General Discussion

YarnAddict

(1,850 posts)

9. I don't know about the benefits in Maine

Tue Jul 29, 2014, 11:20 AM

Jul 2014

but in most places, you don't need to have children to qualify for Food Stamps, or EITC, and I don't believe there are any requirements for most food patries.

Your particular job has a few "benefits," that you may not realize you have. I had a friend many years ago, who was starting over after a divorce. At the time she had a daughter in college, and three younger sons. She got a job as a night desk clerk at a hotel, which offered her lots of time to study, so she was able to get job training as a sign language interpreter, and went on to work in education and become independent.

It's a unique situation, where you can earn $$ while studying, and I would heartily encourage you to do so. There are still fields that are VERY lucrative, and will enable you to move ahead.

Good luck to you!

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Think you can make it on minimum wage? [View all] davidthegnome Jul 2014 OP

And these days most low paying jobs are only part time. Marrah_G Jul 2014 #1

My mortgage alone is 1800 a month yeoman6987 Jul 2014 #3

It would suck to live on minimum wage YarnAddict Jul 2014 #2

I'm not sure that's accurate. davidthegnome Jul 2014 #4

I don't know about the benefits in Maine YarnAddict Jul 2014 #9

I appreciate the well wishes. davidthegnome Jul 2014 #13

This person wouldn't be eligible for SNAP, they make too much money TheKentuckian Jul 2014 #20

i have a real life friend making $700/month in illinois questionseverything Jul 2014 #27

for a childless person making $15,000 a year hfojvt Jul 2014 #37

Why would you not apply for state or federal assistance? lumberjack_jeff Jul 2014 #14

Stupid, stubborn pride. davidthegnome Jul 2014 #19

Waste of time, they aren't eligible for the food stamps, I don't know about the lifeline phone. TheKentuckian Jul 2014 #29

In Washington, food assistance (and a cellphone and a landline discount) lumberjack_jeff Jul 2014 #33

I ran the calculator for Maine, they get squat. TheKentuckian Jul 2014 #34

My wacked out Republican coworker thinks you can easily survive on minimum wage... tridim Jul 2014 #5

Minimum wage jambo101 Jul 2014 #6

"Think you can make it on minimum wage?" NaturalHigh Jul 2014 #7

Nope. PasadenaTrudy Jul 2014 #8

Like anything, it depends on preparation. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2014 #10

Is that income before or after taxes? davidthegnome Jul 2014 #15

Your scenario was predicated on no dependents. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2014 #32

I could survive on minimum wage. If I held four such jobs. closeupready Jul 2014 #11

I could survive on minimum wage. NCTraveler Jul 2014 #12

David... grasswire Jul 2014 #16

I live on $1137 a month from SSDI Kaleva Jul 2014 #17

Throw rent in and just barely making it becomes not gonna make it real quick. TheKentuckian Jul 2014 #21

Take car payments out, and raise cell phone bills Reter Jul 2014 #18

My cell phone service is $10 a month. The smart phone I use was $50. DesMoinesDem Jul 2014 #23

I'd hump someone's leg to pay that :) Reter Jul 2014 #24

Airvoice wireless. Its not unlimited, but I don't use my phone that much. DesMoinesDem Jul 2014 #26

My answer is no. I don't see how you'd finagle it long term. TheKentuckian Jul 2014 #22

David, here's a link to that Hotel Hell episode grasswire Jul 2014 #25

I am on Social Security and after the Medicare premium, RebelOne Jul 2014 #28

Well, that constitutes a $1.25 an hour raise plus makes their income tax free, and they still TheKentuckian Jul 2014 #30

Your manager sounds like a real piece of work. surrealAmerican Jul 2014 #31

I know I could hfojvt Jul 2014 #35

I don't have to imagine it - I lived it. davidthegnome Jul 2014 #38

If you take "rent" out of the equation, it seems do-able oberliner Jul 2014 #36