November 2010 Low Income Support Thread - Page 3

[Paigekitten]

If you sign up at www.harrispollonline.com they email you surveys and fill them out for points. Some of the point rewards are gift cards, and I always horde mine for the bigger gift cards.

[sunanthem]

Vannie- Yes'maam! will do.

yeah, we got the liheap, here they take apps in october, approve you now, but we don't get the check until february...

I will check out my energy co.'s website and see what they have, thanks!

I know, it's so weird having big kids.. no more potties or dipes or nursing... they are little people.. and they can talk back now and hold there own! hahaha, it is great though seeing them grow and learn new things... thank goddess for our kids, huh, what joy.


Paige thanks! I'm gonna check it out!

[thatgirliknew]

*needed to erase*

Edited by thatgirliknew - 11/12/10 at 5:12pm

[sunanthem]

That girl~ Oh hon, I am so sorry.

[KaliShanti]

May I join this group? We are a family of four currently living off of about 15K/yr and my husband's job is being phased out.

I've been trying to work Dave Ramsey's plan, but have had to stop the Baby Emergency Fund because we need every penny in our budget to be current- and we won't be this month or next I bet.

I'm trying to figure out how unemployment benefits works in Texas for part-time employees (DH's job is mostly part time). We are on food stamps (blow to pride- we used to make about 45K!) and WIC and we have sold everything we can. Our living expenses are as low as we can get them- really.

Anyway, that's us! Hi!

[zebra15]

HI, I just wanted to check in.  DS is so emotional right now.  We are traveling for Thanksgiving to see my cousin in the midwest and he is so excited about that.  There will be lots of 'winter' type activites and I am so happy to get a short break away from here.  I am speeding up my progress on this blanket, my cousin is footing the bill for the entire trip so I dont have to pay for anything and I want to give her something and I hope she likes the blanket I am making her. So I've been crocheting ALOT lately. (I had time yesterday as MDC was down).

I also got DS a holiday funpad, its huge, lap-size , from samsclub this week. Its like a huge I SPY thing and he loves it. We do a few pages each night and its a nice way to start off the holiday season.  I didnt want to start this early but I guess we are.

I was also able to score super discount tickets to 'The Grinch who Stole Christmas'  Like 80% off,  so DS and I are going to go see that next weekend. 

We still have no money but we are blessed with at least ONE family member who loves us and we are blessed that I have been able to score some great finds on tickets and activites for free or almost free.

Once we get back from our week in the midwest it will be December and then its 'full speed ahead' for the holidays here... ugh

[Paigekitten]

I'm feeling bummed out, DH and I just reviewed the finances and picked which bills get paid.  The water bill gets paid on time this month (yay!) but we have to wait until the next paycheck to pay the mortgage, and that means it might be late (again, sigh).  I read all these money management books and get all excited and them I write out my budget and get so bummed out when I only have four dollars left after bills.  I'd love to just be able to save those four dollars, but invariably something comes up, like needing to buy toilet paper or dog food.  I wish I could figure out how to cut down expenses even more.  The only thing I can think off is the phone ($6 a month) and internet ($35 a month)  but DH is starting a web design business and can't work on a laptop or library computer.  Then I wonder if we could ditch the car and save another $90 in insurance and $120 in gas, but then again it's cold and rainy and I worry about the kids.  Sometimes I wonder if we will ever be able to get ahead, pay down debt, and save.

On a brighter note, I was able to get three books for the kids from paperbackswap, and I made a set of beanbags.  So  I know the kids will have Christmas presents, and SNAP will cover some candy for their stockings. DH and I are not big Christmas people, but it's nice knowing the girls will get something.

[Fruitful4Him]

Subbing. Family of 8 here. I am not entirely sure of our monthly income but I know that it is between Dh's SSI and whatever meager supplementation through our ebay/home business sales. And sales have really dropped off  because people aren't buying used and new cd's when they are hurting from the economy too, IYKWIM. It is a juggling act for dh but he doesn't complain. He really doesn't share much with me because he knows I worry.   We do 'okay'...and by okay, I mean we have a place to live, ultilities paid before they are disconnected, our kids are clothed and we have food to eat. (healthy, nutritious food thanks to FS when they aren't screwing up the recerts...then it gets a bit scary). We don't really observe holidays so at least we don't have that to worry about. Sometimes I wish we could give more to our kids but we try to do something nice for them when we can.

But anyways...here for learning and support...takin notes to see what I can learn from other mamas.

[zebra15]

Today I took my foodstamp card and bought stuff to make fudge w. DS this afternoon...  I felt totally guilty at first but hey... The total was under $5 and we had a blast.    Tonight we are working on his holiday fun pad..

I usually hate the holiday season but right now I'm feeling ok...I just hope I can keep the depression away and keep things going ok.  I am still really looking forward to our trip to see my cousin in a couple weeks...

