*~*~*2012 Low Income Support Group*~*~* - Page 8

[A&A]

Originally Posted by gabbyraja 

As far as school, too, do NOT, under any circumstances, contact, speak to, or enroll with the University of Phoenix. Please! If you feel compelled to at least research them, look at all of the complaints about them you can find on the internet, BBB, the AZ attorney general, etc. Here's a good place to start http://www.consumeraffairs.com/education/phoenix.html

For every 1 person you find that likes it there there are 5 who were literally ROBBED, which is why they lost a class action last year for misappropriation of financial aid funds. Dh didn't listen to me and tried them for 6 months. At the end of 6 months he was 10k in student loan debt (with only $3000 being disbursed to him, and they kept his pell grant funds, too! They cost more than 500% more than our community college he's attending now, online), yet somehow still owed them $1200. Not on my life. I have fought them tooth and nail for the past 6 months, and only after reporting them to 2 attorney general's offices did they admit that they screwed up (only 1 of their "mistakes", not the other 3+) and he should owe less than half of that. Um, no, he should owe nothing. We're currently awaiting a review from the financial grievance committee. If they do not rule in our favor we will be suing.

On top of that, their degrees are still useless and hold absolutely no water in the job market. Please save yourself the trouble.

Good to know, thanks.  I once contacted them for *info* about a Master's degree and they hounded me for a long time. 

[A&A]

Originally Posted by thatgirliknew 

DH called in to claim his unemployment check today. He was told he's due for a review. No check for 2-4 weeks. No food stamps until whenever the Ombudsman decides to call me back. No gas in the car. We barely have any food right now, it'll be gone before we can get more. My phone (and internet) will be cut off in 7 days. My electricity will probably be cut off.
I've always been poor, but I have never had it this bad before. I was just hit with reality and it's mking me sick to think about.

Can you contact a local church for help?  Or your state food bank?

[mylilmonkeys]

Another great homeschooling link: http://www.homeschoolfreebie.wholesomechildhood.com/

I still subscribe even though we no longer homeschool.  Such a great variety of core curriculum and enrichment/fun activities.

[maciascl]

I tried calling the FS office today but after 54 minutes on hold I had to hang up. So I decided to write them a note and send it back with the blank form requesting the paperwork for a self-employed person. I am hoping this works. The only address on the paperwork is a PO box so I can't go into the office either.

[journeymom]

Originally Posted by maciascl 

I tried calling the FS office today but after 54 minutes on hold I had to hang up. So I decided to write them a note and send it back with the blank form requesting the paperwork for a self-employed person. I am hoping this works. The only address on the paperwork is a PO box so I can't go into the office either.

Oy! That really stinks.  Hang in there, I hope it works. 

[branditopolis]

well, I just found out that I've been leaving messages for the wrong worker all month.  They've changed my worker 3 or 4 times since November and I really can't keep up.  There's a separate worker for child care and I thought this was the worker for my foodstamps too.  I've been reporting my income changes to her the last two months.  Anyway, I spoke to her about whether or not my FS would go down since I'm working again, and that I haven't received any mail about it, and she told me I was supposed to have reported to this other woman, and that even though I'm reporting to the same office, for whatever reason their cases don't share info and I can get my benefits stopped for not reporting within the 10day timeframe.  AWESOME.   Now I have to figure out who this case worker is and how I can avoid getting penalized for fraud even though I *thought* I was doing everything right. 

[maciascl]

Originally Posted by branditopolis 

well, I just found out that I've been leaving messages for the wrong worker all month.  They've changed my worker 3 or 4 times since November and I really can't keep up.  There's a separate worker for child care and I thought this was the worker for my foodstamps too.  I've been reporting my income changes to her the last two months.  Anyway, I spoke to her about whether or not my FS would go down since I'm working again, and that I haven't received any mail about it, and she told me I was supposed to have reported to this other woman, and that even though I'm reporting to the same office, for whatever reason their cases don't share info and I can get my benefits stopped for not reporting within the 10day timeframe.  AWESOME.   Now I have to figure out who this case worker is and how I can avoid getting penalized for fraud even though I *thought* I was doing everything right. 

