Hellobee Boards

Federal grants during grad school, and currently collecting unemployment!

After I lost my health ins through my parents, I didn't have any, so I was able to get a state subsidized one until I could get my own. I can't imagine how awful it would be to be young & have some stupid health thing bankrupt you because you didn't have access to health ins. I'm very in favor of health care accessibility for all!

Nope. I've only drawn on financial support from my parents they feel like if they have the money to help and do things like pay for college, they will.

@MamaMoose: we also don't need the unemployment at all which makes me feel somewhat guilty... But at the same time, I figure I most likely paid into it with my taxes, so I might as well take advantage of it.

Well, I'm currently on maternity leave, and in Canada you collect Employment Insurance during your mat leave, so technically yes. Other than this, no. All my student loans were through the bank, I didn't qualify for any gov't assistance because my parents income was high (even though they still made me pay my own way).

Well, us Canadians get a lot of government programs, like health care, subsidized day care (which I haven't used yet). I am also on my mat leave, so collecting EI.

I got pell grants in college. And my mom is on social security disability, so I got a monthly check as well until I was 18.

We're on medical assistance now, because we just started new jobs and our insurance won't yet cover my maternity expenses.
That is a huge relief, because out of pocket would be really hard for us.

I got pell grants and federally subsidized student loans and federal loan repayment for my student loans, an FHA homeloan. I went to state Universities for all my schooling. I work at a university which gets state funding. I apply for federal grants to fund my research.

Several people close to me have used unemployment, WIC, CHIP, and most older people in my life are on Medicare. I also have friends in the military.

I drive on Federally funded roads and go to state and city funded parks, museums, and pools. I use the library. I'm glad that the firefighters and police are funded by my tax payer dollars.

So yeah, most moments of every day I'm using something that the gov't provided me.

I collected probably 18 months of unemployment, and wow, it helped a lot!!

When I was browsing up, my dad had a period of unemployment and my mom was a grocery checker and they had 2 kids - so we got WIC for a few years. And I went to Head Start for my first year of preschool.

My brother and I both got 1 federal grant of <500 each one year in college. My student loans are federally subsidized and we have a FHA loan. My DH has had a few periods of unemployment (less than 3 mo) so we've received that too.

Personally, I would never not apply for unemployment. You pay into the system, and that's what it's there for. In PA it can take at least 6 weeks to process your application.

pell grants in undergraduate.

I tried to collect unemployment when I was laid off during my undergraduate years but they refused because I was a student. Which is total BS - students don't always get their money from their parents, I was supporting myself!

Nope. But it always makes me think about this "friend" I had who wasn't working and she was getting food stamps, and she said she didn't want to work because she just wanted to keep collecting. She was like 28 and had a degree and no kids or anything, she just really liked having tons of free time and her groceries paid for!

And I don't AT ALL mean that most people are like that. I know the stats that the "welfare queen" story is a myth. But for some reason my mind always goes to this girl whenever I talk about federal support!

But personally I'm glad it's there, for people who do need it and use it temporarily (the vast majority).

@Mrs. Jacks: The VA has been HUGE for us, and both our families, in a variety of ways.

No, but we have been very fortunate that both our parents helped us to pay for college so we didn't need grants for that.

I collected unemployment for over 2 years! Thanks for all the extensions, Obama