August Topic - "Government Assistance"

01.  Food Stamps
02.  Medicaid
03.  Women, Infants and Children

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Too many people today are struggling due to the economy. The foreclosure rate is at the highest in years and only expected to get worst. People are working and still not able to pay bills. Most of us are in financially over our heads. The bills are mounting up and now we have to worry about putting dinner on the table every night and keeping the electric on. Maybe you have a child that is at college and you are footing most of the bill or you just had a baby that was not planned.

I am sure most people have heard the phrase "buy want you need not what you want". This phrase rings true in many senses. For example there a lot of generic items that are lower priced that can be substituted. This is very true for most household items and especially for medicines. The FDA regulates every medicine on the shelves therefore the knockoff must be exactly what the brand name is or it never gets passed through. You will never know the difference but your pockets will. The other sense this is true is that we may want very nice and expensive things like a plasma TV, but probably do not need them. Weigh it out and see if it is really worth purchasing right now.

Everyone has his or her own issues. Reality is life throws you some unexpected events. Regardless of your situation there may be government help available to you. The government has many programs available to us yet; unfortunately not enough of us take advantage of them. In this months newsletter I am going to go over the main government programs available to everyone. I urge you to specifically look within your community and state to find out other ones.

Check out the website for your states social services. These sites are very informative as to what is available in your community and state. They will give you information about what programs are available for low income families and a lot of other helpful facts. Most states offer their own programs to help out the residents locally and they are usually not advertised often enough. A little research and footwork and you may be amazed at how many things are readily available to you.

1. Food Stamps - What are food stamps?

They are funds that are put onto a bankcard that can be used to buy food. These funds are given to people who qualify and the funds are disbursed monthly. Who can qualify for food stamps? The qualifications are as follows:

Must have a social security number

Must be a US citizen, or qualified alien.

Financial situation

What are the work requirements for receiving food stamps?
Depending on how old you are you may be required to fulfill a work requirement. This requirement will limit the amount of time you are eligible to receive food stamps. There are exemptions from this for instance if you are pregnant, caring for a child, or unable to work due to a disability or other medical problem.

How are food stamps given?
These funds are given electronically through an Electronics Benefits Transfer card, which is like a credit card, each month. You are given a pin number to use at the grocery store. If all of your funds are not used in one month they can carry over, however some will expire after 60 days.

What can I buy with the food stamps?
You can buy food or plants and seeds to grow your own food. There is no sales tax on food purchased with these funds. It is important to tell the cashier that you are using these funds so that she can separate the items accordingly.

What can I not buy with food stamps?

Alcohol beverages or tobacco

Prepared hot food

Pet supplies or food

Soap detergent or cleaning supplies

Paper products

Debt

How do I apply for food stamps? Go to your local welfare office or apply online at http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/applicant_recipients/how_to_apply.htm Below is a chart of the income requirements to apply for food stamps. This chart was effective as of October 1, 2006.

Income requirements to apply for food stamps
Family Size	Max Gross Income	Max Net Income	Max Coupon Allotment
1	$1,062	$817	155
2	$1,430	$1,100	284
3	$1,799	$1,384	408
4	$2,167	$1,667	518
5	$2,535	$1,950	615
6	$2,904	$2,234	738
7	$3,272	$2,517	816
8	$3,640	$2,800	932
Each additional person add:	$369	$284	117

2.Medicaid?

What is Medicaid?
Medicaid is a state program that makes payments to your health care provider if you qualify. Each state sets its own guidelines for qualifications.

If I qualify do I have to pay anything toward it?
Some states require that you pay co payments toward doctor visits and hospital stays. It will all depend on the state guidelines where you reside.

Can children be eligible for Medicaid?
Yes even if you are not eligible for Medicaid. Look into your state's guidelines to find out if your children are eligible. Also if you have a child living with you that is not your own that child may be eligible. The state will not look at your income or resources for that child.

What assets does Medicaid look at to consider eligibility?
They will look at all liquid assets. These include but are not limited to real estate, bank accounts, trust funds, personal property, vehicles and stocks or bonds.

Am I allowed to keep my home and vehicle?
Yes as long as the applicant, legal spouse of the applicant or the children occupy the home. The applicant is also allowed to keep one vehicle.

What is the difference between Medicare and Medicaid?
Medicare is a program funded by the Federal Government. This program is designed for people with disabilities or elderly people 65 or older. Medicaid is state administered and designed for people who cannot afford health insurance. Also this program does not give you money directly instead it sends it directly to your health care provider.

3.Women, Infants and Children

What is WIC?
WIC stands for women, infant and children. WIC provides federal grants to states to fund this program. This program provides food, health care referrals and nutrition education for low income mothers.

Who is eligible for WIC?
Low income women who are pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding post partum women. This program is also available to infants and children up to age 5. There are eligibility requirements, which include categorical, residential, income, and nutrition risk. On the next page you will find a chart with income requirements.

What is nutrition risk?
There are 2 types of nutrition risk that WIC looks at:

1. Medically based risks such as underweight or overweight, or medical problems such as anemia.

2. Failure to meet the nutritional guidelines.

How long can I receive WIC for?
WIC is generally a short term program depending on your situation. The terms range from 6 months to one year. After your term has expired you must reapply if you are still interested in receiving the benefits.

How many people receive WIC?
8 million people currently receive WIC benefits each month.

How do I apply?
There are phone numbers on the site below for each state http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/Contacts/tollfreenumbers.htm

*This may vary slightly from each state. Please look into your specific state. This is just a general guideline to go by.

WIC Income Eligibility Chart
Size of Household	Year	Month	Week
1	$18,130	$1,511	$349
2	$24,420	$2,035	$470
3	$30,170	$2, 560	$591
4	$37,000	$3,084	$712
5	$43,290	$3,608	$833
6	$49,580	$4,132	$954
7	$55,870	$4,656	$1,075
8	$62,160	$5,180	$1196
Additional people add:	$6,290	$525	$121

Got a question? Then contact our Education Team on 561-883-2398 Ex.310 United conducts regular seminars on financial education, including "How to Budget", come along and join us - to reserve your seat contact our Education Team on 561-883-2398 Ex.310

Newsletter 08
Rev.1
Aug, 2007