Welfare/Government Assistance - Page 2

Wow you guys, what is up with these military salaries?

Gosh. Seems like something ought to be able to be done about those kinds of situations you mentioned Dawn. Have you all tried emailing or writing your congress people? It might not make a difference, but then you never know. If you all would like to email them, I have the web address. As far as the spousal job thing-I know what you mean. If they have 10 people in line for one job, they are going to pay as little as they can get away with. It does SUCK! I am sorry you guys.

I feel that if you really need it, then use it. If you are able to work and have no physical limitations then only use it when you have too. I see people everyday that are driving new cars with cell phones going into the local welfare office. Sometimes it makes me sick.

in response to postey

There has been a big "to do" about many of the nations military families being on some type of assistance and the government is trying to raise salaries as well as quality of life etc. But we haven't felt the benefit of it very much on our end! I think you would be surprised by the number of military families on some type of public assistance.

This is very long...

About 2 years ago, I wasn't working and DH was working 20 hrs a week (dry spell in jobs) and we were getting $500 a month in food stamps. Megan, your SIL needs to learn that in some cases, store brand is just as good as name brand; that some times bulk is better; and that tap water is perfect for everyone. We were able to feed 2 adults, 2 toddlers and a baby (all 3 kids on WIC, so no buying milk and formula) on that $500 a month and only used about 300 of it. That would save us a bit to splurge at birthdays and other special occassions...or get pedialyte when some one was sick.

As for now, our computer was PIF with our tax refund check 2 years ago, as well as paying off a credit card totally and lowering some others and buying the kids new shoes (3 kids at 3 pairs each at an average of 15 bucks a pair). Our internet service is charged to a credit card that is not used for anything else. It is payed off every year because our minimal payment is less than the service. I use it to keep in touch with family and friends and to do research on my son's Autism/PDD without having to get a sitter or drag kids to the library. Our 1995 Saturn was paid by DH's grandmother for the last half of the loan. Our 2000 used (35,000+ miles) Windstar is being paid by my entire paycheck. We have lived in our apt since Nov 1997. The carpet is 35 years old and has bare spots and holes. Our rent is income-based and our FS amount for May was $90.00. That won't feed my family (with 1 child still on WIC) for a week. I do not enjoy being on gov't assistance but I do appriciate it every time I need a prescription filled. My BCPs are covered. Most of the children's meds are covered. Where would that 20-something dollars a month come from for my pills w/out the insurance? My kids would not have had their shots w/out their insurance. I know that there are people that pay into the system that never have and never will use it. But because of them helping to pay for our medical bills, my kids are not going to school sick,therefore their kids are not coming home sick. What goes around, comes around.


I might be a bit out-dated here, but I thought that military families can live in on-base houses and get groceries at the commisary? My mother took advantage of the commisary and shopped there because of the no tax thing on groceries (this was when I was 8 and younger). I remember having 2-3 carts full of food when we left-for 1 adult and 3 little children (8, 5, 2 yrs). Seems that it would last a month (probably after the 3rd whenshe would get Daddy's SS checks for us kids. Plus, Momma knows how to pack; nothing was just tossed into the buggy!


I have also heard that for the amount of work they do and the fact that they work 24 hrs a day, military persons get paid sh*tty-I think it boiled down to about 2 bucks an hour or less.


I want to say that I am behind on this forum. Sorry. I had to put my 2 cents worth in. I am not mad at anyone. I am trying not to be defensive. There are alot of resons why and some are honest people. I just think, for those too polite to be nosey, that I would let you into my life a little to see what's going on.

Well I guess untiul you are in the military and you deal with it, you will never understand how it works. I can sit here until I am blue in the face and you will never understand it.

Yes the commissary is nice but guess what it is not as cheap as it once used to be. For us it was still cheaper to shop at the Super walmart. There are things that are cheaper at the commissary but formula sure was not cheaper there. Everything we needed for the baby was cheaper at WalMart. Plus I have noticed at most commissary;s the only have name brand items where at Walmart I can get the cheaper store brand which is the same thing for so much cheaper.

Last time I paid for something at the commissary I did pay a tax on Christian's formula. It was not a normal tax and I forget what it was called if I had my reciet I would tell you what it was.

When most of us can only get groceries on the same day finding a place to park is impossible. You wait in line forever to check out because everyone gets there groceries on the 1st and 15th of every month. We waited 45 minutes one day to check out in the EXPRESS lane. Which is ridiculous and the reasons are because EVERYONE HAS to use coupons and ALOT OF them are on WIC or foodstamps. It does not bother me that people use them or even that I have to wait. But when I have to wait longer than 45 minutes to check out one item in the express lane, you tend to not want to go there.

As for housing well, there are not enough on base housing anymore for most military people. Where my husband is stationed..he has been there a year and a half and WE WOULD STILL BE WAITING FOR SOMEWHERE TO LIVE because housing lists are that long. So they give you a certain amount for rent based on the going rate for rent in that area and they pick the lowest amount they can give you. A lot of people like to tell you there is enough money left for electric and whatever other bills there may be for the house....well guess what there isn't not if you live off base.

