So as I've mentioned before, my life has been busy as my husband goes to school full time. They say if you're a military wife/spouse, you're pretty much IN the military as well. That is so true. I think the same goes for a student's wife/spouse. Especially if you are helping your spouse with homework/classes.
I'm so boring, that's about all that's been going on around here. Well that, and the fact that we're in the middle of a short sale and don't know which way we're headed, if we're coming or going. Not sure why they're called "Short Sales". We started the whole thing back in November. Well okay, so the papers got sent to the wrong department and we had to start over. Now we know that we don't qualify for a loan modification. I guess that doesn't work when you don't have "income". Even though John gets "paid" to go to school. It's a complicated mess right now. I worry how we'll find a place to rent without this so called "income".
DWS (Department of Workforce Services) is still screwing things up left and right and I'm still left to figure out the mess and how to fix it. I recently had to do a case review and they asked me to verify a bunch of stuff. They had me listed as NEVER MARRIED. How did that happen? Then under medical they listed myself, my husband and my son, but not our 2 girls. And they said that we all were on the same insurance since 1997. Hmmm, then why would we need help? Then it asked to verify a bunch of information that was not there. Talk about frustrating. It asked if anyone EVER served in the military. Then, along with that same question, "Who is the person in need?" How do you answer that. My husband served in the military, but I'm not sure what the need part is.
Earlier we applied for help with school through them, and they denied us. The lady was pretty rude saying she didn't see a need since the VA was covering tuition and giving us money for books and we got a Pell Grant. We explained to her that the VA would give us up to $1000 a year for books, tools and supplies, but hubby will need about $3000. We also have bills to pay, etc. Well, I guess somehow it got on SLCC's record that we were applying for this program, so they list that we have this $1000 outside resource (from DWS) It's kind of biting us in the butt a bit. Part of this review is asking about school assistance. Oh my UGH!
Author of Once Upon a Surrogate: The Stork’s Helpers, started the phrase “I’m not the mom. I’m just the stork”. Surrogacy has opened many doors for me which led to a happier, more rewarding life. (Inactive as far as the Mormon part, still spiritual, open and respectful) My surrobabies were born in 2006 (girl), 2009 (twin boys) and 2014 (girl). I am a huge surrogacy advocate and creative entrepreneur. Hoping to match for one final journey.
One of my Surrogacy Shops
"My #1 selling design/phrase"
Showing posts with label College. Show all posts
Showing posts with label College. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Fed up with unemployment, food stamps, etc.
What a flipping rollercoaster we have been on since John was laid off in October.
We went in right away to apply for Unemployment and ended up applying for Food Stamps and Medical Assistance as well.
Things went smooth for about a week. We got the unemployment, food stamps and medical for our kids. John and I don't get medical. Because John is a Veteran, they say he has "other insurance" and can go to the VA hospital for everything. Not sure why I couldn't get anything.
So we're set up and things are ok and then all of a sudden I get a notice saying that my son is no longer eligible for Medical and will only be covered for the month of November. However, my girls get to stay on. What the hell?
In fact, here's the notice:
We have made a decision about your eligibility for benefits. Below is a summary of the eligibility results.
Childrens Health
Insurance
10-24-2011 December 2011 Change
Children's Health Insurance Program
There has been a change to the Household benefits for this Program. The following individual(s) remain
eligible for this program:
JESSICA
TRISTAN
Please review the following information for details:
• The above individual(s) will be enrolled in the Childrens Health Insurance program. Their
enrollment will continue until the end of your current eligibility period.
Please note that the change to Household Members may show the removal of a member
and at the same time, an addition of a different member.
• The number of eligible persons in your household has changed.
This made no sense to me. It doesn't explain WHY. Nothing had changed, and yet to them the number of eligible persons in our household had changed. After some digging and decoding and hours spent either on the phone, online chat or in the office, we find out that THEY thought our son had other insurance. But rather than calling us and clarifying it, they make a decision and send us a notice that is as clear as mud.
Our food stamps have been messed with as well with UNCLEAR notices. Then we clear them up and all of a sudden there is another problem. And of course, we are sent a very vague notice.
Calling and chatting online is a joke, if not a nightmare. First you get to wait at LEAST 30 minutes for either. Then you end up speaking to someone who doesn't know what's going on and has to decode someone else's notes. The only way we get things figured out is if we make the 30 minute drive to the office. BUT, even then, they are not the ones that send the notices, so they have to do some decoding.
