Many of you know that you need help for you family, whether it is with food stamps, health insurance, or WIC, but are unsure of where to get such help. This page will give you the links to these sites.
(Vermont.gov, WIC in Vermont)
Here you will be able to find out where to go to get help for:
1. Food Stamps
2. Food Shelf
3. Health Insurance
4. WIC (Women Infant and Toddlers Program)
5. Subsidized Child
3. Health Insurance
If you do not have health insurance for your child, I know what it is like, and how expensive it can be, especially if your child is on a medication that is $300.00 a month. When you are struggling to make ends meet so that your child has all the medical necessities they need to be healthy, the last thing you should have to worry about is having enough food to eat. You may not know this but if your child qualifies free or reduced lunch than there is a good chance that they qualify for state health insurance. Your eligibility is based on your income; some people have to pay a small premium ($25 to $75) depending on how much revenue they take in after taxes, and some household expenses are taken into consideration as well.If you live in Vermont check out the like below for more information regarding Vermont Health Insurance. This will bring you strait to the Green Mountain Care website.
Vermont's Health Insurance Plans | Green Mountain Care
(If you are from a different state than Vermont, go to your states Department of Health website and look up Health Insurance. Somewhere on the page that comes up there should be a reference to your states Health Insurance, and if you cannot find it type in health insurance in their “Search our Site” box.)
5. Subsidized Child Care
Many people find themselves working just to pay daycare. Over half of my check went to pay for my son to attend daycare (before he was in school, full time) so I could go to work to pay for him to go to daycare. It is a vicious cycle that can make buying food (or paying other bills) extremely difficult, especially when you pay $40 to $50 a day for your child to attend. Numerous people are unaware that there is Child Subsidy for daycare for our children. If you are working just to pay for your child’s daycare, this is something you need to check out. If you are unsure what Subsidy is, Subsidy is money the government pays to the daycares for your child to attend. As if with state health insurance, food stamps, or any other state aid, it is dependent on your income as to what they will pay out for your child, however, when you are struggling with food inconsistencies, every little bit helps.
“How can I reduce the cost of child care?
1. Find out if you are eligible for child care financial assistance (subsidy).
To be eligible for child care financial assistance your family must have an accepted service need (or reason) for child care and meet current income guidelines. Use the PreScreening Tool to see if you qualify for child care benefits. Click here to find out more about the child care financial assistance program.
2. Utilize Child care tax benefits.
There are several federal and state tax credits that can reduce the amount of taxes you owe. Find out more about tax benefits you may be eligible to receive.
3. Ask your provider about scholarships and or sliding fee scales.
Some families who do not qualify for child care financial assistance still struggle to make ends meet. Ask your provider if they provide scholarships or determine rates upon ability to pay.
4. Check with your employer.
Some employers are able to support working families and rising child care costs. Ask your employer about the option to deduct child care expenses prior to taxes, child care contributions, flextime, and onsite child care benefits.” (Families, Pay for Child Care)
If you live in Vermont, look at this link below for more information regarding Child Subsidy. This link will bring you to the Department for Children and Families web site, and will give you the ability to see if you qualify for services, as well as walk you thru the application process, and give you the answers to FAQ (frequently asked questions). This site is a very good resource.
Child Care Financial Assistance in Vermont | Department for Children and Families
(If you are from a different state than Vermont, go to your states Department of Children and Families website and look up Child Care Financial Assistance. Somewhere on the page that comes up there should be a reference to your states Child Care Financial Assistance, and if you cannot find it type in Child Care Financial Assistance in their “Search our Site” box.)
1. Food Stamps
&
2. Food Shelves
Countless people go without the help they need, simply because they do not know where to get the help, or are too proud to ask for the help they so desperately need. It is one thing to be a proud person; it is another thing when your pride hurts your child(ren). If you need food, please do not be too proud to ask for help! Do you think your child(ren) will understand when you tell them “Sorry we do not have dinner but, I did not want people to think badly of me when I asked where I could find a food shelf so you could eat”?
(Picture - Families, Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Card)
2. Food Shelves
Countless people go without the help they need, simply because they do not know where to get the help, or are too proud to ask for the help they so desperately need. It is one thing to be a proud person; it is another thing when your pride hurts your child(ren). If you need food, please do not be too proud to ask for help! Do you think your child(ren) will understand when you tell them “Sorry we do not have dinner but, I did not want people to think badly of me when I asked where I could find a food shelf so you could eat”? Please, if only for your child(ren)’s sake, please, do not let your family go hungry, there are ways to get the food you need, if you do not want to go to a food shelf (or food bank), you can apply for food stamps.
Like the other state aid programs, you will have to apply where food stamps are determined by your income, however, if your any reason you cannot get the food stamps immediately, or you cannot afford food but have been denied for food stamps, you can go to a food shelf. That is why they are there. They are there for the people who cannot afford to feed themselves and/or their families. Please take advantage of them if you are in need, and remember, you do not need to be on food stamps to go to a food shelf.
Who is eligible?
