No food stamps for students!!!

abmsam · Jun 9, 2005

Actually, my choice would be to pay for neither.
"Accidently" had kids? While some people use birth control PROPERLY and still have a pregnancy happen, many people do not use birth control properly nor safely. What is wrong with having a good life plan with fall back plans, and a couple using two forms of birth control until they have a firm educational foundation? Yes, it is not glamourous but it is responsible.
Why is the mother "single"? Was the biodad abusive? Before or after she conceived children with him? Did she make bad choices in life partners? Did she choose to sleep with someone that was a poor partner or refused to make a commitment to her. Barring rape or incest, these are choices that one makes and even in the cases of rape or incest, the woman chooses either to keep the child/put up the child for adoption/abortion.
These are choices that one makes based on one's values. And one person should not have to pay for another's poor choices.
I took care of my niece, because I made the choice to sacrifice for her....I accepted that I would do so with any help...and that there would be difficult sacrifices to make...I was willing to make them. I only wish that others would do the same with their children.

Well stated.

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Jun 9, 2005

While I have lived long enough to see serious abuse of much of the welfare system, I still think foodstamps are approiate for someone who is officially trying to make a better life for themselves. We send tons and tons of food to countries who want to see us dead, why not feed a fellow American who is attempting to seek the skills for a better life.

Aongroup1990, CNA · Jun 1, 2012

Ok there are food pantries she can go to every month or every two weeks. free food, and clothing...

aachavez · Jun 1, 2012

Florida is the same way, I was on food stamps, but once I started school, I was no longer eligible. I flipped out. Im already not getting any grants or finacial aide, its all on student loans. If I'd had kids, I'd get all kinds of government support. But since Im a young adult going to school to make a better future for myself (and getting a 4.0 while I"m at it) I'm on my own.

I dont understand how I can be a bum, and sit around and collect food stamps. But if I go to school, there's no help for me. I've never been so frustrated.

Stephalump · Jun 1, 2012

Florida is the same way, I was on food stamps, but once I started school, I was no longer eligible. I flipped out. Im already not getting any grants or finacial aide, its all on student loans. If I'd had kids, I'd get all kinds of government support. But since Im a young adult going to school to make a better future for myself (and getting a 4.0 while I"m at it) I'm on my own.
I dont understand how I can be a bum, and sit around and collect food stamps. But if I go to school, there's no help for me. I've never been so frustrated.

Seriously? That's crazy...I wonder what the heck the logic is there? Of all the people who I don't mind contributing our tax dollars to, students rank pretty high on the list. Maybe it's because of access to financial aid?

DarkLotus · Jun 1, 2012

Two things. First this thread is from '05 and just got revived today... second, if you are homeless and a full time student you can get food stamps. I lived in a van for a while when I was much younger and was able to get food stamps while in school for a term. I was too young to be 'independent' and qualify for any aid other than a fee waiver but my parents were not helping me while in school, needless to say I quit and got a job as a barista.

Stephalump · Jun 1, 2012

Two things. First this thread is from '05 and just got revived today... second, if you are homeless and a full time student you can get food stamps. I lived in a van for a while when I was much younger and was able to get food stamps while in school for a term. I was too young to be 'independent' and qualify for any aid other than a fee waiver but my parents were not helping me while in school, needless to say I quit and got a job as a barista.

That's what I was thinking...there can't be a blanket rule. If you're living with your parents or in student loans or your parents are paying for you to live somewhere else, I would think bein unemployed would be seen as "by choice.". But literally destitute it was different.