HUGS to everyone on here and I so understand the no $$ thing...

DS and I are also starting to plan out December activites for when we get back...

[Ravin]

Finally heard back on our food stamps. We'll be getting $200 starting NEXT month. On the one hand, it's a relief. On the other, we're running short of an awful lot THIS month!

And, of course, if DH can't get his former boss to fill out and sign their stupid form saying he was fired, we'll be up a creek with nothing because they'll cancel it. I'm hoping his unemployment will come through before then, because I can just do ANOTHER change form and proof of unemployment benefits should be adequate proof that he's no longer employed by his former employer.

Not that logic seems much involved in how DES runs. I apparently need to reapply to try and get DD on AHCCCS even though I put in the income change and she (and maybe even DH) SHOULD qualify now. She needs a check up and, more urgently (since she'll be back on my work insurance at the first of the year), a trip to the dentist that I simply cannot pay for out of pocket.

At least with the food stamps (which is double what we spent last month on groceries) I'll be able to restock our larder, and it might even free up enough funds to get the van fixed before the tags on the Kia expire in December, condemning it to the scrap heap because it would need LOTS of work to pass emissions.

[vannienicole]

FS pays for the gingerbread train/house/village at Target .  That made my day.

[sunanthem]

yay for gingerbread goodies! We got $300 of oil from the local christian ministry, and I am so so grateful. I was so worried wondering when the heat would run out. That is the minimum amount the oil people will come out for (100 gallons). I know at least we will be warm for awhile, which is a huge relief. Last year we went without heat for awhile.

Today my dh kicked me and the kids out so he could clean the living room/dining room! It was a nice surprise, he used to do it more often but he got messy kids burnout I think. We went grocery shopping and to a friends. The kids enjoyed their day off and I got to sleep in pretty late which was wonderful! Now back to school tomorrow.

Welcome to all the newly joined mamas! Looking forward to getting to know you.

[zebra15]

Originally Posted by Ravin 

Finally heard back on our food stamps. We'll be getting $200 starting NEXT month. On the one hand, it's a relief. On the other, we're running short of an awful lot THIS month!

And, of course, if DH can't get his former boss to fill out and sign their stupid form saying he was fired, we'll be up a creek with nothing because they'll cancel it. I'm hoping his unemployment will come through before then, because I can just do ANOTHER change form and proof of unemployment benefits should be adequate proof that he's no longer employed by his former employer.

Not that logic seems much involved in how DES runs. I apparently need to reapply to try and get DD on AHCCCS even though I put in the income change and she (and maybe even DH) SHOULD qualify now. She needs a check up and, more urgently (since she'll be back on my work insurance at the first of the year), a trip to the dentist that I simply cannot pay for out of pocket.

At least with the food stamps (which is double what we spent last month on groceries) I'll be able to restock our larder, and it might even free up enough funds to get the van fixed before the tags on the Kia expire in December, condemning it to the scrap heap because it would need LOTS of work to pass emissions.

Are you in AZ?  I ask because of the AHCCCS.  DES should be doing appts over the phone and via fax/mail/drop off.  They are a complete PIA to deal with however its much more streamlined since the state budget cuts.  No more waiting in the office (knock on wood).  I can vouch for AHCCCS kids dental and say it rocks... DS has a great dentist and so far everything has been covered.  I wish they would cover adult dental.  DS also got glasses this year and part of that was covered.  (it all would've been but he wanted 'designer' frames)  So if you get the AHCCCS make sure you take advantage of the free eye exam for your DD too.  Depending on what DR you get assigned there could be a huge waiting list for an appt.  But the dental and vision you can get in very fast.  Vision is thru any Nationwide store.

As for the form DES needs the HR dept of your old company should be able to fill it out.  I never contacted my old supervisor, I had everything done via human resources.  I faxed a copy to HR and had them fax me back.  Since I was no longer employed, everything went thru HR, it was just more official that way.

[Ravin]

HR of the company is the family that owns the local restaurant chain, and they're even less likely to fill out the paper than the manager who fired DH...

As for the DES office, I about fainted when I actually got a call the day AFTER I filed our recert/reapplication online. Yet when I went in to drop off paperwork, the expedited "just dropping off paperwork" line had been eliminated in favor of making everyone wait in the same "take a number" long line for everything, appt, drop-off, questions, app turn in, and whatever else. Sigh. The truth is they're all overworked in there--applications/people getting service are up and manning of offices is down due to budget cuts. The fact that they're still so nice, at least in the office where I go currently, is a big boon. The Chandler office when I was pg with DD was HORRID, but that was years ago.

I know dental rocks, DD's been on it before. She was dropped from AHCCCS about this time last year when they made random changes to the income cutoffs and suddenly without any actual income changes we made about $100/mo too much. Then she was bounced from Kidscare because she'd been on AHCCCS as secondary insurance to my work insurance (which has way too much out of pocket for me to actually afford to use it much) and Kidscare can't be used in conjunction with private insurance, so I took her off my work insurance only to find they'd put a freeze on Kidscare enrollment due to budget cuts that continues to the present...

