Trump administration must release billions in SNAP funds, judge says

[Hentenza]

Just because you’re 21 doesn’t make you independent for financial aid purposes.

It does if you are not your parents dependent. You don’t have claim your parents income after you reach 21 years old. I worked in academia for while so I’m aware of the requirements.

There‘s criteria you must meet to qualify for that distinction.

Yes.

And you may be discussing the needy but I wasn’t.

This thread was about the needy.

The policy proposals will impact middle class students most of all.

~bella

Probably but we’ll see how it plays out.

 

[Hentenza]

Their votes goes against helping the poor. And programs for children. Christian's votes not to feed breakfast and lunch to poor kids. Christian's votes against Affordable Care Act. Which a lot of Red States are on.

Rubbish. There are Christians from both sides of the aisle and even independents like me. Bunching up a group is quite the fallacy. Also, in Texas, we have a program to feed breakfast and lunch to poor kids. Your assumption fails.

 

[Larniavc]

I spend my teenage years during the 1970’s and our hourly rates back then were ridiculously low.

And yet people still managed to buy a house on a single semi skilled income.

 

[linux.poet]

The Pell grant is more than enough to fund a community college education. They offer many different careers that anyone can finish in two years or less.

That’s not how you win. You win by paying for your community college yourself and then taking the full grant amounts when you transfer back into university. I had an income of zero and an EFC of the same. University Tuition for me was $3,600 a semester, and these grants were designed to pay close to $13,000. $9000 was profit after tuition and my expenses for the duration of the college tenure.

Admittedly I had some uncertainty about my college performance since it took me six years of community college to get to a transfer-ready position, and it did, as I suspected, take me longer than 2 years to get out of university once I got back in. One only gets 4 years of undergraduate financial aid, so if you’re heading back in it makes sense to economize for the expensive university portion of the journey as opposed to assuming you won’t have a mishap.

The pell grant is based on income which usually means the parents. The majority aren’t independent for financial aid purposes. And my comment wasn’t in reference to community colleges.

The financial college game is rigged to saddle parents with the expense or the students with loans. That doesn’t mean you’re obligated to be a victim of said rigging. God is a greater power than worldly thought leaders and college authorities.

Not necessarily using the parent’s income since those over 21 don’t have to. It is also designed for the needy which is what we are talking about here.

Just because you’re 21 doesn’t make you independent for financial aid purposes. There‘s criteria you must meet to qualify for that distinction. And you may be discussing the needy but I wasn’t. The policy proposals will impact middle class students most of all.

~bella

It’s 24, that is the age that makes you independent for financial aid purposes.

If someone is smarter than me they would just take a job and go to community college and play around. At 18 I had some idea of what I wanted to do, but it was more crude than it should have been and I made a lot of mistakes. Computer science got refined to web design/development. Creative Writing got defined down to poetry. My job is neither. But I was suffering from mental health issues during my college years.

But technically I was a “middle class student” for your graph. My dad is an airplane engineer. That’s about as middle class as it gets. These grant opportunities are available for anyone with patience.

 

[Hentenza]

That’s not how you win. You win by paying for your community college yourself and then taking the full grant amounts when you transfer back into university. I had an income of zero and an EFC of the same. University Tuition for me was $3,600 a semester, and these grants were designed to pay close to $13,000. $9000 was profit after tuition and my expenses for the duration of the college tenure.

You can use the Pell grant for 6 years so you can get a 2 year degree and then continue to a four year degree if that is what you want to do. So yes, that is how you can win. Not everyone wants a 4 year degree.

Admittedly I had some uncertainty about my college performance since it took me six years of community college to get to a transfer-ready position, and it did, as I suspected, take me longer than 2 years to get out of university once I got back in. One only gets 4 years of undergraduate financial aid, so if you’re heading back in it makes sense to economize for the expensive university portion of the journey as opposed to assuming you won’t have a mishap.

The financial college game is rigged to saddle parents with the expense or the students with loans. That doesn’t mean you’re obligated to be a victim of said rigging. God is a greater power than worldly thought leaders and college authorities.

Only if you fall for the loan scam. I saw many students do exactly that where they would saddle up with the max loan amounts where they did not need them. When I taught at the Houston community college the policy of when the money was distributed changed because some would get the max and then would either drop fully or drop some of the classes to get the money.

It’s 24, that is the age that makes you independent for financial aid purposes.

Actually 21 works just fine.

If someone is smarter than me they would just take a job and go to community college and play around. At 18 I had some idea of what I wanted to do, but it was more crude than it should have been and I made a lot of mistakes. Computer science got refined to web design/development. Creative Writing got defined down to poetry. My job is neither. But I was suffering from mental health issues during my college years.

