Hooray for Mary!! She Got Off Welfare!!*

Mary, divorced mother of two, lost her job.  She applied for unemployment benefits and got her first check three and a half weeks after her last week of work.

Unemployment compensation barely covered housing however Mary was $110 below the maximum limit to receive medical benefits and $70 a month below the maximum limit to get food stamps.  Mary was then eligible for vouchers at the daycare where her children attends as well.  When Mary was working, she paid $710 a month for daycare.  While on unemployment, she just had to pay $25 a month.  Mary also qualified for utility service assistance.

After six months of submitting as many as 50 applications a week,  attending the mandatory work programs, and providing information to unemployment about how many times she contacted a company for a job week after week, Mary obtained a job making $700 more a month gross than what she was getting in unemployment and $2,000 a month gross less than what she used to make at the job where she was laid off.

Mary is no longer eligible for food stamps, day care, utility service assistance, and medical insurance coverage because now she makes over the income eligibility requirement to receive those services.

Mary is barely making the rent payment on time and goes to food pantries and churches for food while she and her children walk around with no medical coverage.  Mary's elderly mother keeps her two children while she goes to work.  Mary is looking for a less expensive place to live.  She has found that she can afford an apartment in an area with little police presence and high crime statistics.

Mary must be congratulated and hailed for the progress she has made in her life.


*Based on a true story of many.