Government assistance

[DeeDee&Sam 68]

I've moved here in september 2011 and got married 10 days later. My husband (usc) was working full time until this year when he got fired because he got sick and had no sick days left. He had the job for 3 years working a hard labor and when he got until july and he pulled his retirement funds out for us to be able to live. We applied for every possible job here since then and we got no response from anywhere. We live in a very small town with almost no job openings. We're running out of money and I don't know how much we'll be able to pay our rent and bills. I know he signed an affidavit of support but is there any way for him to get government assistance? I know I'm not allowed to but if he doesn't we'll end up living on the streets. We had no idea he was going to lose his job like this when he applied for K1 to bring me here. I have a conditional green card and I should renew it in july 2014. Will that affect it? Any advice would help

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Did he get unemployment when he was fired?

[DeeDee&Sam 68]

Did he get unemployment when he was fired?

he didn't. someone told him he can't get unemployment if he gets fired, only if he gets layd off. is he possible to get it?

[Nui n Me 1]

. File for unemployment. People often think that only laid-off employees are eligible for these benefits. However, in most states, fired employees can collect too, as long as they weren't fired for intentional misconduct. It can take a while for benefits to kick in, so file right away.

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/06/25/10-things-you-should-do-immediately-after-being-fired

http://unemploymenthandbook.com/unemployment-articles/all-about-unemployment/181-can-you-get-unemployment-if-you-get-fired

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Yes, it is possible to get it, but I don't know if you've waited too long already. That is a benefit is not tied to immigration status, and would be available to you too, if you had worked. It's an insurance payout, not a handout.

If you need other assistance, like welfare or food stamps, the USC can get it, but he will have to count your income (which I guess is none) and then not count you in your household size.

Edited October 4, 2013 by Harpa Timsah

[a+j 77]

Have you considered looking for jobs outside the little town you live in, and then move wherever either one of you guys can find one? I hope everything works out for you, best of luck.

[DeeDee&Sam 68]

. File for unemployment. People often think that only laid-off employees are eligible for these benefits. However, in most states, fired employees can collect too, as long as they weren't fired for intentional misconduct. It can take a while for benefits to kick in, so file right away.

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/06/25/10-things-you-should-do-immediately-after-being-fired

http://unemploymenthandbook.com/unemployment-articles/all-about-unemployment/181-can-you-get-unemployment-if-you-get-fired

thank you i'll check that right away. shouldn't have listened to what people say in the first place

Yes, it is possible to get it, but I don't know if you've waited too long already. That is a benefit is not tied to immigration status, and would be available to you too, if you had worked. It's an insurance payout, not a handout.

If you need other assistance, like welfare or food stamps, the USC can get it, but he will have to count your income (which I guess is none) and then not count you in your household size.

This happened in july i hope it's not too late. He applied for multiple jobs, almost everything that he found here . I didn't work because his salary was high enough for us to live good and have extra so I stayed a house wife.

Have you considered looking for jobs outside the little town you live in, and then move wherever either one of you guys can find one? I hope everything works out for you, best of luck.

Of course we did, but we don't own a car, we have no type of public transportation in the little forgotten place we live in. It's like a ghost town. Also, we're completely on our own. If we had any family or friends to help us move to the nearest place with enough jobs we would have done it long time ago. We even applied to home based customer support jobs, last one few days ago, and all we've been told is that we'll be notofied when there's an opening, which could take weeks or months.

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

Desperate situations demand desperate measures. Also do not take advises without verifying them from various sources one of which should be official.

Husband qualifies for all sorts of things, just not you.

You will have to look for work outside of our little hamlet. How you will do this I do not know but you just can't sit there.

I am truly sorry to hear this and I hope things work out for you Guys.

[DeeDee&Sam 68]

Desperate situations demand desperate measures. Also do not take advises without verifying them from various sources one of which should be official.

Husband qualifies for all sorts of things, just not you.

You will have to look for work outside of our little hamlet. How you will do this I do not know but you just can't sit there.

I am truly sorry to hear this and I hope things work out for you Guys.

thank you. i've been trying to figure out every little thing but there's always something in the way. leaving aside the problem with the transportation, how will we be able to pay the deposists for the rent, electric bill, water bill, internet bill. the deposits and first month of rent are all togheter over 1000 dollars. we pay 350$ rent where we live now. bigger towns with more job opportunities have bigger rents resulting in bigger deposits. we're literally stuck so bad that i don't seem to see any way out. we were supposed to get a car to look for a job outside this town and have a way to get there and back, but the car was 1500$ and the situation we're in is either use the money we have to live another month, or get the car and sleep in it

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

thank you. i've been trying to figure out every little thing but there's always something in the way. leaving aside the problem with the transportation, how will we be able to pay the deposists for the rent, electric bill, water bill, internet bill. the deposits and first month of rent are all togheter over 1000 dollars. we pay 350$ rent where we live now. bigger towns with more job opportunities have bigger rents resulting in bigger deposits. we're literally stuck so bad that i don't seem to see any way out. we were supposed to get a car to look for a job outside this town and have a way to get there and back, but the car was 1500$ and the situation we're in is either use the money we have to live another month, or get the car and sleep in it

I can only throw out ideas and you ahve to sort through to figure out which oen suits your individual needs.

It seems that it's just the two of you, no kids.

So how about looking at sharing an apartment or renting a room in a house in a big city? Sure you'll loose some privacy but it should be on a short term basis.

Have him start looking at benefits for himself. He should be at the Unemployment Office soonish but not sure how the government shutdown affects that service.

I've also read about stuff like shuttling cars for people on uShip.Com (yuou'll get to see the country at someones benefit) or house sitting, pet sitting, etc but most of this occurs in bigger cities.

[DeeDee&Sam 68]

I can only throw out ideas and you ahve to sort through to figure out which oen suits your individual needs.

It seems that it's just the two of you, no kids.

So how about looking at sharing an apartment or renting a room in a house in a big city? Sure you'll loose some privacy but it should be on a short term basis.

Have him start looking at benefits for himself. He should be at the Unemployment Office soonish but not sure how the government shutdown affects that service.

I've also read about stuff like shuttling cars for people on uShip.Com (yuou'll get to see the country at someones benefit) or house sitting, pet sitting, etc but most of this occurs in bigger cities.

we don't mind the sharing option, actually we're living with someone else in the house which doesn't bother us at all. the unemplyment now became priority since we didnt know we could benefit from it.

[DeeDee&Sam 68]

just letting everyone know i followed your advice and told my husband to file for unemployment even if he got fired. the place where he worked pretty much refused to talk to the ones investigating the claim and he was approved. this will be a lesson hopefully not to listen to what people say and check into it by ourselves. thank you so much

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

Congrats.

I hope that will ease you guys financially.

A company I used to work for some years back let me go because I chose to attend to a client with whom I had a appointment rather than attend an emergency staff meeting that they set up.

They sent not one but two Lawyers to the interview and I still won.

So you never know.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

just letting everyone know i followed your advice and told my husband to file for unemployment even if he got fired. the place where he worked pretty much refused to talk to the ones investigating the claim and he was approved. this will be a lesson hopefully not to listen to what people say and check into it by ourselves. thank you so much

Good news!

[TBoneTX 45,273]

So glad to hear it!