But technically I was a “middle class student” for your graph. My dad is an airplane engineer. That’s about as middle class as it gets. These grant opportunities are available for anyone with patience.

Yes they are.

 

[linux.poet]

You can use the Pell grant for 6 years so you can get a 2 year degree and then continue to a four year degree if that is what you want to do. So yes, that is how you can win.

Isn't the last two years of the Pell supposed to be for graduate school? I would think if you're a neurotypical and complete college in 4 years that's where it would go.

I had counselors in college repeatedly tell me that I only had 4 years of undergraduate financial aid.

Only if you fall for the loan scam. I saw many students do exactly that where they would saddle up with the max loan amounts where they did not need them. When I taught at the Houston community college the policy of when the money was distributed changed because some would get the max and then would either drop fully or drop some of the classes to get the money.

Falling for said loan scam is insanity. Fortunately neither me nor my brother were dumb enough to go for that one. The borrower is the slave to the lender. (Proverbs 22:7)

My brother found another deal where he could do engineering tutoring on behalf of the university which covered the end of his undergraduate career tuition and put him through graduate school. He also came out of college with a profit. This is probably a more acceptable solution to the work advocate crowd than waiting 3 years taking classes in web design at the community college, but ya know, can't please everyone.

In that respect, I kind of want people beating the system there as opposed to playing by the rules. When the rules are exploitative and don't reflect good financial sense, by all means break them. I don't have to suffer so - I don't! Probably the best approach for evaluating whether a system is rigged against me is whether it follows Biblical principles. When it doesn't, that's when I start benefiting from breaking rules.

But, I still cannot consider this with an entirely rational mind, because people around me literally design their morality around the working thing and it's a major flashpoint for insults and retribution toward me. Ultimately, my citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20) and I run my life by Christ's rules. I'm getting tired of being humiliated and insulted for all of the loopholes I've exploited and strange opportunities that I've found by not acting like the U.S. workplace economic system says I'm supposed to. It's like it's immoral to take a Pell Grant instead of a loan. Or to take SNAP instead of starving. Or to not restructure my entire personality to conform to workplace rules 24/7. I know I am fed up with those people and am bitter and angry. I think they are making an idol out of the United States and out of working.

This has left me with a divided internal counsel. On one hand, my detractors have a valid Scriptural point. On the other hand,

I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

I have a point too. Sometimes the best path is not where everyone else is going.

 

[bèlla]

It does if you are not your parents dependent. You don’t have claim your parents income after you reach 21 years old. I worked in academia for while so I’m aware of the requirements.

I’m aware of the policy and worked for the agency that created it and was an independent student as well. This is a minor point in my response and not a topic for debate. If you’re interested in recent statistics you can look at the stats from Lumina Foundation.

But technically I was a “middle class student” for your graph. My dad is an airplane engineer. That’s about as middle class as it gets. These grant opportunities are available for anyone with patience.

I’m not addressing what exists at present. I’m speaking of the policies underway or in the pipeline. I‘ll repeat once more for those who thought otherwise. The policy of this administration on the subject of college financial aid and related programs that assist the poor like Head Start, GearUp, etc. are reductions or eliminations.

I’m working through the Project 2025 Mandate and the 229 policy suggestions depicted on The Heritage Foundation website and there’s a consistent practice of cuts and elimination of programs benefiting low and middle income citizens.

In respect to SNAP, stricter work requirements were implemented in July of 2025. The same applies for Medicaid in addition to time limits and/or financial caps. There will be a limited period that you can receive benefits for your lifetime and related caps on spending. There’s no mention of what occurs when they’re exhausted.

The policy recommendations impacting senior citizens, the disabled and veterans weren’t included in the mandate nor the ones that are more controversial. But they’re being pushed through.

I'm getting tired of being humiliated and insulted for all of the loopholes I've exploited and strange opportunities that I've found by not acting like the U.S. workplace economic system says I'm supposed to. It's like it's immoral to take a Pell Grant instead of a loan. Or to take SNAP instead of starving.

The premise behind alternatives is personal betterment. If a different course has permitted you to do so that’s fine. But if that perspective requires cooperation or support from others to undertake that’s a different matter. For example, I have the liberty of saying I’ll never have a mortgage and I haven’t. But saying the same while living at home and relying on parental support is something else. I can’t morally force their hands and expect them to go along. They have to agree to do so.

When I told my daughter that we should have a property with the potential for multiple homes as opposed to the norm she had to consent. Which required me to articulate my vision and how it benefited both and what we needed to do to accomplish it. Buy-in is an outgrowth of belief. They must believe you can do what you say and that’s usually based on results. Pushback is their way of communicating they’re not on board.

