I was so angry!!
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
United States
January 21, 2009 7:32am CST
Warning... this is a rant!
Yesterday I had a WIC appointment early in the morning. For those who are unfamilair, WIC stands for women, infants, and children. It's a government program that gives pregnant and nursing moms, infants, and kids up to the age of 5 help with their groceries. They give you checks to use for milk, eggs, juice, certain cereals, and a few other healthy foods. They also give you baby formula for infants under the age of 1.
Each of my kids has been on WIC since birth to help us afford formula. Typically I get them off at the age of 1 because I can afford the rest, but formula is expensive! My youngest just turned 1, so we weren't going to get formula anymore, but since I still have 2 small kids in the house, and the price of milk isn't going down much, I decided I'd stay on it a little bit longer.
So my appointment yesterday was to recertify, something we have to do every 6 months so they know our financial situation has not changed.
I woke up extra early so I could find all the paperwork I needed, and get my little boys ready and myself ready and go. I had to put my last $10 into gas for my car to get me to the other side of town (about half an hour drive) for this appointment.
My appointment was at 10. I arrived a little early, and waited and waited and waited. The small waiting room was full of unruly kids who's parents seemed totally unaware of what their children were doing. Most of them were eating donuts and drinking soda (the kids, not just the parents!). Well, I just always get annoyed when I'm at a place like this. When I see someone come into a government aid office wearing a leather coat and carrying a designer handbag, and their child has a leather coat and designer boots, and they spend the whole time talking or texting on their cellphone, I can't help but wonder why exactly this person needs government help!
So, after about an hour and half they finally call me in only to tell me I don't have enough of my husband's pay stubs. His pay rate has just changed this week, and it states on his check that he's just gone from salary to hourly, it also states how much he makes per hour and that he works 50 hours a week. But that wasn't good enough for them, they needed more paystubs than I'd brought with me. I could understand this if he'd always been hourly, but the stubs I brought in showed that up until this past friday he'd been getting paid a salary wage, so obviously you can just do the math to see how much he earns each month.
Well, in the end they said there was nothing I could do unless I could bring in more paystubs or proof that I'm on some other government program, which I'm not. So I left empty handed!
So of course I was fuming. Not so much that I didn't get the WIC, but because of all the trouble I'd gone through just to get there and have it turn out to be a waste of time.
Our income level is pretty much border line for government help. We're able to survive without it, but we are eligable for it. I was half debating applying for food stamps again since my husband's wages have just dropped, but after yesterdays ordeal I'm thinking a few extra bucks a month truly isn't worth the hassle I'd have to go through to get it! Going through such ordeals (whether I end up empty handed or not) is really not worth the stress! As I said, just sitting in the waiting rooms for such programs is enough to stress me out!
Okay, sorry I had to rant... I just had to get it off my chest, now I feel better. Have you ever wasted your time for something that didn't seem worth it?
4 people like this
13 responses
@baileycows (3665)
• United States
21 Jan 09
I don't know girl. My mother in law has 3 kids living at her house and she gets like 600 a month in food stamps and don't think that I wouldn't take it right now. I mean the gas is high, food prices have went up and stayed they are not coming down so why not everyone else does it and one person is not going to help if you stop. So do it and go buy your kids a toy with the extra.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
21 Jan 09
Even if I qualify, I won't get that much. Since we're borderline, we'll only get enough to get us past the poverty level, which may only be $50. The last time we were on foodstamps, which was years ago, we got less than $100 a month, and that was when we had 3 kids including infant twins. That's not worth it to me. It's too much of a hassle and head ache to jump through their hoops just to get the help.
@prinzess1515 (1341)
• United States
21 Jan 09
"Everyone else does it", um no everyone else doesn't do it. She is just trying to make sure her kids have enough food to eat, not to get extra spending money. I don't know how your mother in law gets so much. It is probably for her and other members too. I know someone who gets food stamps for just one person and they get $75 a month.
@ethansmommy06 (401)
• United States
22 Jan 09
well that sucks! oh i think i feel like ranting with ya. this may not be an exact answer to your question but i want to share this with you. my husbands so called best friend and his sorry lazy peice of crap wife(sorry i dont like her)have 3 beautiful girls togather. he has 1 girl with a previous relationship. anyhow. they are on welfare,medicaide,food stamps etc. she has two jobs he works now was off on workers comp which he milked so much the cow is dry! they get over 400 a month for food stamps. Get this.... THEY DO NOT HAVE THEIR CHILDREN LIVING WITH THEM. THESE KIDS LIVE WITH HER MOM AND DRUNK HUSBAND. THE WIFE GETS AN ATTITUDE WHEN HER MOM ASKS FOR MONEY FOR EXTRA GROCERIES FOR THEIR KIDS SHE IS RAISING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They do have custody but the kids dont live with them. they do not even speak to these kids on a daily. okay. im getting pissed but okay. they may have their kids once every month or two. I have called and called and reported and reported it dont do any good. they deserve better. This couple dont deserve all this help cause their kids dont benifit from it they do. And then people like you and prob myself cant get the help ya need and you raise your kids and do all you can to feed them and no matter what the system gives you the run around but people like that go in and in a dang snap they got all the help and more. I hope it works out for you.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
22 Jan 09
Oh, I feel your pain. The system is so flawed it's ridiculous! When I was growing up I didn't live with my mother either, but she also collected food stamps and welfare for me. I was raised by my godfather's mother who paid for everything for me except medical. She bought all my food, clothes, school supplies, and never asked my mom for a dime. The only time she called my mom was when I needed to go to the doctor because my mom got medicaid for me.
