Rejected

Applying for and receiving financial aid from various resources has been a huge part of my education this year.  I am learning how to get personal help with these applications from a human being (not the outsource over the phone) and which caseworkers are the most helpful (FYI: Tonya is excellent, Pebbles is NOT), how to make sure the government doesn't accidentally count our loan money as income, and to make multiple copies of my applications before turning them in--just in case health and human services loses my 25 pages of paperwork.

Fortunately or unfortunately, this will most likely be coming to an end next year.

Here's a glimpse of the roller-coaster we've been on:

WE'RE DOWN:  Due to some misunderstanding during the application process, the government has now decided to start counting our rental "income" as a liquid asset.  So despite the fact that most of the money from our rental goes to our mortgage, it's still considered OUR money, to do with as we please, which means that now we are earning twice as much as we previously were on paper.

WE'RE UP!  Secondly, we've been informed that Josiah will be getting a 50% raise in his stipend next year due to his teaching and some extra money in the budget (YIPPEE!)

WE'RE DOWN:  Unfortunately, between the rental income and the new stipend money, we no longer qualify for most of the programs we're enrolled in, although we still don't have enough money to live on.  We've been REJECTED.

WE'RE UP:  We DO however, qualify for CHIP, which is a state health insurance plan for children that is for low-income families who don't qualify for medicaid.  Getting our children on a government health plan is my biggest priority.  I don't want to have to worry about whether or not to go to the ER in the midst of a crisis!

WE'RE DOWN:  The bills from my miscarriage are adding up.  Did you know that just three visits to the doctor can easily cost over $1000?

WE'RE UP:  By the grace of God, I somehow qualify for Pregnancy Medicaid, which is retroactive and will pay the previous doctors bills.

WE'RE DOWN:  It is obvious that I need to find further employment.  Every little bit will help, and it is our goal to cut our living expense loans in half next year.

WE'RE UP:  The very next day after I have come to this conclusion, I get a job offer for a music teacher position at First Baptist Woodway Mother's Day Out.  It's close to minimum wage, but my children will be enrolled for free while I'm teaching.  I'd been eyeing this position, hoping that it would open up... 

WE'RE STILL UP?  So, although I'm sad that we'll lose some of our benefits, I'm relieved that I won't have to deal with all the paperwork these programs require and that we can now live independently.  For although these resources are a great help, they can also feel surprisingly restrictive.  In short, I feel FREE.

Let's hope that freedom is a good thing.