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I agree with your approach. If you don't need it, don't take it. There have been times in my life where I've qualified for food stamps. But damn, man. They just taste horrible.
Hey all,
So, in a bit of happy news, I found out that my family, barring any disasters, will be increased by one about 7 1/2 months from now.
My wife and I went to the counseling section, and they said we qualify for WIC. I was surprised, quite frankly.
I will (eventually) be sewing on E-6, sometime in the next few months. I also will be at my 12 year mark in August. Once this happens, my pay will be 3382 a month. (This isn't counting Basic Allowance for Housing, Basic Allowance for Subsistence, which are non-taxable or Cost of Living Adjustment, which is taxable.)
According to the chart on this page, http://hawaii.gov/health/family-chil.../webdraft.html, I would qualify (family of four, making less than $3,910 monthly).
Now, I feel I make a fairly decent wage (the soon-to-be 3382 a month, plus $1k roughly adding BAS/COLA (I live on-base, it'd be an extra $2k if I didn't). Am I "lucky" to qualify for WIC because they don't add BAH/COLA to my monthly pay qualifier? Or am I actually lower-middle class? Or is WIC just set too high?
I don't plan on taking it, because we are secure financially and I think WIC should be reserved for those who truly need it. I'm just wondering what you guys think of the issue.
I agree with your approach. If you don't need it, don't take it. There have been times in my life where I've qualified for food stamps. But damn, man. They just taste horrible.
And if you ever find the guy that knocked up yer wife, kick his ass.
Congrats, dude.
You are not poor, but you can be in need of help and not be technically "poor".
I think your approach is right. If you don't need it, then pass on it.
I don't think the program is too generous, and would rather err on the side of a bit of waste when it comes to nutrition for pregnant/nursing women and small children, simply because the costs of malnutrition are probably much higher.
... and contrats as well on #2.
Ready to not get enough sleep for another 2 or 3 years?
If you have any morals, you wouldn't take it. It sounds like you do, so cool beans.
Also, how in the do they pay out so much? Did you just write you would get almost 41k/year (~3400/mo) PLUS money to buy food and housing? WTF? I make more than twice that and end up the same after the govt taxes my ass. I'm not one to complain about the system for the poor, but damn I wished I hadn't seen those #s.
Btw some dept directors and bank managers make 41k/year. Just sayin'. They are responsible for whole departments and millions of dollars in quarterly revenue. And they don't get their houses and food paid for.
I can see your qualifying in Hawaii; maybe not other states.
http://www.payscale.com/research/US/...Manager/Salary
seems like a ty retail-style job. Big money is in the executive, as always.
California too, more than likely.
Under 40k for a family of four isn't living high on the hog but I don't consider it poor either. In a place like San Antonio you could live easily on that, but other places with higher costs of living it would definitely be more of a strain.
That being said, LG does qualify for free housing with the military so thats a big plus on being able to save money (assuming you live on base) in a place where the cost of living is so high.
I don't know if I agree with the "if you don't need it don't take it" statements, though. I understand the sentiment behind them but the fact of the matter is that you had better get what you can out of tax dollars because those better off than you are going to do so. The rich work the system far more than the poor in our nation and thats part of the mindset that makes them rich. You pay taxes, you serve in the military, so I don't see a damn thing wrong with you using the government programs that are made available to you. If you want to feel like you're doing something good with the money, put the savings towards a kids college fund or something similar.
In fact, I think thats exactly what you should do.
Could you repeat that in English?
Actually nevermind, and congrats on the family getting bigger
Congratulations, LGR!, on both things...having a baby and having the moral gumption NOT to say "just because it is there for the taking I'm gonna take it."
You should be proud of yourself!
I'm on the lookout! Some eyewitnesses say he's around 6' tall, kinda goofy-looking, and is known to be nerdy. I've got my eyes peeled...And if you ever find the guy that knocked up yer wife, kick his ass.
Congrats, dude.
I know, lots of parentheses.Could you repeat that in English?
Actually nevermind, and congrats on the family getting biggerI'll break it down.
Either I'm poor, or WIC is too generous.
*slamming head into wall*
Active military gets BAS and BAH. Since I live in Hawaii, I also get COLA. All total, those add up to roughly 3K a month, on top of my normal monthly salary. (Note: I'm not actually getting paid the 2k though, since I live on-base.)
And the amount I put was the qualifying number.. .if you make less than that per year, then you qualify for WIC.
Said bank managers also aren't deploying to remote countries for 6 mos at a time either though.
I understand the sentiment, but I'm not a big believer in the whole "If other people are doing it, you should too." Plus, I try to live off my own works as best as I can, and absolutely detest borrowing/receiving money if I can afford it myself.
Eyewitnesses?I'm on the lookout! Some eyewitnesses say he's around 6' tall, kinda goofy-looking, and is known to be nerdy. I've got my eyes peeled...
Eyewitnesses?
Congratulations. I pray for you a healthy happy baby in 7 1/2 months.
Don't take the handout. If your pay increases, you will eventually get to the point where you don't qualify and it will be like a cut in pay.
There was an article a couple of weeks ago that demonstrated where a family making just above the level where they would be eligible was about $10,000 behind another family making about $40,000 less (I may be misremembering the numbers).
What it amounted to was that the family making less, was eligible for so much free government handouts that that it added up to an equivalent income above the family that was not eligible.
That's one of my biggest heart burns over en lements.
I would take it myself, but I applaud your moral tepitude.
Eh, it's stubbornness and stupid pride as much as morals.
hopefully this baby comes out normal looking!
thats why you're the sucker and you're in the military. You people show me how dumb you are on a daily basis
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