Well, when I was 12 I was in a bad bike accident. I hit a pothole and my foot spun off the pedel and into the front spokes. The entire bike flipped over and landed on top of me, and my foot was caught in the spokes. Someone cut me out and drove me home. Well my foot was double it's normal size, so my godfather's mom (Carol) called my mother and told her I should see a doctor. My mother said I'd be fine, it was probably just bruised, and never came for me. Carol couldn't afford to pay a doctor bill, so I never went. It took ages for that foot to heal, and even now, almost 20 years later, that ankle gives out on me for no reason at all sometimes. I've twisted it more times than I care to count! I think it was at least sprained and I probably should have gotten an x-ray. I'm still a little angry at my mother for that one.
@Amberina (1541)
• United States
21 Jan 09
There used to be a free food program in my town a few years ago and you had to be there in line at 6am with your own box to get food. No matter what the weather was cold hot raining it didn't matter there was no shelter to stand under. So after you got there and signed in you put your box down to save your place in line and go talk to people or just stand with your box. After going there a few times an seeing how the volunteers got first picking of the food (they would set it under the tables) sometimes when the food was delivered they would pick through the food and open packages to spread out the amounts they would use their bare hands to handle the food and put them in baggies for people I will never forget watching this one woman open a package of doughnuts that the store had delivered and she would grab doughnuts and put two in a bag after she handled the doughnuts with her bare hands she would lick her fingers before grabbing the next one I about threw up. Needless to say when it was my turn to get my wonderful two doughnuts I passed. The produce they had was all wilted and most of it was molded, the dairy products where all out of date and some where crushed so they where leaking all over the place. The bread was stale and dried out. I used to go with my aunt and the first few times the food was good then we didn't need it anymore so we stopped going and then when we came back and seen how the food handling was going an the food itself my aunt and I decided not to go back and it wasn't worth getting up so early and standing in the cold for rotten ill handled food. On our way back to the car we found the lady who was delivering the food and we told her what we saw and that we where not going to come back. I did notice one time driving by and looking in the tent that the people working behind the tables had gloves on the food looked good an the people where new.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
21 Jan 09
I'm glad they did something about that! We do have a few programs here that you have to start lining up at like 8:30 am, none of them are food programs, but one is a free dental clinic. I went there a few times, got there at 8am, wasn't seen until 5 pm, and if you're not seen by then, you have to go back the next day. It was horrible, but if you're in pain there's not much else you can do.
@singlemommy (2955)
• United States
22 Jan 09
Well, I can totally relate. I know I was supposed to recertify my son in November and to me it just wasn't worth the hassle. I am also borderline when it comes to the income thing. I figured I would have just wasted my time trying to recertify because I had gotten a pay raise and I figured they were going to turn me down anyway. Especially since I can't get help from any other agency (foodstamps, etc) and the funny thing is, I live on a single income, support 2 children and I pay my own daycare and they can't even give me $10 to get a few groceries?? Yet I know people who make more money than I do and have no problems making ends meet and THEY GET HELP?!?! Why is this? I think the Welfare System is totally backwards. Not only will they help people who don't really need it, they also help those who don't want to work! What the heck? They won't help the people who want to help themselves, but they will help those who don't want to help themselves. Are you kidding me? Sorry, I guess I needed to rant a little tonight too.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
22 Jan 09
Yeah, you're totally right. There's this guy hubby works with, he makes less than hubby, we know that for a fact, and he has double the kids we have!
Now for years hubby and I were sharing a car because we couldn't afford a second, and our car wouldn't even fit us all. The heat had gone in the car, everything was dying. But this guy at work was driving a brand new impala while his wife drove a brand new caravan.
Yes they got food stamps, welfare, section 8, and whatever else, but we didn't qualify for any of that!!
Then this guy was also talking about having the latest video games and even hooked up to X Box Live which is a monthly fee.
Can't help but wonder how does he afford all that with 10 kids and less income than us?
