Why don't I qualify for food stamps?

I am not sure this is in the right subforum, but I am depressed so I thought it'd be the right one.

I am almost thirty, no children, I have $4.00 in quarters to my name, no job, no food in my roach-infested apartment, and I am pregnant.

I wouldn't need food stamps for a long time, just a month or two until I get hired somewhere. I apply to different places every week. I am not on unemployment.

I pay all of my bills through my GI Bill-- and when that's done, I have $150-$200 to spend on food, toiletries, and laundry for the month. Sometimes I make it the whole month on that, and other times I don't. This month is an example. I've had about $20 in quarters to live on since the 19th of July. I am now down to $4 in quarters of that! So not too shabby.

My GI Bill, I am so thankful for it because I can have my essentials paid for and go to school. But unfortunately it isn't enough money to live. It isn't supposed to be enough money to live. It's supposed to help pay for tuition. That it does! Thank God!

So, basically I don't understand how it is that because I receive the GI Bill, I don't qualify for food stamps.

I am sorry if I sound really ignorant and entitled. I just don't have very much money, like most college folks. A lot of us are so broke!

I am pregnant and I can't just eat ramen noodles all the time. I know I shouldn't have gotten pregnant. It wasn't planned. I know I should've been more responsible. I should've done better. But I can't change that. I don't know who to call or what to do. I don't have any friends or family here where I live. I don't want to go to a food bank and take away from people who don't even have clean water to drink. Or anything at all. I have clean water. I just have no idea what to do. I just want help with $100 a month in food stamps, that would help me out a lot. It is important that the baby eats well. I am unfit to be a mother. I feel extreme guilt being so senseless and reckless and selfish, becoming pregnant without a way to make sure the baby gets the proper care. I just wish the people who are in charge of the SNAP would understand that.

Can someone help me, not with money, but with some advice on how to help myself and the baby?

WIC? I can't imagine that you wouldn't qualify since you are pregnant and the requirements for WIC are (I think) less strict. I know that when I've had friends on it they've actually gotten almost too much food.

You are NOT unfit to be a mother!!!!! You are doing the best you can. Also, food banks are there for anyone who needs it, don't feel guilty if that is you. Someday you can maybe donate food back. Even if you can't if everyone tries to say they shouldn't get the food nobody will and it just goes bad.

I know it is hard. I was on food stamps while waiting for SSDI and it was hard to accept that. I have a few financial assistance things now and I hate them while loving them. But I've learned to not feel guilty; those things are here for people like me and I'm not wrong to accept what I need (like meds, I couldn't have ones that are extremely important without assistance).

I second WIC and food banks.

A lot of food banks around here also do short intakes and will give you lots of information on how to get help. Do check out food banks and let them know you are pregnant so they give you healthy food.

Do check out the WIC program, it's there for a reason.

Thank you for your services and I think this is something that the VA should be able to help with. If I were I would make an appt with the Social Workers there and see if they can help in some ways.......It is worth a try!!

Please do not be afraid or feel guilty for using food banks or WIC or anything, this is why we have these types of organizations.

You also should be able to get assistance with heat (here it is called HEAP) and I think there is something through electric.

And again, don't feel bad about using things. You served our country! You are in school so this is happening for a reason and it will end. You are absolutely right that the GI Bill should include expenses. It is silly that it doesn't.

The final thought I had and the one I would look into absolutely last is federal student loans. I think the other things make more sense for you than winding up in debt later. But if you had to the loans are there for students and you don't have to pay while in school. They can be a real trap if you use too much; mine were a huge percent of my bills before I became disabled but they got me my education and were the only way that could happen. They don't care how you spend whatever you qualify for so it can go for rent, food, etc.

But really, the other things are better, esp. WIC.

I just noticed this is your first post....

Call 211 - they should be able to link you up with some resources in your area. Catholic Charities is anothe good place they sometimes give food vouchers. I hope you get the help you need!!!

Go to the USDA.FNS.GOV/SNAP. If your benefits from the GI bill is more than $1276/month, then you fail the gross income test. It's not that you are receiving money from the GI bill, it is probably because you are over the income limit. I checked the FNS website, I didn't find a GI bill exclusion.

This website has tables on eligibility and link to state websites. Good luck!

What state are you in? At least in Tennessee you can get them so long as your total household income is under $12,000. SNAP should have sent you a letter explaining why you were denied. The same office handles WIC so I'm surprised they didn't sign you up for that. You just need a note from your doctor verifying the pregnancy.

Thank you for your service.

I agree on contacting your local WIC and food banks.

Double check to see if GI bill money is on the exempted list. I don't know if it is but my VA disability compensation money is excluded for some things like medicaid. As far as my state is concerned I make $0.00 a year. I haven't tried applying for food stamps so I don't know if that is excluded.

Did you have depression during your time in service? If you did, and have it documented, and depression is an ongoing thing, you might be able to get it service-connected and get some amount of compensation.

I don't know if you tried that, just throwing it out. You can contact a Veteran's Service Officer(VSO) in your area. They are 100% free. Organizations like VFW, DAV, American Legion offer them and you don't have to be a member or qualify for membership to use their VSO's.

Also, most states have a veterans office that you might be able to get help with things like rent and food. Do a search for "your state" veterans office.

Another option might be to file for medical benefits, if you haven't already, at VA and talk to the patient advocate about seeing a social worker in the VA hospital. They might be of great assistance.

MDD with Psychotic Features, Dysthymia, GAD, Cluster C personality traits - Not taking any meds

Did you have any luck?

Is there any bill you could default on without losing an essential necessity, like shelter?

If by "my bills" you are including things like credit card bills, then you have to look at your priorities. Your first moral obligation is to feed yourself and your baby.

This may or may not apply to you, but I've known people who would literally starve themselves to keep their FICO score from going down. The SNAP benefit is not intended to help people manage excess debt that they should not have taken on . . . or to keep a fancier apartment than they should ever have rented. You may have done neither of these things. I'm just trying to explain the thinking behind how SNAP works, since you seem to be asking about that. If you're trying to hold on to things you need to let go of, then SNAP won't be supportive of that goal.

The social safety net is set up to highly prioritize feeding pregnant women. But you also need to prioritize that. Going to a food bank does not mean you are taking anything away from anyone else. Take any help you are eligible to get. You owe that to your baby . . . and to yourself.

What about your child's father-can he help provide?

Please don't beat yourself up for getting pregnant. Many, many people do not plan it. I am one of them-I got pregnant at 16 and my parents kicked me out of the house. I used WIC and food banks. And waitressed, too.

Is waitressing something you could do to supplement your GI Bill income? Depending on where you live and where you work, you could easily make $100 in 5 hours. I suppose some may not readily hire someone who is pregnant, but the unemployment rate is fairly low right now.

You're not taking away from anyone who uses the food bank. That's what it's for-people who need food. You'd be surprised that many who frequent food banks are better off than you.

Yet another option is to borrow money to help cover your living expenses. I still had to take out loans at when point when I was using my GI Bill and had to stop working full-time to finish school. You don't have to pay them back until after you graduate, and the monthly payments tend to be very low.

A VA social worker could help connect you with services.

Sorry that you are depressed. I am too, so I understand if it feels hopeless. I hope your baby keeps you going. Take care.