The Government and You

Shinto

So, my wife just filled out this survey and found out that she was eligible to apply for assistance from 20 different government programs. It was unexpected.

What benefits are you eligible for?

I'm about to take it myself. It's not that I plan on applying for any of these things, because I'm doing all right, but I'm curious because of the large number my wife qualified for.

Shinto

Jesus, I qualify for applying to thirty-one programs.

Picardathon

I like how they explain that your supposed to put down 5.
Even better when they did it again.
10 programs, which I'm pretty sure is the floor for this thing.

Shinto

"Have you ever been tortured?"

No.

Is there seriously a program for that?

Marty81

I got 7.

edit: It looks like this thing is messed up. If you view the program details, you see why you're eligible. For instance,

In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be under the age of 22 years, live in a community with little or no health care services, and characterize your financial situation as low income or very low income .

So why is it messed up? Because it appears to be using or instead of and, at least in my case.

Veevee

I got 5 programs, none of which I really qualify for. One was to help with my immigration status while I'm a natural born citizen. Another one was for college scholarships for high school seniors that excel academically. I'm 23 and out of college.

TDL

I got 29, most of them from military service. Only a few of which I am already using.

mcdermott

I got 31, many from military service. And aside from the merit-based scholarships and a couple of the off-the-wall ones (which I likely don't even really qualify for, I'm using (or have used) most of them.

I'm a total leech.

EDIT: TDL are you still on active duty, or out now? Once you hit school make sure you milk the benefits for all they're worth...which, you'll find out, is a lot.

TDL

I'm currently in the Georgia Guard, actually. Which is nice, because Guard TA is completely covering all my school costs, meaning I get to pocket my GI bill payout. Or will, whenever the VA bothers to send it. At least they do back pay...

EDIT: Shit, this reminds me, I need to go fill out the paperwork to get on Tricare. 81 bucks a month for full coverage with only a $50 annual deductible? Yes please.

FirstComradeStalin

LOOK AT ALL THIS FREE MONEY!!!!

mcdermott

TDL wrote: »

I'm currently in the Georgia Guard, actually. Which is nice, because Guard TA is completely covering all my school costs, meaning I get to pocket my GI bill payout. Or will, whenever the VA bothers to send it. At least they do back pay...

EDIT: Shit, this reminds me, I need to go fill out the paperwork to get on Tricare. 81 bucks a month for full coverage with only a $50 annual deductible? Yes please.

Yeah, that's new. Tricare is only recently being offered to members of the Guard.

I pocket a lot of my GI Bill, but a lot goes towards living expenses. My state only covers the federal minimum for TA, which is $4500 a year. Which doesn't even cover tuition at a public university...let alone fees.

Still, $1750 a month (my current GI Bill+Army College Fund+Additional Contribution+Guard Kicker) goes a long way. ;-)

EDIT: Also, double check...your insurance through school may actually be less, depending. For instance, my premiums are less through school, and there's no deductible for routine care through the student health center. But I still do Tricare Dental.

Elki

21.

Shinto

mcdermott wrote: »

TDL wrote: »

I'm currently in the Georgia Guard, actually. Which is nice, because Guard TA is completely covering all my school costs, meaning I get to pocket my GI bill payout. Or will, whenever the VA bothers to send it. At least they do back pay...

EDIT: Shit, this reminds me, I need to go fill out the paperwork to get on Tricare. 81 bucks a month for full coverage with only a $50 annual deductible? Yes please.

Yeah, that's new. Tricare is only recently being offered to members of the Guard.

I pocket a lot of my GI Bill, but a lot goes towards living expenses. My state only covers the federal minimum for TA, which is $4500 a year. Which doesn't even cover tuition at a public university...let alone fees.

Still, $1750 a month (my current GI Bill+Army College Fund+Additional Contribution+Guard Kicker) goes a long way. ;-)

EDIT: Also, double check...your insurance through school may actually be less, depending. For instance, my premiums are less through school, and there's no deductible for routine care through the student health center. But I still do Tricare Dental.

Yeah, my best friend is basically living off the G.I. bill plus tutoring fees while he works on his degree.

TDL

Sadly, I'm doing correspondence college, so no insurance for me. But, it's accredited and I can work on my own schedule, which is good as I work a full time job.

And the Tricare deductible is annual, so I only pay it once, after that everything is covered. So 50 is nothing really.

Right now I have no health care, which is bad.

Jinnigan

What is your age? Example: 35

mcdermott

TDL wrote: »

Right now I have no health care, which is bad.

Yeah, us younger guys tend to do dumb shit like that.

I also noticed there was no option for Iraq campaigns (other than the Gulf War), despite there being an option for campaigns in Afghanistan. Wonder what's up with that.

TDL

Yeah, I noticed that as well. I figured it would just have it's own section later, but no.

EDIT: I also need to find out whether or not the SGLI still covers me 365 days a year, or just on drill status. I don't know shit about the Guard.

_J_

What's sad is that i'm too lazy to find this stuff on my own.

Now that I have a link to a survey? I put it in my bookmarks with the thought that i'll check it later.

So lazy.

mcdermott

TDL wrote: »

Yeah, I noticed that as well. I figured it would just have it's own section later, but no.

EDIT: I also need to find out whether or not the SGLI still covers me 365 days a year, or just on drill status. I don't know shit about the Guard.

Google would suggest that it's year-round.

Probably something I should have known without looking it up, considering how long I've been doing the Guard thing.

Shinto

_J_ wrote: »

What's sad is that i'm too lazy to find this stuff on my own.

Now that I have a link to a survey? I put it in my bookmarks with the thought that i'll check it later.

So lazy.

I'm told that government programs are there to cater to lazy folks like you and reinforce your dependency.