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
21 Jan 09
Dear katsmeow, I do hope you feel better tnow that you have vented. You have a lot of friends here you can probably give you bettter advice as they know the system in USA. would I have waited just to get a few bucks? The answer would probably be YES if my children needed those few bucks. Now that you have calmed down you will be able to think more clearly and assess your own situation. My adive would be to take advantage of what you are entitled to under the law. If you need it then deal with the wait etc for the sake of the children. Those extra bucks will help you so go for it and I'm wishing you the best of luck too. Sending a little sunshine your way to cheer you up.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
21 Jan 09
Food is not usually something we skimp on, even when things are tight, so we're okay in that area. Our bills are pretty much always paid, at least nothing is ever being shut off (threatened now and then, but never shut off), so I think we're doing okay. I'd rather not deal with the hassle or the stress and headache when it's not necessary, you know what I mean?
@alyssakenzie (462)
• United States
22 Jan 09
I had wic with my oldest daughter since she was put on a special formula and it cost over 25 dollars for a small can that only lasted a few days so I was spending a hundred dollars a week on formula. It was a headache to finally be able to get it but I was glad when I did seeing how we didn't have the money to keep paying that much for formula. When I was pregnant with my youngest I decided to go ahead and get it and then when she was born just switch it over and start getting formula. That was the wrong idea!! She was born around the time of Hurricane Katrina and a lot of people were evacuated up here so trying to get any kind of help was impossible. I went up there and tried to get it switched to her and they said I would have to make an appointment and then they would switch it over. The first appointment however was almost three months away!! I went ahead and made it and when it finally came time and I went up there and waited for hours and hours they finally said they couldn't see anymore people that day even though they had seen people that didn't have appointments!! That made me mad but they said it was based on need which I could understand but I had waited almost three months and then they wanted me to re schedule for four weeks and they would try and get me in then. It seemed the only way to get it was for everyone to quit their jobs and have no income which I wasn't about to do. I wrote several letters to the health department on it and that a lot of peoples cases were not being handled properly and it was ridiculous to have to wait that long after I had been on it for six months before she was born and nothing had changed so I was still approved to get it but never did. They sent me a statement talking about how it was hard with all the extra people that were evacuated here that needed help and they couldn't keep up with everyone. Well HIRE some more people was all I had to say. I have never again even tried to deal with them and have found a way to do it by myself.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
22 Jan 09
That is such a shame! I guess in a way it is understandable though. I'm glad I don't live anywhere where natural disasters strike. I'm very lucky!
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
21 Jan 09
[i]Hi kat,
Ohhh....that is totally stressful plus the scenario you've been describing full of unruly kids!
I hope next time, people will get information through phone calls or email so that before they will go to their office, they have an idea already what to expect!
Anyway, I have not tried in a situation like this but I know if I am in your place, I will be stress too![/i]
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
22 Jan 09
How frustrating!!
What an endearingly honest post, katsmeow1213. I'm glad you came here to get it off your chest.
Yes, I've wasted my time in such ways and it can be extremely agrevating. I'm sorry that happened to you.
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
21 Jan 09
I loathe going to the WIC office. I got off WIC when my son was a year old, but I decided to stay on it after my daughter was a year old since she drinks so much darn milk. I normally have to sit there for an hour before I even get my coupons and there are kids all over the place acting like little monsters.
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
21 Jan 09
Yes I had a similar situation. I went to enroll my daughter for school. Enrollment started in March. I had gotten all the paper work ready. Her birthday is in July. When we enrolled her in the district preschool we just had to provide the school nurse with an updated shot record before August.
I was told by one person I could do the same thing for the kindergarten enrollment to avoid the hassles of enrolling later. When we got there, they wouldn't enroll her without the final shot, so I wasted all that time. And my hubby took off work to help me out. We got her the shots early, but it was aggravating anyway.
@mercuryman3a (2477)
• India
22 Jan 09
Although you warned us that it is a rant, I did not want to go away without commenting. i know it is rude not to read the rant, but i was in no mood to read such a long rant. If it had been a few lines I would definitely have read it. Alas i am a lazy guy. anyway i wil lget back and read it later. Till then keep smiling. When things are bad, remember that things could have been worse. So keep smiling. Try MTurk to increase your earnings that is if you love to write.
@mjskids (6)
• United States
21 Jan 09
Yes! I feel for you that is a royal pain!!!!
The part with the woman in the leather coat
remember many shop people second hand stores and or may
have received from a relative or friend. Although I am
not on wic I do wear a nice leather coat (given to me 4
years ago from my mom) and carry a designer handbag($1.00 at
the second hand shop). I am not wealthy, but when you look you
can dress like it for a fraction of the cost.
I feel that they should have completed your app. that was wrong.
Sometimes people who work for the government get so tied up in
procedures they forget how to be just helpful to someone.
I am sure there was some way that they could have pushed it through.