social services ugh (kinda long)
okay, i'm not necessarily looking for any advice or anything, i just really am looking for an outlet to vent. i've worked my ass off since i was 16 years old (i'm now 27) and i've always ALWAYS had a job until this past may. i graduated with my nursing degree in dec, found out i was preggo in jan, took my NCLEX in feb and passed...and COULD NOT find a nursing job! i worked as a nurse aide and once you get your RN license you can't work as an aide anymore. i applied for positions i could at the hospital where i worked, but they were critical care (ICU and ER) and they don't typically hire new grads. i interviewed with the ICU but i wasn't given a position, and i'm 90% sure it was bc they knew i was pregnant...can't prove it, but that's my opinion. i worked at mcdonald's through high school and on and off during college (total 10 years), i needed a way to pay my bills, so i went back to mcdonald's while i continued to look for an RN job. because it was irresponsible of me, i stopped looking for RN positions at 5 months pregnant- i wouldn't be able to make it through orientation before it was time for maternity leave. anyway, shortly thereafter, mid-may the mcd's boss fired me, and lied through his teeth to unemployment, thereby making me ineligible to collect unemployment bc they'll always take the employer's side over the employee's (that's another story). so to be able to pay my bills and not default on my student loans, i had to turn to social services.
firstly, anyone who ever thinks or has thought that people who receive welfare live the high life, kinda like i did before i actually was receiving state aid, they're sorely mistaken. some may choose to spend the little $$ they receive in a poor fashion, but it is in no way enough to live on, or even pay the bills i so desperately need to pay in order not to royally f**k my future by defaulting on my loans. secondly, these county and state workers treated me like i am the regular, run-of-the-mill, stereotypical welfare recipient. i think i am outside of that stereotype in that i have my bachelor's degree in a respected profession. i'm not saying i am better than anyone else, so please, please, please don't take it that way. it's just that i'm sick of being treated like pond scum by these people. they are no better than i, and for the most part, no more educated. i have paid into the system for 11 years, and now that i need to use it, it's been nothing short of pulling teeth and running in circles to get help.
in particular, i'm speaking of one woman. what prompted this vent is my food stamp account has not been credited for november. i was just gonna say eff it, bc i can't stand talking to my caseworker who thinks she is god's gift to mankind, and also belittles me TO MY FACE about not taking my fiance to court for child support. um, hello?! he FULLY SUPPORTS me and our son!!!! he's is VERY involved in our lives. *why* would i do that when that puts us in a worse spot financially?! and truthfully, the food stamps help a WHOLE lot but i can do without it. but i also need to clarify something about medicaid, so i call the woman whose name AND signature AND phone number is on the bottom of my notification of approval for food stamps AND my medicaid app, AND she is who i saw at the office, and she says "i'm not your caseworker." she gives me the runaround and passes me off to someone else, who, ironically, isn't in the office today. all in all, i'm sick and friggin' TIRED of being treated like sh*t. i'm sorry this is so long, and thanks to those that read my vent through lol, but most of these "people" need a swift kick to the knees of their high horse so they know what it's like to be a client of theirs, and not live the cushy life of a government worker...and maybe, just maybe, they'll start treating people with respect. my stereotyped views of people on state aid has certainly changed, and i've learned from this that you can't judge a book by its cover, because never in my life did i ever think i'd be a "welfare mom", much less a "welfare mom" with a college degree.
firstly, anyone who ever thinks or has thought that people who receive welfare live the high life, kinda like i did before i actually was receiving state aid, they're sorely mistaken. some may choose to spend the little $$ they receive in a poor fashion, but it is in no way enough to live on, or even pay the bills i so desperately need to pay in order not to royally f**k my future by defaulting on my loans. secondly, these county and state workers treated me like i am the regular, run-of-the-mill, stereotypical welfare recipient. i think i am outside of that stereotype in that i have my bachelor's degree in a respected profession. i'm not saying i am better than anyone else, so please, please, please don't take it that way. it's just that i'm sick of being treated like pond scum by these people. they are no better than i, and for the most part, no more educated. i have paid into the system for 11 years, and now that i need to use it, it's been nothing short of pulling teeth and running in circles to get help.
in particular, i'm speaking of one woman. what prompted this vent is my food stamp account has not been credited for november. i was just gonna say eff it, bc i can't stand talking to my caseworker who thinks she is god's gift to mankind, and also belittles me TO MY FACE about not taking my fiance to court for child support. um, hello?! he FULLY SUPPORTS me and our son!!!! he's is VERY involved in our lives. *why* would i do that when that puts us in a worse spot financially?! and truthfully, the food stamps help a WHOLE lot but i can do without it. but i also need to clarify something about medicaid, so i call the woman whose name AND signature AND phone number is on the bottom of my notification of approval for food stamps AND my medicaid app, AND she is who i saw at the office, and she says "i'm not your caseworker." she gives me the runaround and passes me off to someone else, who, ironically, isn't in the office today. all in all, i'm sick and friggin' TIRED of being treated like sh*t. i'm sorry this is so long, and thanks to those that read my vent through lol, but most of these "people" need a swift kick to the knees of their high horse so they know what it's like to be a client of theirs, and not live the cushy life of a government worker...and maybe, just maybe, they'll start treating people with respect. my stereotyped views of people on state aid has certainly changed, and i've learned from this that you can't judge a book by its cover, because never in my life did i ever think i'd be a "welfare mom", much less a "welfare mom" with a college degree.
Comments
@Samantha I agree I kno a lot of ppl who receive benefits & don't take care of their kids, jus do drugs & sell em for money! But jus because they don't have a job they are entitled to them but we "working" and trying but can't receive nothin. Btw I live in Texas(its crazy here)
I now work for children and family services and i still give all my clients respect when working with them...even when they take out all their frustrations on me. I even have to be kind to the parents that have abused their children, sexually and physically, it is a challenge to say the least.