Another hurdle?!!!

Hello! I just registered today.

I am going to go forward the best way that I can but the system makes it so hard.

I completed my food stamps redetermination a couple of weeks ago. Giving your life away for $200 a month. So I filled out what was required. And whew! Everything went through okay and I was receiving food stamps again. Then the letter came. Mail delivery has become a gut-wretching activity as of late. Well the letter said that to continue with food stamps I have go to a meeting to place me in a jobs program. If I do not participate my food stamps will cease. I got there early and dress for success as they suggested. I had to sign my life away some more. Told that I must now do 20 hours of job searching a week, fax the job search sheets and a job log containing 10 jobs with contacts once a week. The other conditions were that I was to go to a job club every Friday and participate in a one-time training program that only counts if I take it the 10 consecutive days it is offered. If I am in the training program, I wouldn't need to do the job log.

I thought the bright spot was to go to the job club for some support. I went for my first one the next day. Come to find out that the last one was April 1st (April Fools' Day! Yea!) No upcoming meetings are scheduled.

The counselor had told me that there would be a stipend for transportation costs if I attend the training program, but that is now up in the air.

I asked the counselor, if a employer calls me to ask for an interview during that 10 day training session, does it count as a valid excuse. No. I would have to schedule after or before this all day training on how to fill out a resume and such.

I am a bit scared now, because now to keep my food stamps, have to do a resume dump and spend my own meager money for transportation to go the a training program that may yield very little information and sign my life away some more.

If someone with a job now really knew how hard it was to get back on your feet and get out of the system when there are no good jobs easy to get they would realize how easy they have it.

I am so sorry for these evil inflictions on your precarious situation! Yes, I try not to WISH injury on others, but maybe just a little experience would educate them??

Grateful that we haven't had to apply for food stamps and other helps but amazed at the lack of assistance for individuals even on SS to offset any expense these days, even for food or heating costs? I sometimes 'wonder' what our nation's great minds spend their time on when soooo many struggle day-to-day, month-after-month, year-to-year with no relief?? We are no longer the "Great Society" we once were imho... I'm so sorry for the generations that don't remember when this nation aspired to better lives for all our citizens, especially those unable to gain their starting point without assistance. Heaven will have to help us! As my Gma used to say "The spirit is strong, but the flesh is weak!" --- I think applies to our politicians and elected 'leaders'?

Tell them at the job club, there will be no jobs unless outsourcing is ended. I am disabled but I could not be in one of those "programs" without calling it out as a total joke. With this one, I asked are those people insane? How are you supposed to actually get a job?

I asked the counselor, if a employer calls me to ask for an interview during that 10 day training session, does it count as a valid excuse. No. I would have to schedule after or before this all day training on how to fill out a resume and such.

Thanks, Suri. I am still trying to maintain some perspective about my present condition.

If I could easily get 10 contact from 10 job listings each week, I wouldn't need to get food stamps.

Before this, even though my situation is very difficult, I felt I was moving forward.

In the meeting they were saying that the program was to instill some pride and confidence. How can by confirming your contacts, they have to tell these possible employers that you are on food stamps is going to help? I know that just receiving food stamps I had to tuck my pride away awhile ago. In some cases, I had to go forward being unabashed about it.

I hope all gets better for all of us.

I tried to use a mature workers jobsite, and was told that I would also have to attend some classes and meetings before I would be allowed to access their job bank. This is local. I had no idea that this is a requirement in order to receive food stamps. I can only tell you that you are a brave person, and that you have what it takes to survive. I really don't think it is right at all, especially with having to fax paperwork -if you don't have a fax or printer fax, then you have to pay for that fax. Faxing isn't cheap at most places, even if it's a local number. And, then theres the gas for getting to the meeting, etc. This is just horrible that you have to spend any money you may get for this.
Thank you for sharing this will us, I plan to make sure people I know with jobs know about how this works for people who need food. This Country is making it too hard for so many now.

There are free fax services listed on the forum on the lower right hand side.

Thanks Springflowers, disgustedwithgovt and Jobless_in_MA.

Through my questions, I did reveal how this is mostly folly and a means to eject me off the food stamps program. But I will try to muster through it.

It did feel good to talk to the other participants there that were going through the same thing. All of them appeared to be like me, already professional.

This sounds horrible and sad you are going through this. I'm not on food stamps but the "job training program" here is a joke. Most of the training is in low paying jobs like nursing assistant, teaching assistant and retail clerk. When I tried to look into it I was told because I have a masters I am not eligible. The lady said though that to be considered I would have to go for a month to learn Microsoft office then I would be considered. Did I mention that my last job was computer trainer? So basically I would waste a month learning programs I already know and likely rejected for the low paying jobs that won't pay my bills.

Thanks New_Wave_Princess.

I have advanced computer skills also. I too, will have to go through a training program that will involve basic keyboarding. On my own, I try to keep up to date.

All I can do is try to hope for the best at the training program. I do like the possibility of meeting new people there. Licking our wounds the best we can.