| Posted By |
Message |
stephaniea
LIF Adult
Member since 1/07 1280 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
|
Does anyone know about food stamps, welfare
Hi Guys,
My best friend is a single mom w/a 15 yr. old son. She rents an apartment illegally for $750 in her cousins house. Her exhusband always paid this rent and paid for her son's clothing and some extra's (Not much by my standards, but she was so grateful) Well for the last 3 months he hasn't given her a dime, he is close to losing his house, not alot of money coming in there. Bad situation. My friend is a hustler. She cleans houses and babysits and on the weekends owns a small waitressing business. She is having a real hard time making ends meet. I would like to get her food stamps and possibly some assistance. She does receive Medicaid, but says she can't apply for anything else because she works off the books and her landlord won't sign any paper work saying she pays any money. Its like a catch 22. I was wondering if anyone is familiar with all of this. I want to help, but I also don't want to open a can of worms and make the situation worse. My heart breaks for her, she is trying so hard. TIA
stephanie
|
Posted 11/8/07 1:20 PM  |
| |
|
Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
LadyMaravilla
Fall Is Here
Member since 5/05 12023 total posts
Name:
Sonia
|
Re: Does anyone know about food stamps, welfare
I don't know about this type of assistance, but I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. I hope things turn around for her! 
|
| Posted 11/8/07 1:22 PM |
| |
|
TeamSweet
LIF Adolescent
Member since 5/07 834 total posts
Name:
Heather
|
Re: Does anyone know about food stamps, welfare
Where does she live? There are different social services centers throughout Suffolk - she would have to go to the one near her and apply for the services she needs. There's more information on their home page:
Dept. of Social Services
Hope this helps!
|
| Posted 11/8/07 1:32 PM |
| |
|
MamaMia
LIF Adolescent
Member since 5/07 886 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Does anyone know about food stamps, welfare
Do a search for food stamps and there is a website like a "mock" eligibility thing you fill out and it will let you know if you are a candidate or not. Good luck to your friend.
|
| Posted 11/8/07 1:32 PM |
| |
|
SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Does anyone know about food stamps, welfare
Posted by LadyMaravilla
I don't know about this type of assistance, but I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. I hope things turn around for her!
I agree 
|
| Posted 11/8/07 1:45 PM |
| |
|
nov04libride
big brother <3
Member since 5/05 14672 total posts
Name:
Me
|
Re: Does anyone know about food stamps, welfare
Posted by stephaniea
Hi Guys,
My best friend is a single mom w/a 15 yr. old son. She rents an apartment illegally for $750 in her cousins house. Her exhusband always paid this rent and paid for her son's clothing and some extra's (Not much by my standards, but she was so grateful) Well for the last 3 months he hasn't given her a dime, he is close to losing his house, not alot of money coming in there. Bad situation. My friend is a hustler. She cleans houses and babysits and on the weekends owns a small waitressing business. She is having a real hard time making ends meet. I would like to get her food stamps and possibly some assistance. She does receive Medicaid, but says she can't apply for anything else because she works off the books and her landlord won't sign any paper work saying she pays any money. Its like a catch 22. I was wondering if anyone is familiar with all of this. I want to help, but I also don't want to open a can of worms and make the situation worse. My heart breaks for her, she is trying so hard. TIA
stephanie
My mom was a Social Worker with a Welfare to Work program for women in this situation. They will ask her landlord for proof of the rent money, so if she doesn't want to get her cousin in trouble, she probably doesn't want to do that. They will also probably put her in a Welfare to Work program, working on the books in real jobs. She may take home less money than she is making now off the books since she will have to pay taxes. She'd have an easier time if she was in a legal apt and working jobs on the books. Everything she's doing now is kind of shady. They may put her in a shelter if she has nowhere else to go. The shelters are generally group homes for people in that situation. They are crowded.
|
| Posted 11/8/07 1:47 PM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: Does anyone know about food stamps, welfare
she also might be eligible for low income housing.... which would get the rent pressure off of her!
definitely have her check out both food stamps and the housing eligibility
good luck....
|
| Posted 11/8/07 1:56 PM |
| |
|
LFitzy79
can hardly wait
Member since 5/05 2650 total posts
Name:
Lauren
|
Re: Does anyone know about food stamps, welfare
Posted by nov04libride
Posted by stephaniea
Hi Guys,
My best friend is a single mom w/a 15 yr. old son. She rents an apartment illegally for $750 in her cousins house. Her exhusband always paid this rent and paid for her son's clothing and some extra's (Not much by my standards, but she was so grateful) Well for the last 3 months he hasn't given her a dime, he is close to losing his house, not alot of money coming in there. Bad situation. My friend is a hustler. She cleans houses and babysits and on the weekends owns a small waitressing business. She is having a real hard time making ends meet. I would like to get her food stamps and possibly some assistance. She does receive Medicaid, but says she can't apply for anything else because she works off the books and her landlord won't sign any paper work saying she pays any money. Its like a catch 22. I was wondering if anyone is familiar with all of this. I want to help, but I also don't want to open a can of worms and make the situation worse. My heart breaks for her, she is trying so hard. TIA
stephanie
My mom was a Social Worker with a Welfare to Work program for women in this situation. They will ask her landlord for proof of the rent money, so if she doesn't want to get her cousin in trouble, she probably doesn't want to do that. They will also probably put her in a Welfare to Work program, working on the books in real jobs. She may take home less money than she is making now off the books since she will have to pay taxes. She'd have an easier time if she was in a legal apt and working jobs on the books. Everything she's doing now is kind of shady. They may put her in a shelter if she has nowhere else to go. The shelters are generally group homes for people in that situation. They are crowded.
