want to go on welfare

I see it like this. One is eligible for an income support only when s/he is unfit to work in any case. Even if you qualify, the creditors will want their money back and they might touch your welfare income. Make sure that you don't end up earning less from what you can make at present.

Hi Scooter.

I'm sorry about your situation. I agree with Johnson, I think welfare can be a very tricky thing, and it can be difficult to get and difficult to get out of.

Would consolidation help you at all?

Nice to see you back scooter, sorry to hear about your troubles. What state are you in? I don't like to be the bearer of bad news but unless you have dependants or have some type of disability, chances are you will not qualify for any assistance with the Dept. of Jobs and Family Services (welfare dept.) And they do not offer cash assistance anymore. And if you did have dependants you would be required to work at least 20 hrs. per week to collect food stamps and a check for $150/mo. (Correct me if I'm wrong you are from OH, if not I apologize for the mistake).

Hey Scooter,
Sorry to hear about your troubles. I know that Med transcriptionists working for themselves have to work 24-7 just to make ends meet. It's not an easy life by any stretch of the imagination--and you are spot on when you talk about work going out of country. One of my friends told me about H and P's on wounded US soldiers in Iraq going out of country!!!
Have you thought about hooking up with a local hospital? You'd at least get a regular hourly wage and possibly benefits!
And where I work, they are passing out OT to the transcriptionists like it's candy!! There's a shortage--so it behooves you to get what you're worth.
Let us know what happens, OK?

Have you considered trying to work in another profession that pays more money and that is stable? I know that is a stretch, but it is worth a shot.

Welfare is not the answer. Trust me, the government will be watching every piece of cash that comes in and out of your pocket. You don't need to be subject that kind of scrutiny.

What I recommend that you contact one of those head hunter companies that specialize in finding you a job or a temporary agency that can help you find a job.

I know what is like to have hunt for a job that is why I appreciate mine so much.

Good luck to you.

Welfare is the answer for times when a person is truly in need. And not to advocate for somebody to pull a fast one, but if you know anything about that dept. you know that they are so overloaded with recipients that they can barely keep up with their caseloads.

Sorry that was me. This particular dept. has such a high turn over rate people get lost in the system. So to say they are watching every piece of cash is inaccurate, they can not keep up with the demand for assistance. This is due such a high number of immigrants coming from war torn countries increasing the case loads, I know people who have over 400 individuals and families on their case load.

Hey Scooter,
What state are you from? I work at an employment agency where we help people stay off welfare. It really isn't crap to live on each month. With an income of $1000 a month, if you are a single person, you won't be able to get much. Welfare reform has really been cracking down. Too many able young people abusing the crap out of it here in Pa. Our representatives are all over this one, can't say I blame them dealing with it every day.

Any way, if you let me know what state you are in, I will look for some resources that may be able to help you. I know it is very frustrating when you are trying to help yourself and stay off the rolls, but hang in there. You may have to look for another career path, so you can quit 3 part time jobs and work one full time. Let me know what city and state you are from and I will see what I can dig up for you. goodluck!

I think I understand what Alexandra was trying to say - the process of applying for welfare or state assistance is rather involved, and you have to give an accounting of what you own, how much it's worth, how much money is in your bank account, any life insurance policies or retirement plans, investments (IRA, stock plans, etc.) and their value, etc., etc., etc. And if you remain on the program for any length of time, you have to provide that information periodically to prove you aren't making any more than you were when you started on the program.

I have always felt badly for the employees of the agencies that handle these programs, though, because Steelers is right - they are far overworked and understaffed for the amount of cases they have to handle.

I believe Scooter is from OH. And I work VERY closely with that system and I'm telling you if you are a single person with no dependants or disability they are not going to give you anything. PERIOD. What you can apply for is called PRC, it allows you a lifetime benefit of $2,000 which can be used to pay utilities with shut off notices, rents with eviction notices, clothes for a job, and for school related expenses. You said you make $1,000 a month, I believe you qualify as a single with no dependants, you qualify by the skin of your teeth. You need to go to your local Jobs and Family Services office and request a PRC form, fill it out and submit what expenses you seeking assistance with. If you get anything it would be very little food stamps for approximately 90 days. I highly doubt they would give you Medicaid and you wouldn't qualify for a cash assistance check. That is the reality of the system and the changes in the law.

Thanks for all your replies. Its nice to know people care. :) Yes I live in Ohio. No I really don' want to go on welfare, but sometimes it gets really frustrating. I did go to a few hospitals and apply for jobs. Unfortunately I live in a rural area. For 30+ years of experience: One offered $13 an hour. For that I'd have to travel an hour one way. Another offered $10.00 an hour. For that I'd have to travel 45 minute to a half hour one way. So figuring in my gas, food, nicer clothes I really wouldn't be much further ahead and would probably still have to work at least one part time job. Of course I would have benefits including health insurance of which I have none now. Of note, I worked at a hospital in Oxford, Ohio in 2000-2001 for $13 an hour. The wages in this field are going down, not up. I offered to work at home for these hospitals, but they said they would get a service rather than let me do that. Doesn't make sense to me.

Yes I'd like to go back to school. How do I pay for school and work enough to make a living?

The Ohio Consumers' Counsel sent me a packet of assistance I could apply for. It appears I might quality for PIPP or percentage of income payment plan for energy assistance. Their guidelines for one person is $3675 for three months and I certainly would quality. This in turn would make me eligible for Lifeline from Verizon to keep my phone from being disconnected.