Hubby and I feel like we are jumping through hoops. Not just any hoops though, hoops on FIRE! And every now and then we get burned.
I tried chatting twice last week and waited about an hour each time even thought the wait was only supposed to be 46 minutes. One time they closed the chat on me without even starting the session. The other time, no one ever came on. I've been waiting to chat as we speak since 12:55 PM. It was supposed to be a 26 minute wait. It's been about 43 so far. Makes you feel like a really important person. To top it off, I'm sick right now. Don't have much of a voice or patience for calling in and don't feel good enough to make the drive over. So this sits unresolved for awhile. :(
It is time consuming, stressful and frustrating! All we want is to get back on our feet and have a little bit of help in the meantime. John is even filling in applications for jobs that pay very little just to stay honest. However, NO ONE is calling him back. No job offers... nothing! That's ok though, because he will be starting school next Monday. My baby's going to college. I think I mentioned that if I could figure out how, I'd like to go too.
That hasn't been easy either- figuring out all the school stuff. We thought we had it all figured out, but have had to re-do a few things. We're getting closer though. This will be a cool experience for all of us. Plus he's using his GI Bill, so he's getting PAID to go to school. Can't get any better than that, right?
Oh hey- someone is acknowledging me on chat...49 minutes later. Wish me luck.
We went in right away to apply for Unemployment and ended up applying for Food Stamps and Medical Assistance as well.
Things went smooth for about a week. We got the unemployment, food stamps and medical for our kids. John and I don't get medical. Because John is a Veteran, they say he has "other insurance" and can go to the VA hospital for everything. Not sure why I couldn't get anything.
So we're set up and things are ok and then all of a sudden I get a notice saying that my son is no longer eligible for Medical and will only be covered for the month of November. However, my girls get to stay on. What the hell?
In fact, here's the notice:
We have made a decision about your eligibility for benefits. Below is a summary of the eligibility results.
Childrens Health
Insurance
10-24-2011 December 2011 Change
Children's Health Insurance Program
There has been a change to the Household benefits for this Program. The following individual(s) remain
eligible for this program:
JESSICA
TRISTAN
Please review the following information for details:
• The above individual(s) will be enrolled in the Childrens Health Insurance program. Their
enrollment will continue until the end of your current eligibility period.
Please note that the change to Household Members may show the removal of a member
and at the same time, an addition of a different member.
• The number of eligible persons in your household has changed.
This made no sense to me. It doesn't explain WHY. Nothing had changed, and yet to them the number of eligible persons in our household had changed. After some digging and decoding and hours spent either on the phone, online chat or in the office, we find out that THEY thought our son had other insurance. But rather than calling us and clarifying it, they make a decision and send us a notice that is as clear as mud.
Our food stamps have been messed with as well with UNCLEAR notices. Then we clear them up and all of a sudden there is another problem. And of course, we are sent a very vague notice.
Calling and chatting online is a joke, if not a nightmare. First you get to wait at LEAST 30 minutes for either. Then you end up speaking to someone who doesn't know what's going on and has to decode someone else's notes. The only way we get things figured out is if we make the 30 minute drive to the office. BUT, even then, they are not the ones that send the notices, so they have to do some decoding.
Hubby and I feel like we are jumping through hoops. Not just any hoops though, hoops on FIRE! And every now and then we get burned.
I tried chatting twice last week and waited about an hour each time even thought the wait was only supposed to be 46 minutes. One time they closed the chat on me without even starting the session. The other time, no one ever came on. I've been waiting to chat as we speak since 12:55 PM. It was supposed to be a 26 minute wait. It's been about 43 so far. Makes you feel like a really important person. To top it off, I'm sick right now. Don't have much of a voice or patience for calling in and don't feel good enough to make the drive over. So this sits unresolved for awhile. :(
It is time consuming, stressful and frustrating! All we want is to get back on our feet and have a little bit of help in the meantime. John is even filling in applications for jobs that pay very little just to stay honest. However, NO ONE is calling him back. No job offers... nothing! That's ok though, because he will be starting school next Monday. My baby's going to college. I think I mentioned that if I could figure out how, I'd like to go too.
That hasn't been easy either- figuring out all the school stuff. We thought we had it all figured out, but have had to re-do a few things. We're getting closer though. This will be a cool experience for all of us. Plus he's using his GI Bill, so he's getting PAID to go to school. Can't get any better than that, right?
Oh hey- someone is acknowledging me on chat...49 minutes later. Wish me luck.
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