That has to be one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. How horribly inefficient! Did this worker atleast give you info on who to contact and how?

DH got a job but I am not getting excited about it yet. He has signed all the paperwork but they have not given him any hours yet or a start date. They are opening a new shop mid Feburary so he will only be training until then. It is only enough to pay the rent right now but it really sounds like there are some great opportunities available in time. Plus anything is better than nothing. Also it is something he is really interested in. He has been a competetive road cyclist for 20 years and he will be working in a bike shop. I feel a little guilty for not being more excited. May be after he actually starts I will.
 

[zebra15]

Cautiously optimistic is just fine.  I've been there with the offer, the paperwork then nothing ever happens.  I've learned never to really get excited until I see paychecks start arriving in my bank account.  Cynical?  Maybe but ... I can't deal with the emotional roller coasters anymore
 

Originally Posted by maciascl 

That has to be one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. How horribly inefficient! Did this worker atleast give you info on who to contact and how?

DH got a job but I am not getting excited about it yet. He has signed all the paperwork but they have not given him any hours yet or a start date. They are opening a new shop mid Feburary so he will only be training until then. It is only enough to pay the rent right now but it really sounds like there are some great opportunities available in time. Plus anything is better than nothing. Also it is something he is really interested in. He has been a competetive road cyclist for 20 years and he will be working in a bike shop. I feel a little guilty for not being more excited. May be after he actually starts I will.
 

[frugalmama]

Still here, still broke. Still working on my mom's FS case, so we are out of FS for right now. I have to go reapply for mine, but I can't do it until the 1st since my case is lapsed - if I wait until the 1st I get emergency rather than having to wait 45 days. 

Still working trying to get a stable source of income coming in - so far nothing. 

In other news - mailed out my request to the Book Samaritan today for the rest of the books we need - hopefully they will be able to fill part of it. I've been picking away at the list with some gift cards that came in, but it's still big. Starting school back on the 30th for DD - she is excited. We are taking a last vacation week this week and going to the local museum thanks to NuRide - I was able to cash out points for 2 free tickets. Might head to the Zoo too - we have a membership thanks to groupon and I'd like to use it more. 

How is everyone else doing?

[averysmomma05]

Finally,I got my food stamps stuff straightened out but apparently me waiting since November didn't count for anything and they won't be upped until Feb. We should get our tax refund back next week and things hopefully will be easier.Glad for that.Other then that trying to stretch our 58.00 in FS until next week and just survive.

[zebra15]

Just and FYI- the Barnes and Noble near me had a HUGE 75% off section.  Lots of the toys and games they brought in as 'holiday' items are now in that bin.  All Calendars and Planners are also 75% off.  BN classics are buy 2 get 1 free.   I was able to find several puzzles for DS, a couple calendars, an advent calendar for next year (Eric Carle YEAH), 'Alice in Wonderland' and a few other things for under $30.  I was excited.  Its going to be very hot here soon and I will need indoor type activites and puzzles are great.  (Cheap puzzles are even better!)

[frugalmama]

Originally Posted by zebra15 

Just and FYI- the Barnes and Noble near me had a HUGE 75% off section.  Lots of the toys and games they brought in as 'holiday' items are now in that bin.  All Calendars and Planners are also 75% off.  BN classics are buy 2 get 1 free.   I was able to find several puzzles for DS, a couple calendars, an advent calendar for next year (Eric Carle YEAH), 'Alice in Wonderland' and a few other things for under $30.  I was excited.  Its going to be very hot here soon and I will need indoor type activites and puzzles are great.  (Cheap puzzles are even better!)

thanks! I have to go over by ours on Tuesday, so I'll check for some then. Always on the hunt for cheap activities to do when it's too hot or cold to go out. 

[zebra15]

http://www.swapadvd.com/home.php

looks interesting too

[maciascl]

Woo Hoo! I called the FS office right at 8am this morning and my call was answered without even being put on hold. It was weird! They are going to send me the self-employed persons income paperwork. 1 step in the right direction. Yay!

[Rosarium]

When I have had trouble communicating with FS workers, I find it helpful to talk to the receptionist, and tell her all my troubles (with the workers and process). Or, ask for the supervisor, as anywhere you get bad service. Explaining what I need and why has worked pretty well most of the time.

