I am a US citizen but cannot get public assistance, the neighbors are not, but had no problems?

Question

I am 29 and have worked since I was 14. Paid taxes, medicare, unemployment, fico, etc., my whole life. I am now unable to work. I applied for unemployment but do not qualify. I have not been unemployed long enough to qualify for food stamps, so I was denied. I asked for housing assistance, but was denied. I applied for state medical benefits and was denied. Because I am a single white male, I do not qualify for 80% of assistance programs. I have no family to rely on, and now no home, no healthcare, and no food.
My neighbors downstairs from me, who I absolutely love, have come here from Mexico. They do not have citizenship, and are not here legally. They applied for, and recieved foodstamps, housing assistance, free childcare, and healthcare.
Does any of this make any sense? I went to the food bank for food ,and they gave me bread and canned green beans. The family downstairs goes to the same food bank, and because they have children they get milk, vegetables, bread, meat, butter?

Answer 1

You've worked and it sounds like you're honest....those are two things that guarantee that you won't get help....

sorry...

Answer 2

I cannot fix our system, but if I were in this situation, this is what I would do:

Rent my room out and sleep on the couch. Mow lawns for money to buy food. I would knock on doors and mow first, then allow them to pay me what they thought the job was worth, I woul dnot give details to the people about my sorry situation. I would simply say I needed to augment my income. I would accept all drinks/food they offered after my job was done. (I always give food to peole who do work at my house, and many others do too.) I would buy a bag of beans and rice, one large piece of meat and make soup (it is cheap and good food). I could live on about three dollars a day eating soup, bread, and rice. I would make friends with the Ukrainians who get food stamps and take all the food bank food they don't know what to do with and usually throw away. Many of them take all they are allowed but have no idea what much of it is, take a taste and it gets tossed. The Mexicans, they may know what the food is but cannot eat it all as food stamps and food bank food are given to them in amounts that feed double their family. Offer to babysit for them or watch their grandma for them, cook a meal for them, do a little bartering. Creat story time and read to the family, help the children with their English skills. They will be a great source of help.

Start helping out at the senior center. They will give you a free meal for helping, they also have activities and you will be able to meet other folks that could eventually lead you into more help. Many family members take care of their aging grandfolks and need granny sitters. One can be pretty disabled and still do that. I am not too proud. I take care fo my grannie and I pay 120 a day to get respite.

Try to figure out ways to overcome this and make it a game or challenge. Be thinking like a winner.

You have at least two things going for you right now that I can see, you have a computer and you speak English. You have a great start.

How do you get to be 29 years old, and have no family? Is there more to this? Even my most troubled foster child had some sort of people she called family. I am a problem solver, but can only help with all the facts.

Good luck to you, think positive.


I was at the mission today and gave a pair of light up shoes to a ltitle boy. He was tickled. His father looked like he could mow my lawn.... He is probably an addict but he has to be in recovery to stay at this one. So maybe you have it better than he does?

Also I hope you get over your disability. Maybe that is the problem. You did not mention it.

Answer 3

No it makes no sense but part of it really is because they have kids. Are you out of work because you have a disability? Have you appealed your application for funding? About 70% of applications for financial assistance are turned down the first time and people need to appeal. This happens in Canada and the US (I have friends who are both workers and on the system on both sides of the border)

Try accessing other services besides the government. Places like the Salvation Army or St. Vincent de Paul Society (that is Canadian but probably has an arm in the US) If they can't help ou they can refer you to places that can. Don't give up. Have been where you are and it does get better but only if you don't give up.

