Would you apply for welfare if you needed to? What should I do?

Question

I posted this about half an hour ago, but I was hoping for more answers, so here we go.

I'm a flat broke college kid. I make just enough to pay my rent and my utilities and buy gas to get to work. There is never much left over for food, and its getting pretty bad. I'm not in any real danger of starving, but I'll be blunt- if it isn't pasta, its stolen. I've eaten out of dumpsters before, but I don't like doing that. My parents don't have anything left to give me, and my friends have helped as much as they can. I know I have the option of applying for welfare and food stamps, but I don't want to do it. I don't want to be 'that girl' at the grocery store who whips out the food stamps. I don't want to be stared at, and I don't want to be pitied. My pride is fighting me on this. My question is- when is it time to swallow my pride? Should I stick to my guns and make things work, or should I give in and the the government help me? What would you do?

I've got a job, and I'm working as many hours as I can. I go to school in a very small town, so nothing is really open late, not even resturants or gas stations. The only hours I can work are during the day, around classes. I've taken out as many loans as I can- school won't give me any more.

And this being a small town is part of the problem- everyone knows everyone else, gossip flies, and if i got food stamps, the whole town would know before the week was over.

hehe.. my place is as cheap as I can make it. I live in a one-room efficency (the whole place is on a 15 degree slant), and i definately don't have room for a roommate.

Answer 1

That is an ethical and moral issue. There are places you can get assistance with food. The food banks are open and have a variety of items to choose from. If you are working, then see if you can get another job, perhaps on the weekends only. Perhaps working as a barrista, waitress or bartender (where you can make tips) would help ease your burden. Take in a roommate, or move to a less expensive place. Find a place with gas heat, it's typically less expensive. You could also take out student education loans from a bank which take in consideration living expenses. Sure you have to pay them back on a payment plan when you are finished with college, but if you go on to get your masters degree or further you could defer them for a long, long time.

btw - if you are stealing food and other items you are already allowing the government to provide some support to you, although in a much more dangerous way, what if you get caught. Ask yourself if it's worth the trauma you'll go through and the blemish in your record that as an adult will follow you for many years if not the rest of your life. Better to go on assistance then to risk jail.

Answer 2

Are you a full time student? Can you live on campus? You should be able to qualify for Pell Grants and if you can live on campus that would cut a lot of your bills if not why don't you get a roommate? You are young and single? right you don't need to get on welfare. You have to think a lttle more strategically. Maybe you should find second job, ask for more hours, or ask about a raise. You probably won't be eligible for food stamps anyway. You have to be destitute living in a shelter to be single getting food stamps. If you have two nickels to rub together you won't be eligible. The fact that you have a job - you will not be eligible. I would find another way like churches donate bags of groceries certain days. Also ask your school if they can help. make a list of all your expensed and then look at your income. Find the items that you don't need or could do without temporarly, figure out how much you need to live without starving it may not be that much more over a course of a month and find ways to supplement your income. craigslist.org is a good place to look. I wish you lots of luck.

Answer 3

I doubt if welfare would help you unless you have a dependent child. I know that's not fair too.
At one time I had to apply and receive welfare for my 2 children. (I'll admit, I too, was driven to steal food for my kids) The first day in the w. office was horrible because I realized I had become another statistic. I was suddenly one of them! I kept it together and put one foot forward because my children needed heat, food and electric.
Try! It won't hurt! If anything they may give you places to go and get other help if they can't.
There's work study programs in every higher education state. You could chose your hours on campus and earn your gas money ect.
This is very important and I've helped many returning students with this knowledge; In every financial aid office in every college or university in this country there is a list of available scholarships. Yes! Money is there for the taking. There is no need to pay back like in a student loan. If you need more info. about this email me and I'll give you my knowledge, free!
I've been there, done that, the hard way. I find that passing on my knowledge of surviving while getting an education, a rewarding gift that compliments my 2 college diplomas. jackie massachusetts

Answer 4

Have you exhausted your college resources? Apply for whatever grants and loans you can get, work study programs, scholarship programs. If you've done that (I'm assuming that you also work in addition to attending school), then it may be time for a little help from the government. There's nothing to be ashamed of, that's what those programs are there for. You're in school and trying to better yourself. People (especially those with few resources to start with) sometimes needs a helping hand to get them over the rough spots. It's not like you're planning to make collecting welfare your career. You just need a little help now to get you to a better place. There's nothing wrong with that; and anyone who tells you otherwise is an idiot.

Also, you probably won't get any cash assistance. I think that's just reserved for families with children. But you may still be able to get food stamps and quite possibly health care if you don't have any, and that should help at least a little. Good luck and God bless.

Answer 5

Do not be ashmed to use the government program for its intended purpose. You are not abusing it, and you will spend many years paying into it for others after you graduate. Before you do, contact the student services office of your university and discuss your situation with them. They may be able to suggest programs and services specifically for college students. I can understand your embarrassment at using food stamps. Even though you are not doing anything wrong, people will make assumptions about you. It's hard, but do not let your pride stop you from getting the help you need and have earned. Working your way through college is a worthy cause, and you will be off of the food stamps in a short period of time. Good luck.

Answer 6

Apply for the food stamps already! I understand exactly what you're going through! You're doing something for your future! The government will have no problems helping you, (they help a lot of people who really don't need it anyway). But you need to EAT girl! Don't be embarrassed, just look at the long term, soon you're be out of college and able to support yourself. Our generation was dealt an unfair hand (expensive education, expensive housing, horrible job market), the least the government can do is to help you out! Good luck in college!

Answer 7

The time for you to swallow your pride is now. You have bills to pay and you need to eat as well.

I have applied for employment insurance in the past. I have applied for welfare in the past, when my employment insurance ran out and I still hadn't found a job. I have successfully applied for a disability income. None of these things was fun to do, none of them was emotionally easy to do. It's hard, very hard, but it's worse to not be able to pay your bills, to not be able to put food on the table. It's worse yet to be charged with and jailed for theft, and it's even worse to be made sick from eating out of dumpsters.

This isn't about "swallowing your price" This is about keeping body and soul together without getting into trouble. Further, by successfully completing college, you will be that much better prepared for a career and a life, and you will be able to contribute a great deal more to your local government coffers than you had to use by way of food stamps or any other assistance.

Now, use your common sense and be at the head of that lineup when your local welfare office opens first thing tomorrow morning.

Answer 8

There is no shame in accepting food stamps. It sounds like you really need help. You can do one of two things. You can find a food pantry possibly at a church or other mission type organization or you can apply for food stamps. It is better to swallow the pride and ask for help than to starve or live on pasta. Stealing could get you in a lot of trouble which would be much more shaming than using food stamps. The program is in place for people who need it. You are a student, this is temporary. Once you graduate and get a job you won't need the assistance any more. Then you can help someone else in need. Please don't go hungry or steal. We live in a rich country and there are plenty of opportunities for you to receive help if you just ask.

Answer 9

If i was you i think i would swallow my pride! your going to college your working what you can you sound like your really working hard to help yourself. So what if you need a little more help, especially to eat c'mon you need energy for all those exams and stuff! Don't let pride come in the way of getting a good education! You sound like a tough cookie just tell em off if anyone says anything about the food stamps! Hey your in college at least! GO FOR IT I SURE WOULD!

Answer 10

Well I would imagine you are financialy aided to attend college, so why dont you request either more money, or apply for scholarships, because there are a lot out there to apply for, or get work study through your school. There are always many options. But when you are poor and struggling you have to swallow your pride and do what you need to do to LIVE! No one gives a damn if you have food stamps or not. Your putting yourself through school and that is no easy task!