How do public housing, food stamps, and financial aid programs work?

[Barret]

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but how do these programs work exactly?

For example, if you were a single person making $5.15/hr you (obviously) would be very poor.

So from what I understand you could apply for public housing, food stamps, and (if you wanted to go to school) finanical aid. Is this correct?

Once you are on these programs how do they work exactly? Is it basically

Public housing - you get assistance to pay rent. (or reduced rent cost?)

Food stamps - the government gives you stamps to get food with.

and Finanical aid - the government pays for your school.

Is this basically how those programs work?

[shockingelk]

1. basically yes

Section 8 is subsidized housing where rent is scaled to how much you earn: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_housing

It's not called food stamps any more, but EBT (referring to the electronic card) or TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) - depending on household income, you can get direct monetary aid.

Financial aid is a broad topic - here is some info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Student_loan

[Barret]

3. What does EBT stand for?

nt

[shockingelk]

5. Electronic Benefits Transfer n/t

[htuttle]

2. In my experience, if you are a single male, they don't work at all

From my interactions with public welfare during the 1980's, I discovered that as a single male, I was basically expected to go out and forage for a living if I couldn't find a job. But not out in the wilderness -- that would be illegal. :eyes:

I can only imagine it's gotten worse since welfare 'reform'.

Women and people with children have a much better chance of getting some kind of assistance. Otherwise, you have it basically correct.

There are extra requirements now, but I'm not familiar with them. If it's anything like the 'workfare' that Thompson implemented here in Wisconsin, there is a strict time limit (not very long) on how long you can stay on assistance. If your kids skip school, you can get kicked off, too.

[mzmolly]

4. From my understanding, in order to qualify for such programs

you have to be 'very' poor, and generally have children.

There is also extensive paperwork to be filed monthly for any benefits if your working at all, and subsidized housing is limited to the certain areas because not all landlords will accept it.

Regarding financial aid, it's very difficult to get a 'grant' ie the government pays for your education. VERY. And, under Bush, it's become impossible to my understanding, as several cuts have been made. You may qualify for a student loan however?

Good luck to you if your in need of ANY of these services. :hi:

[The Flaming Red Head]

12. FAFSA.gov is the web addy

A lot people qualify for this kind of aid.

[mzmolly]

24. A lot of people is a stretch, but given the increasing poverty under the

Bush admin, perhaps "LOTS" more do?

[The Flaming Red Head]

25. More people than you think qualify and I think everyone should try

especially if they want an education. It cost nothing to apply and it's all online so it's easier now.

I helped get my friend into nursing school and I'm trying to help a couple of other people.

It's better odds than buying a lotto ticket.

[mzmolly]

26. I would be surprised if getting a grant was easy under the Bush admin.

But, am glad your friends got help.

I know student loans are somewhat easy, but I head Pell Grants were cut drastically. :hi:

[The Flaming Red Head]

27. It's true that Pell no longer covers the cost of tuition and books

but they're still out there.

[grasswire]

6. something else you should know

The waiting list for housing assistance is several years long.

Applicants for housing and food stamps may only own very limited assets, in addition to income restrictions.

The more assistance a person seeks, the more intrusive the government is into his/her life.

[Barret]

7. Is housing assistance the same as

"Privately owned subsidized apartments"?

[skygazer]

8. From someone who's been there

Not very well, to answer your first question.

Public housing requires you to fit certain guidelines pertaining to income as well as assets. There is often a waiting list and its usually very long. Section 8 is a different thing - it provides help paying rent in certain approved buildings. For instance, my sister receives section 8 - her landlord had to submit forms etc. to make his apartment eligible for the program.

Food stamps and EBT are similar but different. A welfare benefit usually consists of a combination of cash and food stamps (now they are put on the EBT card but there is a portion that can only be used for food). You have to visit the office regularly with paperwork, receipts and proof of this or that. Assets count toward your income so if you have a newer car, it can put you over the limit for assistance. You also can get some health benefits through the welfare system depending on the state. Children are more apt to get benefits.

All these programs are administered by different agencies - welfare is funded federally but administered by state (I believe). Food stamps used to be issued by the Dept. of Agriculture though I don't know if that's still so. Pell grants for education came through the Fed. Dept. of Education. Section 8 can be either federal or state. It's a confusing maze to make one's way through and it's very tough to get out of once you're in. In my experience, welfare offices do very little to assist people in job training or skills to get off it. I wanted to attend classes and could find no one to steer me through - luckily I had enough courage to do it on my own.

