[bearishgurl]

[quote=sdrealtor]I think most people still can graduate from high school and get a job that could support themselves and possibly an entire family on one income today. The problem is they arent content to live the way people used to. The attitude of todays modest jobholders is there is no reason they shouldnt have a cell phone, iPod, computer w/ internet access, a new car every few years, take nice vacations, go out to dinner and have a flat panel TV. When i was growing up we kept cars 10 years, had one TV in the house we kept for 20 years, one phone number, we rarely took vacations and dinner out was a bucket of chicken from Colonel Sanders (and that was a rare treat). I grew up in an upper middle class area but expectations have changed as has the world. You cant have it both ways.[/quote]

Agree with all of this, except cell phone and internet svc which I believe are necessities. There are cheaper ways of getting these services but they involve prepaid cell phones and a little slower internet service.

I must admit that I have regular cellphone svc and fast internet service but have none of the other benefits you mention here. I DO travel but I drive in my 18 yo car and stay at friends/relatives houses 75% of the time.

I do not eat out unless I am someone else’s guest 🙂

I want to add that families of “yesteryear” lived in much less square footage than young families want today.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=sdrealtor]I think most people still can graduate from high school and get a job that could support themselves and possibly an entire family on one income today. The problem is they arent content to live the way people used to. The attitude of todays modest jobholders is there is no reason they shouldnt have a cell phone, iPod, computer w/ internet access, a new car every few years, take nice vacations, go out to dinner and have a flat panel TV. When i was growing up we kept cars 10 years, had one TV in the house we kept for 20 years, one phone number, we rarely took vacations and dinner out was a bucket of chicken from Colonel Sanders (and that was a rare treat). I grew up in an upper middle class area but expectations have changed as has the world. You cant have it both ways.[/quote]

Agree with all of this, except cell phone and internet svc which I believe are necessities. There are cheaper ways of getting these services but they involve prepaid cell phones and a little slower internet service.

I must admit that I have regular cellphone svc and fast internet service but have none of the other benefits you mention here. I DO travel but I drive in my 18 yo car and stay at friends/relatives houses 75% of the time.

I do not eat out unless I am someone else’s guest 🙂

I want to add that families of “yesteryear” lived in much less square footage than young families want today.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=sdrealtor]I think most people still can graduate from high school and get a job that could support themselves and possibly an entire family on one income today. The problem is they arent content to live the way people used to. The attitude of todays modest jobholders is there is no reason they shouldnt have a cell phone, iPod, computer w/ internet access, a new car every few years, take nice vacations, go out to dinner and have a flat panel TV. When i was growing up we kept cars 10 years, had one TV in the house we kept for 20 years, one phone number, we rarely took vacations and dinner out was a bucket of chicken from Colonel Sanders (and that was a rare treat). I grew up in an upper middle class area but expectations have changed as has the world. You cant have it both ways.[/quote]

Agree with all of this, except cell phone and internet svc which I believe are necessities. There are cheaper ways of getting these services but they involve prepaid cell phones and a little slower internet service.

I must admit that I have regular cellphone svc and fast internet service but have none of the other benefits you mention here. I DO travel but I drive in my 18 yo car and stay at friends/relatives houses 75% of the time.

I do not eat out unless I am someone else’s guest 🙂

I want to add that families of “yesteryear” lived in much less square footage than young families want today.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=AN]Is there a life time limit on food stamps?[/quote]

I’ve never worked for the former DSS (now HHSA) but I would say …. no. As long as one is income-qualified for an EBT card, new $$ will be put onto it at the 1st of each month, by HHSA. That $$ could vary month to month, however, depending upon how much W-2 income is reported on the recipient’s SSN to the CA EDD every quarter. Of course, this does NOT preclude an EBT program recipient from working “under the table” to not have their benefits affected. If a recipient understates their W-2 income on their monthly report and it is later found to be higher, they will receive less $$ on their EBT card the following month(s) until the overpayment is satisfied. I believe a recipient will lose benefits if found to have understated their W-2 income three times.

Counties are reimbursed by the Dept of Agriculture for the monies they expend in the EBT program. The recipient must meet certain guidelines to qualify for an EBT card (and continue to have $$ put on it).

