#low income

[ihavethemostobnoxiousmusictaste]

My Punk Tips for a DIY Lifestyle:

Thrift some black fabric (or grab an old black shirt you don't care for anymore), get a white fabric marker, posca, sharpie, or paint and make a bunch of patches to sew onto your clothes.

If you're a digital artist this is your time to shine! Make stencils, posters, design clothes (there are free templates online), and if you don't own a printer libraries will let you print for cheap and sometimes free. My library card allows me to print 10 pages for free.

Reuse everything or if you don't want it anymore donate it or recycle it.

Trash is very punk. Soda can tabs for instance can make for cool jewlery. It's all about creativity.

Drug store makeup is your best friend and honestly they're sometimes better than the luxury name brand products. Or hell even make some of your own.

If you need to order something I suggest etsy. Yes, some of it's expensive but you're supporting small artists and buissnesses rather than a corportation. It's also easier to find poc, queer, and neurodivergent buissnesses and artists.

Overall punk is about being creative. Just get creative and have fun!

#punk subculture #punk #alternative subcultures #alternative #diy #recycle #shoplocal #thrifting #leftisim #leftism #creative #lgbtqia #queer community #black lives matter #alt poc #yallternative #low income #fashion #makeup

[darlingillustrations]

This is not art related, but it is Important, and I feel like y'all need to hear about it.

I found a way to get assistance with my Internet Bills.

Bills are really treacherous for me right now, as I imagine that they are for many of you as well. So I started reaching out to all the places where I have bills to see if the companies have any emergency assistance available for hardship situations.

I reached out to my Internet Provider (who will remain nameless). After spending HOURS on the phone, getting the run around (aka: agents trying to upsell products, having disconnections, and being treated really poorly) i FINALLY got someone who treated me like a human being, and he told me about the Affordable Connectivity Program!

The Affordable Connectivity Program

This is a federal assistance program in the US and it GIVES YOU MONEY TO HELP PAY FOR INTERNET. I want to scream about it here because Enrollments End February 7, 2024 and I didn't even know this program was a Thing!

Apply Before February 7, 2024!

The application is VERY easy. I completed it is a few minutes, and I got accepted the next day. It will take $30 off my internet bill every month.

So, if you are low income in the US, please please *please* check this out!!

(Link to the government page in reblogs.)

#low income #bill assistance #Affordable Connectivity Program #not art #kitty speaks

[cleverclovers]

Here are resources for if you're like me, living below the poverty line, with or without disabilities

Everyone is allowed to exist, to take up space, to have and eat food, to have housing and warmth and medical care. the USA does NOT make this easy. It should, but it prioritizes companies and the wealthy over it's citizens.

There are resources you can use if you're making less than 30% of the median income in your area in most places. You can find out what it is via google, by looking up your county's social services website. Not social security, social services.

If you're relying exclusively on SSA programs like Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you ARE below that income level.

If you have a disability that keeps you from working, like severe anxiety, depression, a severe mental impairment or a light sensitive/stress sensitive medical condition like a seizure disorder or a heart issue, or most kinds of movement issues that bar you from meeting requirements like being able to lift over 50 pounds, you can talk to your doctor, get documentation, and apply for that assistance. There is no shame in applying. Just remember you should think about what you can do on your *worst* days, not on a good day. Exclusively think about your worst days when you're asking your doctor or applying for assistance, because those worst days are what are keeping you from working, or losing employment opportunities.

You can apply for SSA online, but be prepared for an in person interview, and assessment by a doctor of their choosing. If you're denied, get a lawyer. They can help you appeal and they get paid only when you get approved, so they're highly motivated to get you approved.

Things that are available to you if you're under that median income, regardless of whether you're on an SSA:

Department of (vocational) Rehabilitation-- It might go by another name in your state, but they can help you get testing for neuro divergent conditions like ADHD or Autism, address physical limitations, and help you find education, therapies to allow you to work around your issues, and help you find employment that meets your needs. This is available to you if you've been out of the workforce for a long time, as well, for whatever reason. Whether you were a home maker, or you were serving time.

Ticket to Work--A program available through social security. You can apply for this if you've been on social security for a while, and you feel like you're ready to reenter the work force. You will be given a list of companies that work with social security, and you're likely to work fewer hours or under the minimum wage. Your social security may be lowered based on your income with the program, so that's something to keep in mind.

Unemployment (through your social services branch), available if you've lost your job via firing, generally not if you've quit, to my knowledge. You have to prove you're actively seeking employment, and check in a few times a week or a few times a month based on your situation and location. Be prepared with printed out proof of your applications being turned in. Put it in a binder with plastic sleeves, use dividers to mark batch dates. The more professional you make it look the better.

Disability leave income-- This is dependent on your employer, in a lot of places, but it could be available to you. You can, and should, seek medical assistance if you're injured on or off the job to the point where it's severely impairing your work. If it's to a point where you're unable to work with accommodations, but it's recoverable, apply for disability. If it's not recoverable, apply for social security

Section 8 housing-- Available through HUD (Housing and urban development), usually a lottery or a waitlist. You have to make sure you pay attention to when applications open, and have proof of income available. Have your proof of income ready, wherever your income comes from.

