mh67511

I went to the Health and Human Services Department about a week ago and filled out an application for food stamps. The way I see it, my tax dollars go to support this program and frankly, with the amount of money I make each month and the amount of bills I have it's really hard to make ends meet. No I'm not going hungry, but it would be nice to not be stretched so thin and hell if the government wants to offer this, I might as well try and get a slice of the pie.

So anyways I filled out the application and got a letter yesterday saying I was denied because I am an "ineligible student." I have no idea why this is. For a single person household, to qualify you can't make more than around $900 a month and I don't even make close to that! And I DON'T have a meal plan through the university - I don't pay room and board, I only pay monthly rent.

Now I downloaded the manual and found the section on students and it says that, "A household member who is enrolled at least half time in an institution of higher education must meet one of the criteria listed at 475 NAC 3-001.06A, "Student Exemptions," to be eligible to participate."

One of the exemptions is:
Participating in a state or federally financed work study program during the regular school year; Note: The following restrictions apply to work study:

a. The student must be approved for work study at the time of application for food stamp benefits;

b. The work study must be approved for the school term and the student must anticipate actually working during that time;

c. The work study exemption begins the month the school term begins or the month the work study is approved, whichever is later; and

d. The work study exemption does not continue between terms when there is a break of a full month or more, unless the student is participating in work study during the break.

I called the lady and said that I DO have a work study and that I fit into all of the exceptions and she gave me some half-assed answer saying, "well the work study has to be pre-approved for voc-rehab." I just said ok and hung up...I have no clue what voc-rehab is. I sure don't see ANY mention of "voc rehab" in the above paragraph. That's the problem...I'll bet the lady I talked to didn't even know what she was talking about.

Even if I was denied, FINE. I don't care, I just want a REAL reason not some made up response like she told me.

Galaxia21

Apply again and tell them to review your information because they might have read it wrong and you think you are eligible. If they insist on telling you that you aren't point on why you are and how you meet the criteria. Bring a copy of the rules and also a copy of the letter saying you weren't eligible. It might seem like a lot of work but don't let them deny you the benefits if you need them.

86amanda86

thats lame. Voc-rehab is vocational rehap, it's where someone recovering from something goes to learn how to do everyday things in their new situation. My brother spent a lot of time there after his accident so that's how I know.

I don't know what that has to do with your situation...

Yeah, I would say apply again and fallow it through every step to make sure they get the right info and to make sure you understand everything that is going on.

Katis

That doesn't make a lot of sense to me either. Things like foodstamps have a purpose. There are some times when people fall on hard times and need a little help and there is nothing to be ashamed about when that happens. My parents have had to be on foodstamps in the past, my father rather recently.

MalloryKeaton

Asking for assistance is fine. No offense, but wanting to use the system simply because it's there is wrong. If you can afford to pay for groceries and are not going hungry as you mentioned then perhaps you don't need Food Stamps as much as you'd like to have them. Wanting Food Stamps and needing Food Stamps are two different things. People who abuse the system make it harder for those who actually need the help. If you were to get Food Stamps and honestly not need them, that's money that could have gone to someone else who really needs it, but won't get it, simply because you want a free handout. Just because you pay taxes doesn't mean you are entitled to all the services the government has.