If you rely on Social assistance, what would you do if it didn't exist?

[Avani]

I live in California where currently the Senator of our state is looking to cut welfare, caregiving programs for the disabled, cuts in SSI, health insurance for children and low income families and child care help for the low income. As of right now Sacramento is gearing up to pass these measures. I rely on SSI, child care help and the caregiver program for all of my income and help. I am a full time student with 5 kids, almost 6, and one is special needs. Without the income, the health care and the child care help i would have no way of being a full time student and i have zero marketable skills. I could not work full time without child care help and there will be no welfare to fall back on. What in the world is a person to do? I can not fathom what will happen if they go through with this. No health care for children, no welfare for the low income to fall back on, no help for the disabled. This is very real and scary. I feel like i need to plan but don't know where to start.

[1growingsprout]

I think we would see more bartering of child care... for example you watch my kids in the evenings and ill watch yours in the mornings type of set up..
We are going to see more seeking out of low income or sliding scale medical facilities and families making hard choices about what medical services to obtain.
Sadly food and cash assistance are being cut all over the country. My family uses coupons religously and while we are not organic and probably dont eat at the standard of many on this board our costs are very low. You are going to see more meals based on coupons, sales and low cost items.... that means little meat and produce... lots of grains.
You think you have no marketable skills but yet you do. You are a mom, you can do daycare, you can work at a child care facility and while the pay is low to begin with the ability to work you way up is there. You can work in food service, retail etc... while they are not glamorus or high income jobs they are jobs available to individuals with little to no post secondary education.

Families will be seeking out services from other sources (churches, other non profit organizations - food banks, good will industries etc)

Fortuanetly at this time we do not need to rely on gov't assistance and I am thankful everyday for DH job and the children I watch for daycare.

I know CA is struggling with budget issues and AZ isnt far behind... There are times i feel like the entire gov't is teetering and the slightest breeze is going to push everything over the edge.

[lil_earthmomma]

If I was in a situation where I relied on public assistance and it was cut, I assume I would ask my family and friends for help. If I couldn't rely on my family for some reason, that might mean that me and another single mom friend would moved into a tiny apartment together to pool our meager resources, watch eachother's kids etc. Maybe a couple of families living together. I would find a way... but it would probably be very hard.

[corrie43]

Yes, more people will be looking for other people in need to help them as well. Families with opposite shifts caring for eachothers kids, more bartering of services, more people gardening, couponing and living more frugally.

Luckily I have family and friends that would help, but I imagine craigslist and other sources would be flooded with people looking to barter, help eachother out ect...

I think a lot of people would actually show more generosity and help take care of others in need.

[Avani]

Yeah i have no family, a mentally ill mother in supervised living is it. I am a single parent to almost 6 kids. No fathers to help out. I already received word that there is no funding available for the start of my school year for my younger three children's childcare. My income is projected to be cut this summer. That means no income at all. I live in a small apartment as it is and don't have any space for another person. I can't do child care due to the apartments restrictions. I am getting a bit afraid right now.

[happyhats]

honestly and truly, I would get a school loan and use it to move out of that state to a more stable situation. I know that sounds extreme, but that is where I would start out. I would seriously study up on where there is a market for what you are schooling for and a lower col, and of course a place that you can get assistance until you get on your feet. I am glad I left CA when I did, and my husband's family is moving from there, and not a moment too soon. I think that even before these extreme cuts I was not able to financially survive in that state.

[dsaucone]

Originally Posted by happyhats

honestly and truly, I would get a school loan and use it to move out of that state to a more stable situation. I know that sounds extreme, but that is where I would start out.

That's what I would do. If I had no resources. I'd buy a big van, 15 passanger, whatever fits in the van goes, whatever doesn't gets sold on craigslist or at a garage sale. What doesn't sell gets donated. And I'd be looking for another state to live in. I hear the south and midwest are pretty low col? Then I'd start school in another state so I didn't have to pay the loan back right away.

[Thystle]

Crime is going to go WAY up. :

[Wabi Sabi]

Ditto to the previous posters- I'd strongly consider packing up what you can haul yourselves and moving somewhere with a much lower COL and/or move in with another single mother where you can split childcare duties and expenses. I know you said your current apartment is too small, but even if you decide to stay in your current location you could still look for some sort of shared housing arrangement when your current lease expires.