Journee2 · Jun 11, 2012

I saw abuse of the PA DPW System for years while I worked in Social Services, mainly Drug and Alcohol treatment. Hell, I learned tricks and tips from my Clients about how they remained on the "system" for so many years yet they used their TANF and sold their Food Stamps to buy drugs. The US Government is like an enabling parent - they reward negativity! Yes, I understand that choosing to attend College or a Trade Program is a choice BUT unfortunately the only other choice we have is to become a DPW Case - little to no education, unwed, with child(ren), possibly with a drug or alcohol abuse problem, with no desire or motivation to get off the "system". I'd rather have my tax dollars going to help a struggling student who is doing their best not to become a statistic than have it go to someone who has been abusing our tax dollars for decades.

mom22many · Jun 11, 2012

I must live in the right state because ive never heard any restrictions or work requirements for SNAP (food stamps) TANF on the other hand has multiple requirements but food stamps?!?!?!

Every human is flawed, i didnt make good choices in my past and this lead me down a road to state services, i always held a job and continued to take a class here and there and one semester had to take 12 credits and i made Deans List while being a single parent to 4 children!!

The community i live in has many resources including a truck that comes once a month with fresh fruits and vegtables that they hand out to anyone who shows up. We have a church that offers restuarent style package meats and other perishables at discounted prices. We have multiple consignment shops in the area and i always shop the clearance racks when i do venture out. I have food stamps and am in school full time, work per diem at the local community hospital, sometimes going a week or two with no hours. I always say it's either better to be rich or poor in this state, middle class are tortured. .....

Know your resources...always where ever you are!!

Good Luck everyone i have 7 more medications to write up for my first OB rotation in a couple days.... :eek:

LydiaNN · Jun 11, 2012

If you don't already have a degree, wouldn't you qualify for higher financial aid if you weren't working? Maybe the rationale behind not allowing students to get food stamps is that they are already getting government assistance that way? I'm just asking... that's the way it used to be, but I know things have changed radically. Who really loses out, I think, is people who got a degree that has turned out to be useless, wants to go back and make something of their lives, but can't, because they enter the Catch-22 reflected in this thread.

Government assistance is so convoluted. In CA, families who qualify for Section 8 housing can send their children to state funded preschools, scotfree, no tuition required. It doesn't matter if their Section 8 voucher is worth $3000 a month (I'm not just throwing that number out there, either; I know a family that gets that much!) BUT military families are required to add in the value of their housing allowance to their income, which disqualifies even the lowest paid members from benefiting from the free preschool for their children. How is that fair?

Inkynurse · Jun 17, 2012

Welfare in this country is so messed up! It seems that in a lot of cases it makes more sense financially to stay in the system then go out and get a job. I have no problem at all that some of my tax dollars go to people in need. I do wish that the system could be reformed with the goal of getting people off welfare eventually. In no circumstance should getting a job mean less overall income. I work with people who watch their hours and refuse raises because if they make a little more money their kids would not qualify for state healthcare! How ridiculous is this?

As far as some of the older posts (and yes, I know they were years ago), I don't understand why some people have to be so critical. I mean, its great if you worked 60 hours a week, have 4 children under age 7, no spouse to help, had to take care of you invalid great uncle, all the while attending nursing school and graduating with a 4.0. I commend you. I have a 4 year old, a husband with a decent job, family to help with childcare, and access to financial aid. But its still hard for me, and I won't be starting full time nursing school until this fall, which means I will be severly cutting back at my job if I am able to work at all and maintain my grades. I would not qualify for government assistance anyways because of my husbands income, which isn't a lot. I am dedicated to doing whatever it takes to get my degree. I know it is going to take a lot of sacrifice and I am will to do it. Honestly though, I don't see how people with less than me are able to do it without help from the government. The childcare aspect alone is daunting if you don't have family to help. I could afford to send my son to daycare on just my husband's salary. Yes, some people seem to be able to do the "impossible" and yes, they should be proud of themselves. But just because someone isn't able to carry as heavy a load, is there really any reason to look down on them? If someone is willing to go to school and work hard to get a degree, but they need a little help from the government to do it, why not. I would much rather my tax dollars go to helping that person acheive their goals than just "maintaining" a poverty lifestyle. When we educated people, we help end the cycle of poverty, and that it is a benefit to our country as a whole.