I joined to share my experiences and insights from the past, when I was pretty bad off, but guess what? Hubby was let go today. I go from trying hard to get ahead, inch by inch, to trying hard to keep from going backwards.

Nevertheless, I am better at this than so many are. I was raised on stories of surviving the (first) Great Depression, and I really do feel a duty to take care of the planet. So I can tell myself I am doing all this to be green, not just to save a little green.

More on the good side: Hubby has recently committed to trying to hear my suggestions without being in a hurrty to find fault with them, to actually considering them before dismissing them. He told me her realized I am much more practical about thse things than he is. Now if he will just figure out that I have researched a lot of these penny-pinching methods, that I am a pro at saving money -- and say so. I can go a long time on a good compliment.

Maybe I'll now qualify for Medicaide. I used up the savings paying for doctor visits during the previous time he was unemployed.

I'm interested in the cloth feminine napkins. I get tired of throwing stuff away.

Once, I ran out of TP, and couldn't get out to buy more right away. I cut up my most ragged undies and used them as wet wipes. I didn't think the kids could cope with that, so I rounded up all the odds and ends of TP that had been taken for nose blowing. Gather it in a basket, pretend it is supposed to be a decorator look!

[Paigekitten]

I love my cloth pads, and we do family cloth too.Every little bit counts!

[twinpossible]

New here. Husband was laid off this week with no notice and sent home that day. Wondering how we are going to make it and heading to the unemployment office to ask for help for the first time in our adult lives :(

[thatgirliknew]

I've tried to post on here a couple times in the past two weeks. Then my phone goes beserk after a 20 minute message and I get frustrated and forget about it.

I found out why I didn't get food stamps in January after finally getting to talk to an ombudsman. Apparently, when I applied in December, I didn't qualify for benefits in December BUT they gave me food stamp benefits on December 15th for January. Nobody told me this, no letters explained this. As far as I was to know I was getting them in December and January. So I was very upset and asked them if there was a smaller emergency amount or anything they could put on my card and they told me nope. She also mentioned that FS should NOT feed my whole household for a month and I do know it's suposed to be Supplemental but $526 would have fed us for a month.

The food banks in my new zip code operate on a call on this day, at this time and we'll give you one of x amount of appointments. But I have called every week and hit redial repeatedly only to eventually get a message saying they are full.
A friendly neighbor sent over a couple days of food. My grandmother gave us $20 to grcery shop, and we have completely raided our pantries until they are empty. The last couple days has been showing up at my sister's house for dinner and the lady I run errands for daily feeding us while we are out with her.

[thatgirliknew]

Oy, it cut off half my message.

Dh got a job, at Tumbleweed (which I am sooo jealous that h gets to eat all day) but this week he is only scheduled for 3 days, so we will be still getting partial unemployment.

Dh has a meeting with his disability lawyer this month so maybe good things will start happening there.

And since I have a very hard time working due to my disabilities, my friend and I have been brainstorming income earning opportunities. So far, I am her personal driver 2-3 times weekly and she pays me a bit more than it's worth plus feeds us. Lol. We are also going to get a peddler's mall booth together since we are excellent bargain hunters. I am looking to sell Avon, because she said it basically sells itself. And my sister will be starting her new job next week (hopefully) and will need her two children picked up from school and watched a couple hours a day, three days a week. She lives down the street. None of these things will pay me a lot individually but together might equal a 'job' and I won't need to put my kidds in daycare, plus I can work around my pain.

Super looking forward to seeing dh's 1099 in the mail soon.

[zebra15]

Had a phone interview today.  I have no idea how it went.  The job is your basic, phone center, answer the phone type job.  Ive done those for years.  I just couldn't get a vibe off the lady.  Usually a follow up is with in a couple days, she told me a full business week.  That just does not sound good. Im expecting a letter.  I need work and I need it fast.  This friggin ship is sinking and i need to get off.  Plus I need benefits.

I am so frustrated.

I have a resume question.  Those of you 'older' folks like with 15+ years of work,  how much do you put on your resume.