The EBT card program is completely separate from TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families).

When TANF was enacted in CA (I believe 1996), there was a five-year lifetime limit put on an individual recipient. During that <=five-year period, a TANF recipient, if not certified by a doctor to be too disabled to work, will be expected to work when offered temporary positions by their eligibility worker. These are usually in county departments performing menial tasks for no pay. A Department supervisor will give a TANF worker a letter of recommendation for employment after 3-6 months on the job. Some TANF recipients have obtained county positions in Departments they formerly "interned" in. Those not working are expected to be enrolled in ROP or college F/T. Resources are available to pay for a recipient's college fees and child care while they work and/or attend college/ROP programs. Disclaimer: I have never been a recipient of these programs but have known many people who have. There is no shame in needing to feed/house your children and not having the funds at some point in your life to do it. see: http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/cdssweb/entres/pdf/CWVerificationPlan.pdf

[bearishgurl]

[quote=AN]Is there a life time limit on food stamps?[/quote]

I’ve never worked for the former DSS (now HHSA) but I would say …. no. As long as one is income-qualified for an EBT card, new $$ will be put onto it at the 1st of each month, by HHSA. That $$ could vary month to month, however, depending upon how much W-2 income is reported on the recipient’s SSN to the CA EDD every quarter. Of course, this does NOT preclude an EBT program recipient from working “under the table” to not have their benefits affected. If a recipient understates their W-2 income on their monthly report and it is later found to be higher, they will receive less $$ on their EBT card the following month(s) until the overpayment is satisfied. I believe a recipient will lose benefits if found to have understated their W-2 income three times.

Counties are reimbursed by the Dept of Agriculture for the monies they expend in the EBT program. The recipient must meet certain guidelines to qualify for an EBT card (and continue to have $$ put on it).

The EBT card program is completely separate from TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families).

When TANF was enacted in CA (I believe 1996), there was a five-year lifetime limit put on an individual recipient. During that <=five-year period, a TANF recipient, if not certified by a doctor to be too disabled to work, will be expected to work when offered temporary positions by their eligibility worker. These are usually in county departments performing menial tasks for no pay. A Department supervisor will give a TANF worker a letter of recommendation for employment after 3-6 months on the job. Some TANF recipients have obtained county positions in Departments they formerly "interned" in. Those not working are expected to be enrolled in ROP or college F/T. Resources are available to pay for a recipient's college fees and child care while they work and/or attend college/ROP programs. Disclaimer: I have never been a recipient of these programs but have known many people who have. There is no shame in needing to feed/house your children and not having the funds at some point in your life to do it. see: http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/cdssweb/entres/pdf/CWVerificationPlan.pdf

[bearishgurl]

[quote=AN]Is there a life time limit on food stamps?[/quote]

I’ve never worked for the former DSS (now HHSA) but I would say …. no. As long as one is income-qualified for an EBT card, new $$ will be put onto it at the 1st of each month, by HHSA. That $$ could vary month to month, however, depending upon how much W-2 income is reported on the recipient’s SSN to the CA EDD every quarter. Of course, this does NOT preclude an EBT program recipient from working “under the table” to not have their benefits affected. If a recipient understates their W-2 income on their monthly report and it is later found to be higher, they will receive less $$ on their EBT card the following month(s) until the overpayment is satisfied. I believe a recipient will lose benefits if found to have understated their W-2 income three times.

Counties are reimbursed by the Dept of Agriculture for the monies they expend in the EBT program. The recipient must meet certain guidelines to qualify for an EBT card (and continue to have $$ put on it).

The EBT card program is completely separate from TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families).

