No food stamps for students!!!

Trauma Columnist · Jun 4, 2005

This is so sad...people trying to better themselves and yet it is still very, very hard. I did my LPN program in Las Vegas in the early 90's and most of my fellow students were in a welfare-to-work program. They got their day care (if needed), food stamps and chapter 8 housing. It works to provide an education to the poor - education is a hand-up, not a hand-out! Good luck to all of you!

YoungWiseWoman · Jun 4, 2005

That is very silly a social worker telling you to get pregnant to get aid.
If a working parent had reached an education loan maximum and is in need of assistance to fed a family and finish school, they should get it. It keep their kids from becoming a public charge later in life.
Our system is broke. It needs to be fixed.

She told me that the only way I could get foodstamps without working is if I were pregnant or had dependents. The fact that I was a student was not a factor. She told me that if I did work I could only make $1000/month before taxes. I am in Texas and those are the rules.

nursenursenurse · Jun 4, 2005

Have a friend admitted to an intense LPN program - that does not allow you to work - .

Can she not work just because that the class load is to heavy? Or does the school forbid it?

I understand not having much time to work due to studying and class. But I think it would be wrong for the school to forbid you to work. Why is it any of their business if you work a few hours a week. As long as your grades are good and stuff. It just seems wrong to me.

DZcarrie · Jun 4, 2005

i think it's a bit greedy for people like us, living in the U.S., to complain that we have to take out loans to go to school. So, we have to struggle to make ends meet for a little while...I'm okay with that because my reward will be an awesome job that i will LOVE! I think we should all be thanking our lucky stars that we even get such opportunities....or that if we were in TRUE poverty and wondering where our next meal would come from, or where we were going to sleep tonight- there is help!

I do feel empathy for everyone out there struggling to pay for school whatever State you are in. I personally feel that if it comes down to me sitting on the floor of a studio apartment eating Ramen noodles in the dark to afford school, I still have it a whole heck of a lot better than many other countries and i'll sure as heck take our "system that is broken" over living elsewhere.

OP's friend just may be able to explain to her school that if she doesn't work the 20 hours/week, she will starve to death and not be able to become a nurse-because she will be dead, of course. If she has to take out loans and max out all of her credit cards, it sucks, but welcome her to the club! Tens of thousands of students across the country are singing the same tune (whether they are in poor states or not). Let's say that she spends $100 on food/week (that's a lot especially if you are being thrifty). $400/month. So, if she works PT for about $5.00/hr take-home pay...she would only have to work 20 hours/week. :Melody: or borrow more money, but invest in a secure future for herself.

Oh, and immigrants haven't paid taxes, yet. Still doesn't mean they should starve. :no:

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jun 4, 2005

I raised a child (that I did not give birth to), worked and went to Nursing school.

I received no loans or grants/government financial aid nor food stamps. I also had no medical insurance for myself. I also resided with but also cared for a mother that had breast cancer and lost both breasts. I have no spouse to help.

I am not rich and very few nursing students are "rich' yet the waiting lists are full. We are not running low on prospective nurses due to lack of applicants to nursing school.

If you want to make a better life for yourself and those that you care for, you will find a way to do so. It may mean waiting 4-10 years until things are more stable. It may mean sacrifices that you are not very happy to make. But being married/having kids/being native born/being a well meaning nursing student does not entitle you to food stamps/loans/grants/financial support. And plenty of "non rich" people make it through nursing school without the extra support.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 4, 2005

I raised a child (that I did not give birth to), worked and went to Nursing school.
I received no loans or grants/government financial aid nor food stamps. I also had no medical insurance for myself. I also resided with but also cared for a mother that had breast cancer and lost both breasts. I have no spouse to help.
I am not rich and very few nursing students are "rich' yet the waiting lists are full. We are not running low on prospective nurses due to lack of applicants to nursing school.
If you want to make a better life for yourself and those that you care for, you will find a way to do so. It may mean waiting 4-10 years until things are more stable. It may mean sacrifices that you are not very happy to make. But being married/having kids/being native born/being a well meaning nursing student does not entitle you to food stamps/loans/grants/financial support. And plenty of "non rich" people make it through nursing school without the extra support.

Good post. I was single without dependents and it was just expected for me to pay my own way when I went to nursing school.

It does seem ironic that one qualifies for food stamps, but tries to better themselves by going to school and suddenly can't get them anymore.

As much as I know there are hard working deserving people out there, I don't support food stamps for students. Maybe I'm bitter because I worked full time while in school.

speedykicks · Jun 4, 2005

"But immigrants can get food stamps? I just don't get it. "

This is just not true - some immigrants can get some food stamps for their children, if the kids were born in the US, but believe me - the plight of the immigrant person today is far greater than that of any US citizen. The system doesn't work for them - at all. And it was federal welfare reform in 1996 that changed the types of education people could get while receiving welfare benefits. Once upon a time , folks were encouraged to go to school. Now it isn't allowed - only job training for low-wage jobs, OR of course, you can get bonuses in many states if you get married. The long and the short of it - the government does little to nothing to promote the advancement and education of the nation's poor - most of whom are women - but rather focuses their energies and $$$ on pushing folks into very low paying jobs and marriage - which is of great value to socitey, but NOT as an answer to women's poverty.

z's playa · Jun 4, 2005

But being married/having kids/being native born/being a well meaning nursing student does not entitle you to food stamps/loans/grants/financial support.

Aaah...but here in Canada it does ! :)

Z

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2005

I was talking to a friend about this and he said it's dependent on each state. He said for a example if a single mother is going to Ariz. State Univ. then she would qualify for food stamps. Good to know it's available in some places, maybe more states will start heading in that direction.

sunnyjohn · Jun 5, 2005

I got no aid going to school... Nada... Zilch... Zero....

And I worked over 40 hours a week.

I am very proud of the fact that I paid my own way through. It is something that made me stronger.

It was not until I was homeless for quite some time did I hear about a scholarship that covered tuition and books. I still had to work to eat.

For the longest I would not tell people of that. But I began to realize that after that event I could do anything.

You must do what you must do.

It's when a person has done all they can and they hit the wall... That's when I think it's time for us to help.

I'm pro-immigrant, pro-nursing student, pro-family, pro-working mums and dad and pro-anybody who works hard to advance their education and take care of their family

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2005

I'm pro-immigrant, pro-nursing student, pro-family, pro-working mums and dad and pro-anybody who works hard to advance their education and take care of their family

:)

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jun 6, 2005

Additionally, what is wrong with immigrants being able to eat? So many people come to this country with nothing but the clothes on their back.
Many elderly people would also physically be unable to work and go to school and generally already have a tough time affording food and multiple medications. Plus, many have already paid into the system for decades.
It is tough affording college when you're on your own, but please don't compare being a college student with being an immigrant or the like. Apples and oranges.....

I am thinking she meant people here illegally. And they CAN get government assistance - especially if they have a child who was born here and thus an American citizen.

A friend of mine is a social worker. It happens.