Answer 4

oh wow u sound like me. except im a female. i was on food stamps for the last 3 years and i have 2 kids. they were on medicaid for their shots and doctor visits. im a stay at home mom - at least until they're both old enough to b @ school. i recently WON a car and now i have been denied everything!?!?!?!?! but cuz i have kids under 5 yrs old i am now on W.I.C and so i recieve free milk, penut butter, cereal, beans, juices, eggs and cheese. but let me tell u something.... if my dead - beat baby daddy can get almost $200 in food stamps with his no working black azz then so can u! i hate to say this, but u might kinda have to l-i-e on ur application. if u have no home just give them the address where u used to live - they have to know that u are a resident of the state that ur in b 4 they can give u state benefits. go apply for housing/section 8. its "against the law" for u to b turned away because of ur race or sex. U need 2 contact a higher authority than these people in the offices that u have been talking to. do wut i did - contact ur local news. u wanna see my story? click on this link http://www.ktre.com and click on the story "woman denied public assistance b cuz of her new car" u can even watch the video - takes like 5 minutes. Here's some other people u need to contact and tell ur story to: US Department of Agriculter (they r in charge of food stamp food) contact ur local newspaper, contact the House of Representitives (they can change the law) and i dont know what state ur in but every state has an official state website. u will need to contact someone on that site. if u dont know the web site for all these places just type it in ur search box and something should come up. good luck. ps. please click on that link and watch my story - 5 minutes!

Answer 5

It's extremely frustrating especially when you are doing everything legally. I sure hope that things will turn around for you.

But one reason that the government gives out additional assistance such as milk and bread is because they have children and you don't. The kids don't have a choice on the job, where an adult has more control over this.

Answer 6

You can't earn $300.00 a month? That's more than you'd get in food stamps. If you're that disabled, you need to apply for SSI.

Here's a clue, if your not disabled, you're expected to take any job that comes along. That means McDonald's, cutting grass, or shoveling sh!t. Why don't you ask the Mexicans to get you a job pushing a wheelbarrow or toting bricks?

What makes sense is that we take care of children first, then women, then you. If we don't have the money to do it all, you're the one who gets cut off. Deal with it and move back in with your parents.

Answer 7

you answered your own question in your statement..."Because I am a single white male"...i know exactly how you feel...i'm a white female and when i was homeless(but still in school) and i tried to get foodstamps, they said i needed to work at least 20hrs/wk to qualify...and when i applied for housing, the govt. worker(blackwoman) strait up told me that since i was white and had no kids, it probably wouldn't happen...crazy!
anyway, if you go to the Salvation Army and fill out a couple of forms, and they will give you an "emergency" voucher so that you can go to God's Pantry(united way) and get food...you can only do it once a month...i've had to do it, and they let me pick pretty much whatever i wanted...good luck...

Answer 8

I am in a similar situation, altough I am disabled. I have had to ask for assistance, and it was no easy thing. I also got turned down several times, and I found myself saying the same things you are saying. But I think I was probably unfair in my assessment of the situation. I agree that it is wrong that we do not enforce our borders and immigration laws, but I doubt that just because I am a white male, I can get no gov't assistance. I just have to do the best I can....we all do.

Answer 9

Get used to it, Bucko. The Bozzos come over here from Bosnia and get 6yrs. tax free living they are driving cars I'll never afford yet I'm paying for them! Plus, they get housing incentives, and help with food. I don't qualify for squat being a white student. I got loans that I'll pay back, so I guess maybe someday I'll be able to get a job with a Bozzo.

Answer 10

the only component to Your question That Makes ANY experience Is The word "Undocumented workers have no rights in this united states" that's the only section i will handle unlawful aliens are actually not Afforded Protections decrease than the U. S. shape OR The invoice Of Rights The Rights Of loose Speech And assembly To Protest Are Rights Reserved For voters Of the u . s . tens of millions of undocumented workers have been (ILLEGALLY) taking earnings of the 1st modification. merely think of If unlawful aliens have been Granted Constitutional Rights 2d modification anybody ?? bear in mind that One ?? the proper of the human beings to maintain and undergo palms ?? Thats What I meant via OUT OF CONTEXT you may no longer p.c.. and choose aspects Of The shape

Answer 11

Same problems here too. Only I grew up in foster care so I don't know my family at all. My roommate, who was taken away for abuse issues is having the government pay for his search and they wont even give me help with living. I make 8 an hour and he makes close to 14. Go figue.