I just wanted to say, as far as suffolk county goes, they would rather have your friend stay living in her cousins house, then end up in a shelter, she should go in and apply for anything and everything that she might be eligible for, depending on the situation, they'll be willing to help her with paying rent to her cousin-not necessarily the whole $750, but a portion of it...the cousin would have to supply a social security number on a landlord form, but that is only for the check to be sent, they wouldn't view it as an illegal apt, they would look at it as her staying in her cousin's house and helping with the bills. It's a pain to go throught the whole process, but if she can take the time to do it, it could end up really helping her.
|
| Posted 11/8/07 1:59 PM |
| |
|
stephaniea
LIF Adult
Member since 1/07 1280 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
|
Re: Does anyone know about food stamps, welfare
Thats the thing, her cousin/landlord won't fill anything out, even if it is just for an address. I am going to call Social Services. It infuriates me because she bust her a** cleaning and everything and never wanted any help. There are people who cheat and get everything. Thanks
Message edited 11/8/2007 2:06:55 PM.
|
| Posted 11/8/07 2:04 PM |
| |
|
nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Does anyone know about food stamps, welfare
I doubt the cousin is going to give the ss # because then he has to declare the $ welfare gives her to pay rent.
What is the child support arrangements with her ex?
|
| Posted 11/8/07 2:08 PM |
| |
|
nov04libride
big brother <3
Member since 5/05 14672 total posts
Name:
Me
|
Re: Does anyone know about food stamps, welfare
Posted by stephaniea
It infuriates me because she bust her a** cleaning and everything and never wanted any help. There are people who cheat and get everything. Thanks
It sounds like she is a very hard worker, but isn't it kind of cheating that she is working off the books and not paying taxes as I do on the money I make? My life would be much easier if I wasn't losing tons of it to taxes. They'll ask what she does for a job, and if her cleaning business is on the books.
|
| Posted 11/8/07 2:13 PM |
| |
|
stephaniea
LIF Adult
Member since 1/07 1280 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
|
Re: Does anyone know about food stamps, welfare
Yes, it is like cheating, but If I told you the pitiful amount of money she made. She is not out to hurt anyone and she would have loved to have a great job. She is uneducated and doesn't think to much of herself. I personally think she could run circles around some of these people if she waitressed. She is a hustler. Anyway, its a matter of making ends meet now. There was no agreement for child support. Many times I asked her to take him to court, but she was so grateful for the measly $750. Now he doesn't even work.
|
| Posted 11/8/07 2:17 PM |
| |
|
Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
|
Re: Does anyone know about food stamps, welfare
Posted by stephaniea
Yes, it is like cheating, but If I told you the pitiful amount of money she made. She is not out to hurt anyone and she would have loved to have a great job. She is uneducated and doesn't think to much of herself. I personally think she could run circles around some of these people if she waitressed. She is a hustler. Anyway, its a matter of making ends meet now. There was no agreement for child support. Many times I asked her to take him to court, but she was so grateful for the measly $750. Now he doesn't even work.
If they are divorced, there IS an agreement about child support. The divorce wouldn't have been finalized without that.
|
| Posted 11/8/07 2:19 PM |
| |
|
EmmaNick
*
Member since 12/06 16001 total posts
Name:
*
|
Re: Does anyone know about food stamps, welfare
Posted by stephaniea
Yes, it is like cheating, but If I told you the pitiful amount of money she made. She is not out to hurt anyone and she would have loved to have a great job. She is uneducated and doesn't think to much of herself. I personally think she could run circles around some of these people if she waitressed. She is a hustler. Anyway, its a matter of making ends meet now. There was no agreement for child support. Many times I asked her to take him to court, but she was so grateful for the measly $750. Now he doesn't even work.
Regardless if he isn't working right now she can still file a support petition. I believe if she gets assistance though, they will take a portion of that support when it comes in to cover the assistance she received.
I'm a single mother (of 2) and while I have a decent job, it's still rough sometimes. Good luck to her and it's nice that you are trying to help her 
|
| Posted 11/8/07 7:42 PM |
| |
|
DancinBarefoot
06ers Rock!!
Member since 1/07 9534 total posts
Name:
The One My Mother Gave Me ;-)
|
Re: Does anyone know about food stamps, welfare
Just because her cousin/landlord won't fill out the housing form, doesn't mean she can't get assistance. There are other people that can fill the form out, and frankly b/c the landlord is a relative Part B of the housing verification form has to be filled out by someone else anyway.
What she needs is a social worker/lawyer/clergy person to come to the house to see that she actually lives there with the kids who then completes Part B (or 2 - I can't remember) of the form.
Second, when applying for assistance she has to tell them about all her income. If she hasn't reported her current income, then she is committing welfare fraud with respect to the Medicaid. Babysitting and house cleaning is considered self employed not necessarily working off the books.
Sounds like she needs legal advice on how to best get her needs met. There are agencies on Long Island that will provide this free of charge.
|
| Posted 11/8/07 8:42 PM |
| |
|