I spoke about this in the past concerning my relatives during the pandemic. They wanted to conduct their affairs as usual but I put my foot down. I made them use my suppliers, take the natural supplements I recommended, build a long-term pantry and purchase crypto. I provided two scenarios and asked which one they wanted to gamble on. Did I strong arm them? Absolutely. Do they regret it? Not at all. Because they respect my wisdom.

Ideas are nice but we’re our greatest testimony. When we have a consistent pattern of putting thoughts into action that work and move us forward people notice. They may not understand the how or why but the outcome speaks for itself. When people bet against you don’t take it personal prove them wrong.

~bella

 

[Servus]

 

[Bradskii]

Great! Now go feed the poor and stop demanding that other people do it for you.

I read that as '...demanding that I do it for you'. Aren't we all in this together? We've all got a part to play.

 

[Bradskii]

So I’m not sure if I would equate the price of houses now as being a hindrance to ownership. Maybe if folks stop paying so much for houses they would drop in price.

There was so much to highlight. I thought this might do.

 

[Hentenza]

Isn't the last two years of the Pell supposed to be for graduate school? I would think if you're a neurotypical and complete college in 4 years that's where it would go.

I had counselors in college repeatedly tell me that I only had 4 years of undergraduate financial aid.


Falling for said loan scam is insanity. Fortunately neither me nor my brother were dumb enough to go for that one. The borrower is the slave to the lender. (Proverbs 22:7)

My brother found another deal where he could do engineering tutoring on behalf of the university which covered the end of his undergraduate career tuition and put him through graduate school. He also came out of college with a profit. This is probably a more acceptable solution to the work advocate crowd than waiting 3 years taking classes in web design at the community college, but ya know, can't please everyone.

In that respect, I kind of want people beating the system there as opposed to playing by the rules. When the rules are exploitative and don't reflect good financial sense, by all means break them. I don't have to suffer so - I don't! Probably the best approach for evaluating whether a system is rigged against me is whether it follows Biblical principles. When it doesn't, that's when I start benefiting from breaking rules.

But, I still cannot consider this with an entirely rational mind, because people around me literally design their morality around the working thing and it's a major flashpoint for insults and retribution toward me. Ultimately, my citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20) and I run my life by Christ's rules. I'm getting tired of being humiliated and insulted for all of the loopholes I've exploited and strange opportunities that I've found by not acting like the U.S. workplace economic system says I'm supposed to. It's like it's immoral to take a Pell Grant instead of a loan. Or to take SNAP instead of starving. Or to not restructure my entire personality to conform to workplace rules 24/7. I know I am fed up with those people and am bitter and angry. I think they are making an idol out of the United States and out of working.

This has left me with a divided internal counsel. On one hand, my detractors have a valid Scriptural point. On the other hand,





I have a point too. Sometimes the best path is not where everyone else is going.

I’m similar. Never took loan and I have four degrees. I, like you, will continue to walk the path Christ laid out for us. Until then here I am.

 

[Hentenza]

There was so much to highlight. I thought this might do.

Of course if you would have quoted what followed you would not be as confused. But that’s normal.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

I read that as '...demanding that I do it for you'. Aren't we all in this together? We've all got a part to play.

Sure. But I predict that the shutdown will end sometime this week. Apparently, there was a leaked memo that revealed the Democrats' plan was to cause as much pain as possible to sway some important elections occurring on Tuesday. Although I cannot confirm the authenticity. But my sources have been correct more often than not. But after Tuesday, their leverage will no longer be needed, and they will reopen the government.

 

[essentialsaltes]

There's still the GI Bill.

I spoke too soon.

VA tech glitch halts GI Bill payments to thousands, advocates say​

Two months after an IT hiccup at the Department of Veterans Affairs left a significant portion of GI Bill recipients without their anticipated payments for school and housing, some advocates have a message for the VA: Turn the GI Bill hotline back on.

“VA deployed a new benefit delivery system in August and anticipated having the ability to pay staff overtime and deploy automation solutions as needed to ensure a smooth transition and process fall enrollments on a timely basis,” Peter Kasperowicz, a VA spokesman, told Military Times in an emailed statement. “When the Democrats’ shutdown hit [two months after the system was deployed] VA was deprived of these resources.”

“The shutdown is not the cause of this, and it needs to be very clear that the reason that this happened is because VA’s infrastructure failed, and they chose not to tell us until after the shutdown started,” [Ashlynne Haycock-Lohmann, director of Government and Legislative Affairs for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.] said. “VA could have told us in August.”

Will Hubbard, the vice president for Veterans and Military Policy at the organization Veterans Education Success and an architect of the current “Forever GI Bill,” has been tracking the nonpayment issue closely since he was alerted to the problem by congressional staff.

“There’s been no mass communications plan; there’s no press release; there’s no public anything,” Hubbard said. “And that’s really been a fundamental issue.”

Transparency!