Again thanks for the suggestions and thanks for letting me vent. I really appreciate it!

P.S. Steelers: Will check out that PRC. Won't hurt. Thanks!

The worst they can do is decline your application for PRC. And you can say you at least tried. Good Luck.

I drive an hour every day to work, sometimes you got to do what you got to do to get by. I have it especially rough in the winter. Can you find some one to carpool with. We have 77 guys scheduled to come in on 5/22 & 5/23.
I know you are frustrated, but you have to sometimes look at your options with an open mind. We always tell people that better jobs come along when you're working. If you are in the hospital setting, you have more of a chance meeting clients and networking than being in your home. Networking, Networking, Networking. If the job offers benefits, that is even more of a reason to take it.
I don't mean to sound stern, but I work in the employment placement arena, I see whole factories shut down and people that have put their whole lives into one place lose their jobs in a moments notice due to foreign trade. Their whole lives are flipped. They leave jobs making $18-$20 an hour to settling for $8-$10 an hour, that is just our economy these days, they struggle but they make it, one way or another.
I would say, take the job for $10 or for $13 w/benefits, quit seeing the negative aspects, open yourself up to that travel. The job market is tough, you are very lucky to have a marketable skill that allows you to have these choices, alot of folks don't. Please don't take this negatively, I see sad situations each day and think you have alot more going for you than most, if you would just give yourself a chance. Goodluck!

I am sorry to hear about everything. It is hard to make ends meet any more. I really hope things work out for you. I have said a little prayer that things will work out for you. Hang in there.

I know it's tough out there, but my suggestion is to apply at a hospital with union protection. Your wages will be higher and you will be protected. At my hospital, which is heavily unionized, our transcriptionists make $25 an hour and don't pay a dime for their health insurance.
And when it comes to bidding for another position, if it's a union job, your seniority plays a huge part in whether you get it or not.
Just a thought. I'm sorry to hear about anyone struggling out there.

Scooter,
Are there alot of transcription business's in your area? What are the other part time jobs you do? Are there other jobs related to your field that you could apply for such as medical secretary, clerical, etc. Regardless you will have to drive being in a rural area. It really does sound like you are not going to be able to work at home, just is not lucritive enough for you to pay the bills. What part of Ohio are you from?

Hi Scooter.

I am a medical transcriptionist working at home and have been for years. I've worked for this present company for over 15 years and have been very satisfied. I'll PM you.

Again I want to thank everyone for their input and support.

I work one part time job as an editor which pays good, but can only get 15 hours a week if I'm lucky. There is just no work.

The other two jobs are transcription, one radiology, one Ops. Again the work is erratic.

The other problem I have is that there is no high speed available in my area so that limits things at home too. I live in Peebles, OH, about 80 miles east of Cincinnati.

Yes, I have a marketable skill. I'm very good at what I do and my quality is superb. However, it seems that no one wants quality anymore, they just want quantity. Most of the transcription jobs and editor jobs are paid by cents per line. If you're not a high producer, they don't want you, no matter how much experience and knowledge you have. 30 years of keyboarding has taken its toll. I have arthritis and carpal tunnel and that limits my production. I used to be a prima donna due to my quality and knowledge and now I'm squat because I can't type fast anymore.

I've never heard of a union transcriptionist job. Back in the 80s I worked at a hospital in Dayton, Ohio and the housekeeping and I think cafeteria workers tried to organize a union and it was squashed like right now and I think some people lost their jobs over it. Personally I think transcriptonists need a union.

As far as the work going offshore, when it comes back the quality is so bad it has to be gone over again by someone here. Where is the savings? Also personal information is going overseas without the protection of US laws. Yes I have heard of VA hospital work being done there including information the absolutely should not leave the US. It all comes down to money.

Go onto the state of OH's website and click under the employment link. State jobs are union and there should be jobs available in or around Dayton.

Here is the link.

http://www.stateofohiojobs.com/applicant/index.asp

Don't get me started on outsourcing.

Anyway - what I can say about welfare is based on my state, but it may be the same with you. In IL, you can work while collecting unemployment, but what you make is deducted from your unemp check. Example:

You receive $500 unemp check. You work a job that earns you $350 dollars. Unemp will kick in the other $150 to get you to $500.

Basically, you have an amount you earn, and you can work to offset that amount and get the balance from the IDES.

It does suck that decent jobs no longer exist. And companies do only care about the bottom line. They are more than willing to allow customers to leave knowing they can get money from other customers. Service is out the door in favor of loading. Why do you think so many companies offer many different products? You are less likely to change your phone company because of crappy service and crappy reps if you have your phone, internet, television and cell service with them.

That is the way it is here in NC. I had to go on unemployment for a short time and I started doing some substitute teaching and I had to report what I made and I got the difference from Unemployment.

I realize scooter you are at the end of your rope and welfare seems like a way out, but really it isn't. I am in California and the laws are pretty much like every where else. You have to at the very least have a dependent under age 18 or be pretty much disabled to get anything. Now in California, a person making a lower income can qualify for food stamps. I didn't read all of the postings above real close, but they might have mentioned foodstamps. Check it out---it can't hurt..

Scooter
Sounds like you have a great work ethic, if you can get a doctor to state that your arthritis is affecting your job performance and you can no longer make a viable living, the OVR office in your state should be able to help you, either retrain or job coach you into a position. OVR is Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. You would be an ideal candidate because they only take people here that will come out of their services with a job, able and willing. See if you can locate it in Ohio, if you can't find it, leave a post, I will help you. goodluck