When TANF was enacted in CA (I believe 1996), there was a five-year lifetime limit put on an individual recipient. During that <=five-year period, a TANF recipient, if not certified by a doctor to be too disabled to work, will be expected to work when offered temporary positions by their eligibility worker. These are usually in county departments performing menial tasks for no pay. A Department supervisor will give a TANF worker a letter of recommendation for employment after 3-6 months on the job. Some TANF recipients have obtained county positions in Departments they formerly "interned" in. Those not working are expected to be enrolled in ROP or college F/T. Resources are available to pay for a recipient's college fees and child care while they work and/or attend college/ROP programs. Disclaimer: I have never been a recipient of these programs but have known many people who have. There is no shame in needing to feed/house your children and not having the funds at some point in your life to do it. see: http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/cdssweb/entres/pdf/CWVerificationPlan.pdf

[bearishgurl]

[quote=AN]Is there a life time limit on food stamps?[/quote]

I’ve never worked for the former DSS (now HHSA) but I would say …. no. As long as one is income-qualified for an EBT card, new $$ will be put onto it at the 1st of each month, by HHSA. That $$ could vary month to month, however, depending upon how much W-2 income is reported on the recipient’s SSN to the CA EDD every quarter. Of course, this does NOT preclude an EBT program recipient from working “under the table” to not have their benefits affected. If a recipient understates their W-2 income on their monthly report and it is later found to be higher, they will receive less $$ on their EBT card the following month(s) until the overpayment is satisfied. I believe a recipient will lose benefits if found to have understated their W-2 income three times.

Counties are reimbursed by the Dept of Agriculture for the monies they expend in the EBT program. The recipient must meet certain guidelines to qualify for an EBT card (and continue to have $$ put on it).

The EBT card program is completely separate from TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families).

When TANF was enacted in CA (I believe 1996), there was a five-year lifetime limit put on an individual recipient. During that <=five-year period, a TANF recipient, if not certified by a doctor to be too disabled to work, will be expected to work when offered temporary positions by their eligibility worker. These are usually in county departments performing menial tasks for no pay. A Department supervisor will give a TANF worker a letter of recommendation for employment after 3-6 months on the job. Some TANF recipients have obtained county positions in Departments they formerly "interned" in. Those not working are expected to be enrolled in ROP or college F/T. Resources are available to pay for a recipient's college fees and child care while they work and/or attend college/ROP programs. Disclaimer: I have never been a recipient of these programs but have known many people who have. There is no shame in needing to feed/house your children and not having the funds at some point in your life to do it. see: http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/cdssweb/entres/pdf/CWVerificationPlan.pdf

[bearishgurl]

[quote=AN]Is there a life time limit on food stamps?[/quote]

I’ve never worked for the former DSS (now HHSA) but I would say …. no. As long as one is income-qualified for an EBT card, new $$ will be put onto it at the 1st of each month, by HHSA. That $$ could vary month to month, however, depending upon how much W-2 income is reported on the recipient’s SSN to the CA EDD every quarter. Of course, this does NOT preclude an EBT program recipient from working “under the table” to not have their benefits affected. If a recipient understates their W-2 income on their monthly report and it is later found to be higher, they will receive less $$ on their EBT card the following month(s) until the overpayment is satisfied. I believe a recipient will lose benefits if found to have understated their W-2 income three times.

Counties are reimbursed by the Dept of Agriculture for the monies they expend in the EBT program. The recipient must meet certain guidelines to qualify for an EBT card (and continue to have $$ put on it).

The EBT card program is completely separate from TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families).

When TANF was enacted in CA (I believe 1996), there was a five-year lifetime limit put on an individual recipient. During that <=five-year period, a TANF recipient, if not certified by a doctor to be too disabled to work, will be expected to work when offered temporary positions by their eligibility worker. These are usually in county departments performing menial tasks for no pay. A Department supervisor will give a TANF worker a letter of recommendation for employment after 3-6 months on the job. Some TANF recipients have obtained county positions in Departments they formerly "interned" in. Those not working are expected to be enrolled in ROP or college F/T. Resources are available to pay for a recipient's college fees and child care while they work and/or attend college/ROP programs. Disclaimer: I have never been a recipient of these programs but have known many people who have. There is no shame in needing to feed/house your children and not having the funds at some point in your life to do it. see: http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/cdssweb/entres/pdf/CWVerificationPlan.pdf

[bearishgurl]

I understand. But there are people who are *Realtors* who ARE competent, VERY successful and KNOW what they’re talking about who do NOT possess a “degree.” It doesn’t take a degree to work in this field. It takes intimate (sometimes “esoteric”) knowledge of a “farm” area or areas, street smarts and EXPERIENCE.