[theoceansnerves]

11. financial aid

is basically non-existant from the government if you are under 24. even moreso if your parents make any kind of money (i.e. they both have jobs, etc.) even if you are over 23 the federal government in no way will ever pay for your school entirely, pell grants have been FROZEN at $4050 by bush. there are state grants and school grants that can make up the difference.

food stamps are also not easy to come by anymore. it makes me sick to my stomach when i hear conservatives spout off any kind of rhetoric about welfare programs, they almost always make it seem like there are millions of people getting tons of free shit, it just doesn't happen that way.

on edit: i meant to reply to the original post, sorry :/

[DavidFL]

20. Yes...

I used to work at my university's financial aid office and unless you attend a relatively inexpensive state school, assuming you were eligible for max Pell and for a state grant, that might just cover tuition. The amount of Pell a student receives can be different, though, depending on the school you attend because its given as a block grant and then divvied up by the school from there. Where I attended, I was eligble for max Pell and got it all 4 years. But had I enrolled 5 years later, I would have been eligible for max Pell, but received less than that because the university's administrators were admitting applicants left and right to increase enrollment, yet the amount of Pell given out by the Feds wasn't keeping pace. So, students who were eligble for max Pell got less than that because the financial aid office had to spread Pell around among a larger pool of eligible students. Thankfully, those administrators were all fired when the unversity got a new president. But there were so many students who had to leave the university because they had no way to make up the shortfall.

There used to something from the Feds called the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), but I haven't heard of anyone receiving it recently. Although I've been out of financial aid for 4 years now, so it may still be given out and those I know who are attending college are just not eligible for it. But SEOG wasn't very much, only $500 a year max.

If grants don't cover tuition, students are given the Stafford loan. And if they're still supported by their parents, their parents will be offered the PLUS loan. If those still don't cover tuition, most schools will push private loan programs. Depending on need, some students will be eligible for Federal Work Study -- where you must obtain one of a limited number of work study positions on campus that pay minimum wage -- but in reality, it's not soemthing a student can bank on because they first must find a work study position and then hussle enough hours to earn the amount they're eligible for. Most of the time, though, it doesn't work out that way.

If someone decides to go on to grad school, it's a whole different story because most students will be offered Stafford loans. Some state grant programs, like NY State, offer grants to grad students, but it's a very small amount.

[theoceansnerves]

22. yeah

the SEOG is still around. you qualify for it if you have an EFC of zero and qualify for the maximum pell grant. it's $1000 a year or less, depending on how the school divides the money (you raised a good point, you might not always get the max, even if you qualify for it, because of how your school divides up the money.)

[Barret]

14. Well...

I might soon be making anywhere from 5.15/hr to maybe $8.00 depending.

I'm also going to have to move from where I am staying now. (which is with someone who has been letting me stay here for free)

As for as assests... I've got very little. (most certainly not a car or anything worth much)

I'm in Texas and I read they had food stamps and it says in order to qualify "In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a resident of the State of Texas and fall into one of two groups: (1) those with a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $2,001" which is me. So I guess that's a state program.

Just trying to evaluate all of my options at the moment.

[pinto]

17. encourage you to use your internet access and check out TX State

social service programs, including Sec 8 housing assistance in your locality (it's a federally funded, state operated program). The specifics on all programs for TX ought to be included on the TX State website, as a start. And, ask questions, locally....good luck.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

30. In TX the food stamp program

is done with the "Lone Star" card and it is a card you swipe so it is automatically debited from your food stamp account.

Best of luck to you, I am here in TX too...PM me if you have any questions I can help with. I have helped my students and their parents find assistance when needed.

[skygazer]

9. In addition

if you were a single person making $5.15 an hour, you would probably not be eligible for welfare or food stamps. You might qualify for some subsidized housing and you might qualify for some financial aid.

[The Flaming Red Head]

13. You'd qualify for food stamps

at 5.15 an hour that would be under 1000 a month and you'd qualify and you can own a car and a house and qualify.

[The Flaming Red Head]

10. If you attend school you have to have a job to qualify for food stamps

The contract on America added that nice little requirement. If you're not in school meaning votech or college then you don't have to work to qualify for foodstamps.

Housing subsidies are hard to get, real, real, hard.

Weird huh?