TDL

Sweet, thanks.

That's a good thing, because I have a bad habit of doing stupid things while not having medical coverage.

Duki

Jinnigan wrote: »

What is your age? Example: 35

I giggled like a mad man.

And man, fuck you commies and your state socialism. Make me sick.

_J_

Shinto wrote: »

_J_ wrote: »

What's sad is that i'm too lazy to find this stuff on my own.

Now that I have a link to a survey? I put it in my bookmarks with the thought that i'll check it later.

So lazy.

I'm told that government programs are there to cater to lazy folks like you and reinforce your dependency.

If they won't fill out the forms themselves then they don't cater to me.

mcdermott

TDL wrote: »

Sweet, thanks.

That's a good thing, because I have a bad habit of doing stupid things while not having medical coverage.

Shinto

_J_ wrote: »

Shinto wrote: »

_J_ wrote: »

What's sad is that i'm too lazy to find this stuff on my own.

Now that I have a link to a survey? I put it in my bookmarks with the thought that i'll check it later.

So lazy.

I'm told that government programs are there to cater to lazy folks like you and reinforce your dependency.

If they won't fill out the forms themselves then they don't cater to me.

I blame society for your predicament, and am anxious to redouble government efforts to reach you with generous aid packages.

_J_

Shinto wrote: »

_J_ wrote: »

Shinto wrote: »

_J_ wrote: »

What's sad is that i'm too lazy to find this stuff on my own.

Now that I have a link to a survey? I put it in my bookmarks with the thought that i'll check it later.

So lazy.

I'm told that government programs are there to cater to lazy folks like you and reinforce your dependency.

If they won't fill out the forms themselves then they don't cater to me.

I blame society for your predicament, and am anxious to redouble government efforts to reach you with generous aid packages.

I shall agree and await my government to shower me with wealth.

Quazar

I got 9.

But none of them really apply to me. I mean, some of them I think are there for me to volunteer to help with improving my community. I don't want to GIVE to the damn government, I want to TAKE.

Where's the "We decided not to spend this $10,000 on an outhouse, so we'll give it to you instead! Enjoy your new motorcycle!" option?

Feral

I rather like this.
I'm not sure how much good this site will do specifically, but the fact that somebody in the federal government is thinking about how we can make these assistance programs more visible and user-friendly is great.
This beats the hell out of the old days of calling your county's health and human services department or the social security office and waiting a week until they get back to you to take your information down.

ElJeffe

I got 18. About a third of them had to do with job training and unemployment assistance.

And a lot of them were bio-med related. I didn't click on them, because it was sort of scary. Like, are they hoping to use me as a guinea pig? "This dude is unemployed - he won't be needing his spleen."

Nerissa

I got a lot of bio-med ones too, I'm not really sure why. I also got the citizenship and immigration one... do they know something about my citizenship status that I don't?

Since I taught for a couple of years, I got some teacher ones that don't really apply.

Also, apparently they want to help my buy a new home, in spite of the fact that nothing I answered indicated that I was in any way dissatisfied with the one I have.

However, I did find one gem... apparently the HHS manages a child care referral system, although it seems geared at low-income families, which means it's going to filter out many places that are an option for us, but wouldn't be for a lower-income family.

_J_

ElJeffe wrote: »

I got 18. About a third of them had to do with job training and unemployment assistance.

And a lot of them were bio-med related. I didn't click on them, because it was sort of scary. Like, are they hoping to use me as a guinea pig? "This dude is unemployed - he won't be needing his spleen."

I'd happily sell my spleen for enough money.

Shogun

I apparently need to become a citizen, despite already being one, and buy a federal HUD home from the massive inventory the government has.

Despite already being a homeowner.


I think this is a good idea but poorly executed. Good luck to the people who actually need assistance.

Nerissa

Shogun wrote: »

I apparently need to become a citizen, despite already being one, and buy a federal HUD home from the massive inventory the government has.

Despite already being a homeowner.


I think this is a good idea but poorly executed. Good luck to the people who actually need assistance.

I wonder if anyone gets the HUD one who isn't already a homeowner...

Also, I didn't have a clue what my bank balance is, so I left it blank. Maybe I got the bio-med ones because they thought I was broke. :P

FirstComradeStalin

This is probably more of a "shotgun" approach. There are obviously a fuckload of government programs, so being able to whittle this down to 30~40, many of which can be easily eliminated through your own judgement, is a pretty nice start for someone looking for some government cash.

clownfood

_J_ wrote: »

ElJeffe wrote: »

I got 18. About a third of them had to do with job training and unemployment assistance.

And a lot of them were bio-med related. I didn't click on them, because it was sort of scary. Like, are they hoping to use me as a guinea pig? "This dude is unemployed - he won't be needing his spleen."

I'd happily sell my spleen for enough money.

i'll give your $15.79 for yours.

Tube

holy crap you people get a lot of benefits

Couscous

I was filling this out but got bored before completing it.

Quid

I got 17 but a good chunk of those didn't really apply to me. I am neither a senior in high school or living on an Indian reservation.

And the other stuff was pretty much covered by being active duty. Help with medical costs? Pfft.

Feral

Shinto wrote: »

Cardboard Tube wrote: »

holy crap you people get a lot of benefits

It lists the ones you are eligible to apply for, not the ones you would actually get.

And not all of them are worth much. I mean, the earned income tax credit is nice, but $400 a year isn't exactly going to keep you from starving.
And a lot of them take several months or even years to get (disability, Section 8 housing subsidies).
If anything, this shows how complicated and bureaucratic our "welfare" systems are.

Taximes

I had a full ride to a pretty good university for journalism, and basically gave it up when I decided I wanted to transfer to a different school for engineering.

I will be using this site when I find out how much I'll be paying.