Low income housing--Available in a case by case basis, first come first serve, and they generally prioritize disabled people, elderly, and families, especially families with young children or single incomes. The HUD.gov website has an interactive map that will show you it's locations, and the locations of housing that is taxpayer funded, or other forms of low income assisted programs. You apply for these on an individual building basis, and waitlists can be months to years long depending on your chosen location's population density (In san francisco, for instance, a waitlist for a low income place can be eight or more years long) You'll also need to have proof of income ready.

Charities for low income people are available to help you with deposits and first months rent, or rent for a month when you're in a pinch (One month per each 12 month period) in most urban locations. 211 can help you find these resources

Medicaid--Apply through your social services office, or social security if you're receiving it. Social services will require yearly renewal, social security will keep it up to date for you.

SNAP benefits-- You apply through social services, and you need to have all your documents ready. Proof of income, your rent information, formal or informal (either through a formal landlord or an agreement between you and your roommate or parents) as well as proof of bills and residency. If you have social security this is now available to you in most places. Use it

Cash aid--Not available to people who have social security, but it IS available to people on unemployment, disability leave, or who are generally under employed. You apply for this through social services when you're applying for SNAP.

Reduced public transit fare, or gas cards--Available in limited locations, usually urban. You should look up whether it's available in your area, and whether you have to apply through your medical insurance provider, through the transit authority office, or through your social services case worker. It's different everywhere. If you struggle with transportation, it's vital you apply.

Utility assistance--Either through the provider, or through your city. You should be prepared to offer your proof of income, whether it's social security, or SNAP, or sometimes even proof of public medical, as well as proof of residency (your lease and or official government mail, like the DMV, or financial mail like a bank statement or a utility bill)

Phone or internet assistance--Via the Federal Communications Act. Applications are only available until February 7, 2024, but your internet provider may put the cut off for turning in proof of acceptance as today (February 6, 2024), and this program will likely only be available until April. You can receive either internet assistance (up to 30 dollars), or a free cell phone with data up to one gig. You cannot get both.

Food banks. So many food banks. You have to google where they are in your area, and they may not have a lot of the things you would normally eat. A lot of it is the food people think is 'ugly' or is bordering on stale or about to hit it's expiration date, but food is food, and food close to it's expiration date can still be eaten up to two weeks after the date in a lot of cases. It's best to look up what can be eaten past it's expiration, but it's possible in a lot of situations. You just have to get really creative with what they give you. You can use these once a month, and be prepared to be honest about how many people you're feeding. If there are multiple unrelated adults in a household, you have to go separately. (I don't personally use them because I have allergies and cross contamination can be a real problem with this option. They may not have kosher or halal food, especially if it's through a christian church, and they're not likely to have meat) Some food banks will deliver if you have mobility or transportation issues.

Pet food banks--The ASPCA has these listed on their website. You can use them once monthly for pet food, clean up supplies, or pet toys. It's based on what they have available, it's not always going to be a lot, and they recommend you try other sources first, or have a back up plan. But if you need to cover a gap, it's an option. Some places have delivery as an option.

If there's a program I don't have listed, it's likely I don't know about it, and I encourage you to add it to the list. Enlighten me. Maybe there's something you know about that I don't, and it's something I can use.

Disclaimer: I don't know anything about programs or resources for unhoused people. I have been unhoused, but in that period I did not know to look for resources, and that was more than twelve years ago, now.

#poverty #poverty resources #social support #social security #social services #food insecurity #housing insecurity #section 8 #low income #unemployment #underemployed #disabled #vocational rehabilitation

[llyfrenfys]

Followers- Dw i angen eich help / I need your help

This is a post I've been sitting on for a while and it's time I finally write it to let you all know how I am, where I'm at and the progress of Prosiect Llyfr Enfys.

So, as I alluded to in previous posts, I had a health scare at the end of May which landed me in the hospital. I've spent June recovering from that and dealing with a few life changes as well (which I will talk about later).

Unfortunately, me and my partner had to deal with an unexpected bill of £200 this month which had to come directly out of my savings and is a huge chunk of it.

I've been doing research in preparation for hopefully doing a Masters at Aberystwyth in September on the topic of LGBTQ+ Welsh terminology before the 20th Century. My undergraduate dissertation was on the topic of 20th-21st Century LGBTQ+ Welsh terminology (which is currently unmarked due to the marking boycott). Hopefully after graduation I can share it with you. But my research into older terminology means needing to travel to different archives and libraries in Wales, which at the minute, I just can't afford. The closest place would be Bangor, but I have no money to spare at the minute and Prosiect Llyfr Enfys is not funded by any scheme or grant- it's currently all funded by myself.

For the first time in my life, I've been considering using a food bank. We're not quite at that stage yet, but it's precarious. It's another unexpected bill away from a critical situation.

Currently, my monthly expenses for anything related to the dictionary totals around £40 (subscriptions to archives, libraries, genealogy research tools) which have been instrumental in my work. For example, I couldn't have written my articles for Hanes LHDT+ Cymru without access to ancestry sites or online newspaper archives. This does not include other expenses such as bus tickets to get to the National Library of Wales when I need to, or costs of purchasing dictionaries in order to source them in my work.