[oldlady]

15. then & now...

you've already had some great comments above...but this got me to thinking about what it USED to be like... back in the seventies even single people (yes, men, too) could qualify for food stamps, welfare checks, medical assistance, and free tuition if they were below a certain income level. In the mid-90s, my state (WI) cut all aid to single persons & with the launch of W2 (Wisconsin Works, compliments of Tommy Thompson) only mothers or MARRIED men with children could receive benefits. All college assistance was cancelled for those receiving food stamps, medical assistance or subsidized child care. The limit for receiving benefits is 2 years & it is cumulative-- so if you received 1 year and 11 months of benefits, got on your feet & worked for twenty years and the job left town, you had just one month of benefits left to you. Mothers must return to work, or do Community Service Jobs, or be in a training program when the child turns 2 months old. It's harsh--

But, the contrast is the shocking thing. I'm not really as old as my name would suggest & when I was in college in the late 70s many off-campus college kids were on food stamps and got contacts/dental care through Medical Assistance. If you had lost a parent to death you were guaranteed free tuition at the college of your choice under Social Security. I know people who had 6 & 8 years tuition free. Moms stayed home on AFDC (Aid for Dependent Children) until the kids entered school & you know....I think the whole society was happier and more well-adjusted. I know the moms weren't as stressed in my Section 8 neighborhood.

btw -- section 8 HUD housing is 30% gross income, with deductions for number of dependents, health costs, etc.

recently rewatched Bowling for Columbine & the part where the child from Flint shot another child in first grade & the mom was riding the bus 2 hours a day to work in some cheap mall.... it's not the American way I grew up in!

peace.

[stavka]

16. I saw a women use a bridge card, and then buy lottery tickets

I was VERY pissed - such conduct confirms every minority hating generalization out there.

Then I got pissed at myself for being pissed, but moved 2% more from my more sensitive leftist position.

[Classical_Liberal]

21. It is not possible to use ebt for anything but noncooked food items

.

[stavka]

32. I didn't say she used the card to buy lottery tickets

..she didn't.

[The Flaming Red Head]

23. Yes, but if she wins

she won't need the bridge card anymore.

[skygazer]

36. I understand the frustration but

It's like the time I gave the homeless guy outside the convenience store a pack of cigarettes. My sister gave me hell for it - "you should have given him a sandwich!" He didn't want a sandwich - he was outside asking for a cigarette.

We who have enough money to buy the occasional luxury have to realize that the poor want something special now and then too. Sure a lottery ticket might be foolish but to her, it's hope. Those cigarettes might kill that dude I gave them to but then, so might poverty, so might homelessness. He wanted something that was special to him, something to take his mind off the miserable existence he lives in.

So when you see a mom use her EBT to buy potato chips for her kids, or someone you just gave $5 to buy a 40 ounce beer, have a little compassion. We all need a luxury now and then. It's hard to say "no" to your kids all the time. It's hard to do without all the time.

If you've never walked in those shoes, you're lucky. I have - it's no fun.

[Tight_rope]

18. Not well anymore...Bush saw to that!

[Hamlette]

19. some corrections

they still call it food stamps. (Most states put the food stamps on an EBT. Food stamps can only be spent at grocery stores for groceries. It is federally funded but administered by the states. You can get food stamps if you do not have dependent children and meet the work requirements. (ABODs, able bodied individuals. If you can't work, you don't have to meet the work requirements.) If you have no dependent children and are an ABOD it might be that you can only get them for a short period of time. (Not exactly sure about that!)

The income and asset levels for Texas are here:

http://www.dhs.state.tx.us/programs/TexasWorks/foodstamp.html

Cash or financial assistance is a federal program, administered by the states, for households with dependent children.

Cash or financial assistance for persons (single or married) without dependent children living with them are provided by SOME states. It is entirely state funded and some states provide nothing to households without dependent children.

Hunt around google. I just put in food stamps texas and came up with that page. You might find answers to all of your questions there.

[GOPisEvil]

28. For food stamps in Texas, start here.

http://www.txstars.net/servlet/HSGServlet?page=Home

This is a self-screener that will help you figure out if you qualify, and where to apply.

[dmr]

29. Some info:

Food stamps are easier to qualify than TANF.

Medicaid seems to be easier to qualify than TANF.

TANF is easier to get than housing.

Housing is difficult to obtain, but is easier to get than Section 8.

Somewhere in all this, you may qualify for heating, water or electric assistance.

As stated in the other posts, TANF and food stamp funds are placed on an EBT card. You use it just like a debit card. There is a toll free number you can call to find out how much money/food stamp funds are on the card, or you can go to an approved machine to find out or withdraw TANF. When you shop, you use the EBT at nearly any grocery store just like a debit card.

If you are granted housing, that may be in a shelter or even in a hotel. You have to continuously prove you are looking for your own housing, your job and monetary status. Your state will give you money toward the permanent housing you may find, but the amount is so paultry, you will never find anything. Usually, if you are granted housing, you must go to your social services offices weekly to get the check to pay for your housing - that includes the shelters. Of course this is dependent upon the state in which you live.