[justmama]

we'd starve, plain and simple. there's only so much you can do when you are THAT poor with no resources. I mean, I am kinda like you in a way. I have NO marketable skills, I have no college education, I have been raising babies for the last few years, and I rely on food stamps and WIC and child support. I'm TRYING like heck to get a job since our necessary bills went up sharply in the last year and we aren't making ends meet each month now but it's an uphill battle AND child care assistance doesn't kick in until like a month AFTER the job starts. Truly helpful. I also can't do child care because of my small house and state restrictions for licensing and my options to go back to school are slim to none. So without food stamps we would starve. I agree with previous posters. Get the heck outta dodge! Honestly, I'm not one for turning tail and running away from any support system you have built yourself but like I said, there's only so much you can do without money and skills to fall back on. If it were me personally and I saw my aid being cut, I would run and run fast. Take only what you can that's truly important and necessary to you and start over. My heart goes out to you. If I wasn't on a complete opposite coast from you I would suggest my tiny little 2 bedroom place. I think you should pop onto your tribal area here or the tribal area you are looking to run to and look for another single mom looking to trade child care and share living expenses. It's my dream to find that in my area with a like-minded person and not have to worry about my girls or pay out more than I'm making for child care.:

[Avani]

I have a request in to the courts for a move away. It may take a month or two to find out if i get approved. Even though i have sole custody i still have to have the courts permission to move. Initially i was worried about moving and starting over but with these circumstances it may be a good move. I guess in a way it is good that i have very few belongings already since i left everything behind a few years ago to leave an abusive ex husband. We don't have much. I'm hoping to be back in school in the fall and have a few applications in already for the other state i am trying to go to. It is hard because i am starting over again with no help again. I wish i had family! I am however having a baby this month which means i have to contend with a newborn plus 2 toddlers, 3 slightly older kids and full time school. Fun stuff! This state is getting scary. I haven't taken out any loans yet so maybe it is time! Thanks for all your help. I go to court this month trying to get some child support, that would rock.

[Knittin' in the Shade]

Are you getting child support from the kids' dad(s)? If not, why not? Just because you and dad aren't together doesn't mean that he shouldn't be helping out to support his offspring! I'm sorry that you're in such a difficult situation, I wish I had more to offer than just (((hugs)))

[AngelBee]

[Avani]

The child support is hard to explain. The ex had just been arrested and was claiming unemployment and i was on welfare and for some reason the judge never ordered anything. Then i filed through the state and they have to serve him in person and they were unable to find him through everything mean they tried. So for the last two years, nothing. Finally we are going to court this month to order it and hopefully i can get spousal support too. But, he will always claim unemployment and he will always work under the table so i may not get anything for a long time. The system is tricky when even trickier people stay under the table working for cash and have no assests, or addresses. I pray i get something though!

[AndrewsMother]

Move to a state with free tuition, take out loans, get a useful education and make a new life for yourself!

Goodluck!!!! and s:

[Violet2]

I worry about all the mommas and babies in CA and the rest of the US. What is happening in CA won't stay there. I think you're going to have to do student loans and try to find a more financially stable state.

I'm fuming though b/c I heard the legislature didn't cut their salaries. I don't know if that's true, but if it is...they better fix that oversight before things get ugly.

V

[KatWrangler]

Originally Posted by Violet2

I worry about all the mommas and babies in CA and the rest of the US. What is happening in CA won't stay there. I think you're going to have to do student loans and try to find a more financially stable state.

I'm fuming though b/c I heard the legislature didn't cut their salaries. I don't know if that's true, but if it is...they better fix that oversight before things get ugly.

V

I bet its going to get much uglier.

Here is an interactive thingy. See how you do in making the cuts in order to balance the budget.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...5571.htmlstory

[lolar2]

Ditto on trying to move out of state. Meanwhile, for a Plan B: if you are a full-time student, you may be able to get a campus job and/ or to barter childcare with a fellow student. So while you are waiting for your out-of-state approval, I would head over to campus and go to every administrative office on the campus, asking for advice about housing/ roommates, emergency loans, on-campus jobs, childcare, transportation, etc. Even the completely irrelevant-seeming offices could have something to offer, I've learned; but start by calling your advisor and explaining the situation, then go to the financial aid office, and then go to the student affairs office; then the others.

Also-- although you need permission to move out of state, are you by any chance allowed to go on vacation out of state without permission? If you have some out-of-state family or friends who are willing to put you up for a couple of months, that might help spell you until you can get approval. I assume you don't have any family or friends in-state, or you'd have mentioned it.

Of course, now that you know this might happen, it's time to get a jump on going to food banks, shelters, etc.

[Violet2]

Originally Posted by KatWrangler

I bet its going to get much uglier.

Here is an interactive thingy. See how you do in making the cuts in order to balance the budget.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...5571.htmlstory

I did pretty well actually and left social services and health care intact. I noticed one of the options was cutting the legislature budget so it looks like they haven't taken a pay cut yet.

V

[A&A]

have you looked at www.coabode.com ?

I don't know whether or not it would be feasible with six kids, but it's worth looking into.