When we first got to Gulfport my husband's check was only around 800.00 (a little over) for the whole month and when the pay gets messed for 3 months like it did with us you go way in debt. we made 2400 in 3 months and 1800 was taken away because the Navy took forever to pay our rent and for some reason refused to back pay us. So that was 600 we had to live on for 3 months with bills, and groceries. Not the life of luxury I tell you.

I am sorry that I went off the handle but everyone has the lovely ideas that the military is so great well guess again. The pay sucks...sure you get free insurance but guess what that is taken out of your paycheck so yes you are paying for it. They take almost 200.00 out of my husband's check a month for medical so I feel in a way I am paying for our "Free" insurance. Some people swear by the commissary and other stores on base when I have found some of them to be more expensive.

Knee Cole, Hi it's AnnieQ. WOW! I learned a lot from your post today. You are right. I am thankful that your kids medicine and shots are taken care of. I am sure it is a stressfull situration. I think when you let us ladies know what is going on in your life you did not soud hot or snotty. You sound like a wonderful teacher, teaching someone something about life.

Knee Cole thanks for the information I learned a lot. God Bless you and thanks for being here.

I do want to say that I am not striking out at Knee Cole. I was trying to give those people who think the military is so great a few ideas of what it is like. She brought up the idea of the commissary and housing which everyone thinks is so great about the military when it is not...those are th2 major things everyone thinks are so great.

Wendy, I read Knee Cole post and when I was feeling out my reply to her, yours poped up next. I am like Knee Cole, I thought things were pretty much taken care of for miltary people. Times have changed. You taught me some things I did not realize that has changed. No wonder my cousin's wife wanted out of the Air Force and out of the base. When my cousin firsted started it was not like that. Thanks for the information.

Knee Cole..totally agree

My SIL DOES need to learn to buy generic. We have given her food before only to learn later on that she and her kids refused to eat it because it was generic! She also refuses to use coupons and shop around for a good price etc. I do use the commisary for many items, but with many on the local grocery stores doubling and tripling coupons I can get a lot more for my money by getting a lot of items there. We are stationed at a closed post so there is no longer any housing and the housing allowance covers the rent, but not utilities etc. Wendy I think you were talking about the commissary surcharge? Here is it 6% and our sales tax is 5%.

Yeah Megguy that is what it was. It was actually more expensive then the sales tax where we were at.

As for medical being so high, ours is higher because they are taking Christian's bill for being in the hospital out of our paycheck so I am paying for our insurance in a way. We have the same taxes taken out of our checks that everyone else does.

I did not live on base so my utilities are not paid which I've learned are paid on base which to me is not fair that I had to pay all that when the people on base don't have to. But oh well...the joys of being in the military. Nothing is fair...just like nothing is fair in "civilian" life. We all suffer the same whether it be military related or not. But at least we get to blame it on the same people

But I am in a heck of a better mood today and realized I sounded so mean yesterday and I am SO SORRY! Really I am.

Well we had to pay 350.00 for him being in for 25 days and then something else they are taking out. Not unless christian costs a little more since the average preemie costs 3,000 a day. I never knew it was that much. Keesler Hospital never sent the bill to my house even though they had my new address so they just decided to take it out of his paycheck. But they have never sent me anything saying what they are taking out. It just says on Den's LES that is going to Keesler AirForce Base hospital. Contacting them is like talking to the wall so I really give up.

I think that the system now is a little better...they are putting limits on things where its harder to take advantage...but at the same time its harder for other people to get it. I think its wrong when people misuse and abuse the system.

But I think that its a good thing just in case...you never know what might happen. As far as medicaid, I think thats great b/c come on health insurance is too expensive...and people have to pay way too much to see doctors..it's a shame.

Even medicare sucks. I had to take my DH's grandmother to the dr yesterday and she has no prescription drug coverage at all. It is terrible.

My mother had a hard time helping my grandmother with medicare all the time...she finally got on US Healthcare and it really helped her. Thank goodness for that b/c if it werent for that it would have been bad. She ended up being in a diabetic coma...and a vegetable and in the hospital for 7 months before she passed away.


It's a shame they work their whole lives for this...and it stinks in the end.

When my grandpa died my grandma lost her health insurance and ended up on Medicare. We found an insurance company that manages her Medicare dollars and acts as a HMO, but that she doesn't have to pay into. We use M-Care, but I think Health Alliance Plan has the same thing. It's worth checking into, look for "senior plans". She has an allotment for prescription coverage per quarter (still not enough, but better than nothing). She also has optical coverage. It's helped a lot and we have the assurance that she'll be treated at a premier hospital if she ever gets sick.

Thanks for the info Steph!

It depends on the state you live in...

They all have different rules and regulations. I think it works when used properly and not abused. It is meant to be temperary not permanent. Granted there are many people that do abuse it.