Section 8 is very hard to get because there is a long list of people waiting, and only so many vouchers are granted at various times, if at all. Bush* has made major reductions across the country for housing. Someone on a list can get bumped if someone has a greater need than you. They have something called a 'Reunification' program - for families where the children are in danger of being seperated from their parents or for those who are disabled and have no place else to go.

For any benefit, you have to prove the need. You can't lie. They have computer access to the DMV and the banks, etc. They want to know about insurance policies, pensions, etc. If you may happen to have a lawsuit pending, you have to tell them, they will put a lein on any monies you get - they want to get repaid.

If your child has an absent parent that does not pay child support, you must follow through with your state's court system to find the parent.

If you are a healthy individual, you must find work. You have to prove you are looking for work. You also must prove that you are looking for affordable housing.

If you are physically unable to work, you must prove it. They may send you to their own physician.

The amount of benefits is dependent upon your family size, assets, whether you have an income or what your current income is. You have to report any changes in your life. You can be married, single, male, female or have a family.

With Section 8, you pay 30% (sometimes, but rarely 40%) of your net income, the rest is paid by the government. You must follow all their rules or risk losing the benefit. To qualify, they will perform a background and criminal check. If you receive a Section 8 voucher you are given a limited amount of time (I think 90 days) to find a landlord that will accept their vouchers. That landlord has to fill out paperwork and the property will be inspected before they allow you to move in. Once you move in, you are responsible to pay your portion directly to the landlord, the balance is paid by the government - on time, without fail.

You would most likely qualify for a utility allowance. It would automatically be sent to the power or gas company, or to you to send in to the respective companies.

Once you begin to receive any benefit, you must report any or all changes - job, all monies, household size, etc, usually within 10 days of the changes. You are re-certified once a year, in some instances every 6 months.

If you are requesting housing or Section 8, you must explain where you are currently living, and why you can no longer live there. If you are out living in the street, you must explain why you are no longer living in a home. If you were or are living with someone and can no longer live there, you must present a letter from that person stating why you no longer can live there. If you do not present a letter, they will phone that person, and may send an investigator out.

I believe the law now reads that you can collect up to 60 months of TANF in your lifetime - if you are physically able to work, that is. There are mandatory meetings you must attend, or they will sanction a benefit, usually TANF. You have to follow everything they tell you to do. If you do not then they sanction you. I already explained if you are physically unable to work. They will provide TANF until you qualify for Social Security benefits. If Social Security deems you fit to work, then you have to find work. Social Security is not always fair, either, as there are those who should qualify but the judge says differently.

If you are under any of these programs, you will have no secrets. They are very intrusive. As awful as it is, it's for a reason. People using these benefits qualify for them and there is no shame and it is not a free ride or a free handout, as the Republicans like to say. We all work hard to live a quality life, but sometimes we need help.

Sadly, the jerk in the White House and his friends are changing how all this works, and the money needed to fund these services.

Our country is seeing more and more families in need for these services. It is heartbreaking. The churches and charities who traditionally help with clothing, food and school supplies are having a very difficult time. There are more people in need, and they are seeing less in donations, both monetarily and otherwise. If anyone that is working, please take the time to donate. If anything, think of all the children who go without. Bring a smile to their face, if you can - THAT alone will bring a smile to their parent's heart. Even donate to your local schools, who are teaching more and more homeless children - provide paper, notebooks, pencils, pens, crayons, bookbags, so on and so forth. Our school district does this, they also have a collection of jeans, sweaters, winter coats and other clothes so the kids have something nice to wear to school. It does make a difference.

[oldlady]

31. when you call for help on the EBT card

btw...you are calling India, from most states. check out www.fightingbob.com

[GOPisEvil]

33. In Texas, you are calling a phone center located here in Austin.

It was in the contract.

[dmr]

34. You know GOPisEvil, that's good to hear!

I just don't understand how our government who wants their citizens to work in order to qualify to collect assistance would outsource jobs to another country! Think of the people the government could employ to get off the 'dole' as we use to say.

It just boggles my mind.

I wish the jobs would stay at home where they belong. Personally, I don't like the idea of my personal information (banking or otherwise) to leave this country. I could be wrong, but to me that gives too much information to an entity that has no vested interest in this country. I don't suspect India doing anything with this info, but one never knows what's in the future. I once thought our country would never do a unilateral strike on a sovereign nation, but it happened.

Jobs are lost and more people need help. Jobs are outsourced, and assistance funds are slashed. The middle-class Americans who support Bush* fail or refuse to understand they are only a paycheck or so away from needing help themselves.

[GOPisEvil]

35. There used to be two phone centers, one in FL, the other here.

But when the contract was renegotiated, it was stipulated that the call center be in Texas.