Put that together with the dirty trick they pulled for taxes (our state started taxing based on gross income instead of federal adjusted income) last year...but that's a whole other rant.

[thatgirliknew]

Hello mommas,


I have a question.


DH's grandfather put money in an account for each of his kids a long time ago. He died three years ago and DH's aunt is in charge of his money. The grandfather's original stipulations were if DH got married, had kids, or went to school he could have the money. Well, he's done 2/3 and hasn't seen the money yet. He has been arguing with his aunt for three years about this. He asked for the money for LASIK surgery so that he could a job working for the city (that my father guaranteed him). His aunt said no, because it "wouldn't be what Grandpa Mac wanted". DH asked how making a better life for his family wouldn't be what his grandpa wanted. She never answered. DH requested a copy of the paperwork. He recieved it and there are a lot of unanswered questions (because his aunt won't answer any questions)


I'm trying to figure out what all this means, if he is entitled to any money, how to find out what the stipulations are, etc. Any insight would be helpful.


# 1 There are supposed to be 10 pages and he recieved 2.


# 2 It is a "Group Single Premium Deferred Annuity"


# 3 It says the Owner is DH's Aunt and the annuitant (I think this is what it said, that part of the copy is fuzzy) I can definitely make out the last letters as "uitant"


# 4 Beneficiary: Beneficiary is as named in the application or in the most recent beneficiary change sent to our home office.


Then it goes on to say how much money, how much interest, and what surrender charges are.


He is "conveniently" missing the pages "Annuity benefits", "Beneficiary", "ownership", "surrenders" and "guaranteed monthly payment tables"



Sooooo........... Anybody have any idea what his rights are regarding this?

[Smithie]

A similar thing has happened in my extended family. Bottom line: she's trying to keep the money, and she's going to succeed unless 1) you are able to be aggressive enough to scare her, formally requesting a complete copy of the documents via certified letter to her AND the company that holds the policy, etc. or 2) you are able to hire a lawyer to do that kind of thing for you. 

She may have a certain amount of discretion over when to distribute the money, but it's highly unlikely that you have NO qualifying events in the past several years. She may be taking a yearly income from this policy, and every year that you don't fight it puts more of the money in her pocket. If it's an annuity, it may pay out every year until her death, and while Grandpa's desire was for her to use this money to help with the needs of his various grandchildren, HER desire may be to give the grandchildren nothing, ever. And that may be totally legal. 

It's awful when relatives do this stuff. I really sympathize. Now get nasty until she forks over DH's share or it's proven to your satisfaction that she is not legally obligated to. You may find that just a simple phone call to the company that issued the policy results in a lot of answers - they likely do NOT want to be party to any kind of fraud accusation. 

[sunanthem]

Total bummer, thatgirl. I too had an inheritance which I had pretty much no control over, but alas, I have no advice accept find a lawyer that can decifer things for you and represent you, not the trustee.

I am so thankful today that a local church was doing free oil changes for the needy; they changed my oil, fixed my broken headlight, and topped off my antifreeze.. things I just wouldn't be able to afford right now.

On the other hand, I had thought I sold a very expensive wooden toy and was awaiting pick up, I would have gotten $125, and been able to pay our electric bill and put gas in the car, but they bailed on me. I was really counting on that. I have no idea how I will get to school this week... the end of the semester and waiting for the next financial aid to come in just sucks. I may have to find a seasonal job or something, although more gas will be needed to get there. Trying to be creative as to what else I can sell, just made a pot of coffee so I can craft all night tonight and post some things in my etsy to hopefully make some dough.

[zebra15]

Thatgirl- you need an attorney for the money issues.  All the accounts should have been settled when the estate was settled and your DH should have all paperwork anyway.  DH should know how much $ there is, what the accounts are etc.  You need an atty and you need your $$.   Go get em tiger 

[kbond]

Thatagirl:

Check out this legal aid society--if you qualify, then you'll get free legal help to settle this issue.

http://www.laslou.org/

I'd also try calling the policy-holder directly and asking for a complete copy of the policy.

[averysmomma05]

I haven't been on in awhile. I went to Boston to visit my brother last week and had a blast! Everything was paid for by him the flight,food,hotel,etc and my husband kept our children so it was kid free for a whole week. Amazing I tell ya. Back home now and seem to be in a depression and can't stay awake more than 2-3 hrs at a time off and on all day. Need to get into the dr for that. School is going okay having issues keeping up on the work. I still work for ChaCha and I just got a night/weekend job at a grocery store locally owned I shop at alot. Hoping it goes okay as I start tomorrow ut it is mostly spanish speaking and I only speak English.