“You may be eligible:
• If your gross household income is equal to or less than 185% of the federal poverty level, based on household size — regardless of the resources you own. Click here to see the current income guidelines.
• If you have children and get the Vermont Earned Income Tax Credit.
• If your household includes someone aged 60+ or with a disability — even if your gross household income is over 185% of the federal poverty level. However, we will consider the resources you have (exceptions include your home, certain retirement accounts, and college savings accounts).
The best way to find out if you are eligible is to apply! We will review your situation and let you know if you qualify.” (Families, 3SquaresVT (Food Stamps in Vermont))
3SquaresVT:
If you live in Vermont, look at this link below for more information regarding Food Stamps (or otherwise known as 3SquaresVT). This link will bring you to the Department for Children and Families web site for 3SquaresVT. This site will give you the ability to see if you qualify for services, as well as walk you thru the application process, and give you the answers to FAQ (frequently asked questions).
(If you are from a different state than Vermont, go to your states Department of Children and Families website and look up 3SquaresVT. Somewhere on the page that comes up there should be a reference to your states 3SquaresVT, and if you cannot find it type in 3SquaresVT in their “Search our Site” box.)
Food Shelves:
If you are interested where you can find a local Food Shelf (or Food Bank) take a look at the Gadget next to my blog article named Find Your Local Feeding America Food Bank. All you need to do is enter in your zip code or state, and it will tell you where you can find the closest Food Bank. Although, I would suggest searching using your zip code, it may give you a better answer, more precise.
If the gadget on my blog is not working properly, please go to this link for any state:
4. WIC (Women Infant Toddler) Program
“The WIC food packages provide supplemental foods designed to meet the special nutritional needs of low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, non-breastfeeding postpartum women, infants and children up to five years of age who are at nutritional risk. WIC food packages and nutrition education are the chief means by which WIC affects the dietary quality and habits of participants. You can read a brief history of the WIC food packages at Background: Revisions to the WIC Food Package.” (USDA)
Not only does WIC offer Milk, Cereal, Eggs, and Peanut Butter, it also offers Formula for infants. If you are pregnant, or have a child up to the age of five, this is a great program, and can be very helpful, especially with the way economy is.
If you are within the state guidelines for WIC (in other words, expecting, a new mother, or have children under 6) this link is for you. It is a list of ALL WIC agencies, throughout the USA.
Works Cited
Families, Department for Children and. "3SquaresVT (Food Stamps in Vermont)." 2010. Department for Children and Families. 18 November 2010 .
—. "Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Card." 2010. Vermont.gov. 18 November 2010 .
—. "Pay for Child Care." 9 March 2010. Department for Children and Families. 18 November 2010 .
Gerber, Keith. "Short Stories: Poverty." n.d. Helium. 18 November 2010 .
USDA, FNS. "Benifits & Services WIC Food Packages." 21 April 2010. FNS (Food & Nutrition Services) USDA. 18 November 2010 .
Vermont.gov. "Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities & Health Care Administration." 2010. Vermont.gov. 18 November 2010 .
—. "WIC in Vermont." 2010. Vermont.gov. 18 November 2010 .
I hope that you enjoy reading this essay as much as I did. I feel that it explains to great lengths what it is like to be living with little to no money, and raising a family. The one thing that I especially like about this short essay is that Keith (the writer) tells us (the reader) that when he looks back on his childhood he does not view it as one of poverty, but love, and as long as he had an “I love you” and a silver lining on every cloud” everything was fine.
Many children are the same way; they do not know what poverty is, not until they are older, and as long as that child has a parent loving them, and reassuring them that things have that “silver lining,” they will be happy just knowing that you care, and are there for them.
An Unnamed Essay
By Keith Gerber
“We were so poor that when we were growing up we would have macaroni on Monday and cheese on Tuesday. We were so poor that my brother and I had four shirts and four pair of pants, not each, four period. We would wear them in alternating cycles he would have a tight, tight shirt on and I would have loose, loose pants. (Who knew that would catch on?) We were so poor that we couldn't have pets, we knew it would break our hearts if we ever had to eat Fido or Fluffy. Seriously we were really poor. One of us would alternate with meals. When my brother had lunch, I would get dinner that day, and the next day I would get lunch and he would get dinner. There was never breakfast. Christmas was socks and underwear for as long as I can remember. I can recall five toys that I owned through the years and I still have two of them. When you do not have things that often you instinctively know to take very good care of them. We learned to fix things that the neighbors threw out and we would laugh when our neighbors would come to the garage sale and say "I used to have one of these but it broke." It would be so funny when, on occasion, our neighbor would buy items from us that they had thrown out. We were poor. So what? We knew it but we didn't dwell on it or talk much about it. I did lawns for some extra cash once I was eight and I took a job when I was fourteen years old at a local pizza place. I have been unemployed 2 days since that day 27 years ago. My family now lives from paycheck to paycheck, but my kids have everything they need. I would not say though that I ever lived in poverty because every day I can remember there was a golden "I love you" and a silver lining on every cloud.” (Gerber)