Realty is not “rocket science.” A college degree is not necessary or even useful for a RE salesperson or broker job. Knowledge and experience are the only things that are useful.

[bearishgurl]

I understand. But there are people who are *Realtors* who ARE competent, VERY successful and KNOW what they’re talking about who do NOT possess a “degree.” It doesn’t take a degree to work in this field. It takes intimate (sometimes “esoteric”) knowledge of a “farm” area or areas, street smarts and EXPERIENCE.

Realty is not “rocket science.” A college degree is not necessary or even useful for a RE salesperson or broker job. Knowledge and experience are the only things that are useful.

[bearishgurl]

I understand. But there are people who are *Realtors* who ARE competent, VERY successful and KNOW what they’re talking about who do NOT possess a “degree.” It doesn’t take a degree to work in this field. It takes intimate (sometimes “esoteric”) knowledge of a “farm” area or areas, street smarts and EXPERIENCE.

Realty is not “rocket science.” A college degree is not necessary or even useful for a RE salesperson or broker job. Knowledge and experience are the only things that are useful.

[bearishgurl]

I understand. But there are people who are *Realtors* who ARE competent, VERY successful and KNOW what they’re talking about who do NOT possess a “degree.” It doesn’t take a degree to work in this field. It takes intimate (sometimes “esoteric”) knowledge of a “farm” area or areas, street smarts and EXPERIENCE.

Realty is not “rocket science.” A college degree is not necessary or even useful for a RE salesperson or broker job. Knowledge and experience are the only things that are useful.

[bearishgurl]

I understand. But there are people who are *Realtors* who ARE competent, VERY successful and KNOW what they’re talking about who do NOT possess a “degree.” It doesn’t take a degree to work in this field. It takes intimate (sometimes “esoteric”) knowledge of a “farm” area or areas, street smarts and EXPERIENCE.

Realty is not “rocket science.” A college degree is not necessary or even useful for a RE salesperson or broker job. Knowledge and experience are the only things that are useful.

[bearishgurl]

1. Beginning adulthood without debt is worth far more than a designer diploma.

The authors’ No. 1 rule for parents: Don’t let your child go into debt for college. In 2010, almost two thirds of undergraduates borrowed money, and student-loan debt outpaced credit card debt for the first time. The College Board likes to say that a typical senior graduates with “only” $24,000 in debt, but with interest, collection charges, and penalties for postponed payments, the amounts owed can exceed $100,000. If you ever default on a federal student loan (and the rate of defaults is rising), you’ll be hounded for life. Lenders can garnish your wages, intercept your tax refunds, and have your professional license revoked. You can’t work for the government or collect your social security. “People have been sold this propaganda: ‘The rates are so low; just get a loan,’ ” Dreifus says. “The long-term effect is to cripple your children.”

Well said. I’m glad this author finally acknowledged this “fresh-out-of-the-gate-deep-in-debt” phenomenon publicly. I’ve been saying this for years and have been looked on like I’m some kind of a “substandard” parent :=(

[bearishgurl]

1. Beginning adulthood without debt is worth far more than a designer diploma.

The authors’ No. 1 rule for parents: Don’t let your child go into debt for college. In 2010, almost two thirds of undergraduates borrowed money, and student-loan debt outpaced credit card debt for the first time. The College Board likes to say that a typical senior graduates with “only” $24,000 in debt, but with interest, collection charges, and penalties for postponed payments, the amounts owed can exceed $100,000. If you ever default on a federal student loan (and the rate of defaults is rising), you’ll be hounded for life. Lenders can garnish your wages, intercept your tax refunds, and have your professional license revoked. You can’t work for the government or collect your social security. “People have been sold this propaganda: ‘The rates are so low; just get a loan,’ ” Dreifus says. “The long-term effect is to cripple your children.”

Well said. I’m glad this author finally acknowledged this “fresh-out-of-the-gate-deep-in-debt” phenomenon publicly. I’ve been saying this for years and have been looked on like I’m some kind of a “substandard” parent :=(

[Author]

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