications a piece showing we were looking for work just to get a one month help with food stamps. Our relatives couldn’t help us, it was bad for everyone at the time. We didn’t have gas money to go to what would have been 100 places. We ended up going to a food pantry and they helped us for the month until my DH got the money that was owed him for a job. All we wanted was one month’s help and they wouldn’t do it. Also, you don’t put in an application when you are a sheetrock hanger. You are self employed but we couldn’t make the lady understand that.

By: Milehimama

Milehimama — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:48:46 +0000

Thanks for the tip, Heather!

I’ve looked into Angelfood ministries, but my oldest son can’t have certain kinds of food so it’s a better use of money to purchase what we CAN eat ourselves. However, if anyone else uses Angelfood, Hillbilly Housewife (www.hillbillyhousewife.com) posts monthly menus using the boxes!

By: Heather

Heather — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:51:44 +0000

I just read about your situation. If you have not already, you could check into Angel food ministries. I don’t believe they have requirements and they have some centers in Texas. I hope this helps!
http://www.angelfoodministries.com/

By: Laurie

Laurie — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:43:46 +0000

There is currently a class action lawsuit against the state of Texas for the long food stamp wait times. 40% of the applicants are made to wait past the federally mandated 30 day approval guidelines. We will be severely reduced on ours come the recert period as I have found a job. We will maybe receive 25% of what we were receiving. We are cutting back on what we have for the next 2 months so we can stretch out the remainder of the benefits.

By: Marie

Marie — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 21:30:56 +0000

I told my husband about this, he said it just goes to show if you are going to use food stamps you’d better plan ahead. None of those “waiting until you’re sure you need it” scruples. . . . what a shame for our country.

By: Bread lines « Two Ways of Renouncing the Devil

Bread lines « Two Ways of Renouncing the Devil — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 21:18:46 +0000

[...] reading the story from this lady about her need to fall for a minute into the safety net our government has set up because any of us [...]

By: Kaira

Kaira — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:53:09 +0000

I just read Shelli’s comment and she makes a great point. Many people wait too long to ask for help. For me, I’d rather know right away if a friend needs help. We don’t have a lot of wiggle room in our budget so if I know my neighbor (honestly, my neighbor really burns me so this is hard to write) needs help – I’d like to know so I can plan how to work them into my budget. For example, maybe I’ll skip a splurge at the grocery store and get give that $ away instead. Also, with the way people are losing jobs these days, it’s good to help while we have a job!

Two thumbs up for you for prepping for the future! This is such a testimony to why we should all store up for lean seasons.

By: Milehimama

Milehimama — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:10:31 +0000

Ok, I caved to peer pressure

I put up a donate button. I’ve truly overwhelmed at the people who have contacted me to help our family! Thank you so much!

By: Shelli

Shelli — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:39:16 +0000

I agree that a donate button would be a great idea.

I hear so many people say that they would love to help out (not just here but in real life as well) but folks don’t let them or people don’t speak up until they are desparate. Don’t wait until it get’s bad. Let us help.

By: rosamundi

rosamundi — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:32:33 +0000

Our local food pantry also has a broken system. Their requirements are even more stringent than the food stamp office, requiring a certified birth certificate for every child in the house before they will give the poor any food.

Presumably, this is so they know the children actually exist? If I were a wicked woman, I’d suggest turning up at the food pantry with all eight of them in tow…

By: Clare

Clare — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:09:39 +0000

This is terrible. In an emergency, the system is totally crap. It’s the same here.

I agree with Kaira, a ‘Donate’ button is a great idea. Or perhaps consider an Amazon wishlist (As I’m sure you know, Barbara Curtis did this.)
Please God something will turn up soon, this is rough for you all.

By: 12% of American population on foodstamps « houstonmom

12% of American population on foodstamps « houstonmom — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:05:45 +0000

[...] here for a Houston mother’s experience trying to get help after her husband lost his job. [...]
Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.

By: 12% of American population on foodstamps « houstonmom

12% of American population on foodstamps « houstonmom — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:13:52 +0000

[...] here for a Houston mother’s experience trying to get help after her husband lost his job. [...]

By: Houstonmom

Houstonmom — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:01:12 +0000

Wow, people are really hurting. I read today that 12% of the American population is on foodstamps. And it looks like that number is going up if people are waiting. It unbelievable in this country. I’ll be following the bee in your bonnet. Go girl.

By: Milehimama

Milehimama — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:29:51 +0000

It is insane. I waited for an hour in front of an empty desk.

Ya know, if they’re short handed I’d be happy to hire in and help ‘em out.

By: Tia

Tia — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:04:00 +0000

Wow. That just…blows. I feel horribly for you but am full of admiration for the fact that you are stocked and prepared none the less. Great job, Milehi!

Government bureaucracy is insane, and ridiculous. No food stamp or pantry story – but my unemployment deferment ran out on my student loans and so did the forbearance they were in. So, I went for the economic hardship deferment, at the recommendation of customer service (that should have been my first clue). Apparently, I do not qualify for an economic hardship deference because…I don’t have a job. To qualify, one must work at least 30 hours a week yet still be unable to make payments. Ummm…no job isn’t an economic hardship? Fortunately I got another forbearance, but the interest continues to build…but still…their guidelines or whatever for determining economic hardship are just a bit – what? off? or something.

While nothing compared to your situation with government programs, it’s just a reminder that they’re ALL screwed up and seem to make no sense whatsoever!

I wish you luck and strength in all of this.

By: Grandma Margie

Grandma Margie — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:29:50 +0000

What about your church? Do they have any funds to help out in emergencies? Ours does, and it’s at the discretion of our priest, called the Discretionary Fund. Also our church has a food bank. If yours doesn’t, perhaps there are others in the area. Check the yellow pages.

But I still think you ought to contact all your Congressmen/women about your plight. It is unconscionable that you have to wait for 60 days just to get an appointment! No telling how long after that you will have to wait to get the stamps.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:16:37 +0000

While I know that you have enough food for a few weeks, you still might try salvation army.

As for food stamps, I have always heard that in Texas they were a bit corrupt.