All of this is to say that i need your help:

I have a patreon which I will be posting in next in July- if you enjoy Prosiect Llyfr Enfys and want to help keep it going, please consider subscribing today by clicking the link above or in my bio. The lowest tier is affordable and if you have the cash to spare, will enable me to keep on working on the project. If you want to make a one-time donation, I'm considering enabling tips on tumblr for those who would prefer that.

If enough people are able to subscribe to keep the project going, I can start to make some concrete plans for a trip to Bangor and share my journey with you all and involve you in the trip. If I'm unable to raise enough funds, I will have to make the decision to pause the project until after my Master's. I do not currently have a publisher, which is also a big factor in that decision, if I need to make it.

All your support is greatly appreciated- if you cannot donate, please share this post.

As ever, huge huge diolch yn fawr to everyone who has supported the project so far- with your help, we can get this dictionary published to help benefit the whole Welsh LGBTQ+ community and beyond.

#cymraeg #lhdt #patreon donation #cost of living #cwiar #welsh #hoyw #trawsryweddol #cymru #deurywiol #lesbiaidd #minimum wage #low income #unexpected bill #support queer creators #queer writer #queer non fiction #lgbt creator #lgbt non fiction #lgbt writer #hospital cw #food insecurity #Bangor #Aberystwyth #Mid Wales

[chronicallycouchbound]

Me: I need x, but I have no income because I’m disabled and awaiting SSI

Someone: Just save up!!

Me: ...ZERO INCOME

Them: :) Just :) Save :) Up :) ! :)

#when I say ZERO I mean ZERO #NO INCOME #NO ASSETS #NO HELP FROM FAMILY #NOTHING #chronically couchbound #disability #disabled #cripple punk #cripplepunk #zero income #low income #no income not low income #ssi #poor #poverty

[thefirsthogokage]

The Iowa GOP wants food insecure people to starve:

Nearly 40 House Republicans have co-sponsored the bill led by House Speaker Pat Grassley — one that would limit SNAP food purchases (formerly known as food stamps) to only what is on the state's approved WIC list, a supplemental nutritional aid for women, infants, and children.

Some of the proposed restrictions mean that low-income, older, and disabled Iowans who rely on SNAP benefits would not be able to purchase items like fresh meat, white bread, or sliced cheese.

The bill dictates that people can only purchase 100% whole wheat bread, brown rice and 100% whole wheat pasta — no white grains allowed.

Fresh meats are off the table, as Iowans would only be able to purchase canned products like canned tuna or salmon. Sliced, cubed, crumbled, and American cheese would also be eliminated from SNAP food purchases.

Fuck the GOP.

VOTE THEM OUT.

#fuck the gop #gop #iowa #low income #food #basic human rights #this has to be a violation of basic human rights #iowa gop #signal boost #vote them out #vote blue 2024

[bfpnola]

Hiring: Administrative Staff! Volunteers Needed!

More information on our open leadership positions.

🚨 Better Future Program (BFP) is looking to fill the following administrative roles! Sound like a good fit? Apply today! 🚨

And if you don’t know who we are? Welcome! BFP is a youth-run nonprofit founded in 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana, but we accept volunteers GLOBALLY. Here, we envision a future in which youth are not only empowered to challenge oppressive hierarchies each day, but to create new, innovative, and inclusive frameworks of community care and intersectional justice! To fulfill this goal, we offer over 3,000 free resources through our Liberation Library, design and execute mutual aid-based projects, and offer the safe space activists need to ask questions and grow.

Wanna help us out? We got plenty of opportunities just for you!

#reaux speaks #administrative staff #hiring #bipoc #intersectional feminism #queer #trans #neurodivergent #mad liberation #immigrants rights #low income #jewish #muslim #pagan #palestine #abolition #anarchism #climate change #volunteer #volunteer work #free palestine #israel

[fueltoabsence]

Fellow artists and art seekers!!

If you like realism art/portraiture/mixed media, please consider sharing this and/or following me on my ig 💕

As my bio states, I'm a disabled, low-income artist. I'm waiting for gov programs to deny/approve me and in the meantime needing to take care of my basic needs, hoping to do so with some art. I have a lot more to showcase than what's on fiverr, just fyi.

If you just want to follow me/my work I post it primarily on my ig: (montieezz)

P.S.

I understand not having a way to support artists like me, even when you wish you could! No worries! Sharing helps a lot! Thank youu

#freelance artist #artists on tumblr #art creation #realism #portraiture #pay artists #fuck ai art #support artists #support art workers #drawing #tumblr drawing #low income #Gsoul #ze.cher #kyo dir en grey #fanart #please boost

[too-much-brain-music]

“Great news! I’ve figured out how to get homeless people off our streets!”

“Oh, you’re housing the homeless? That’s wonderful!”

“What? Eww, no. I’m just gonna make it impossible for them to exist in my immediate vicinity.”

~

Later:

#anti homeless architecture #hostile architecture #actually homeless #homelessness #homeless #poverty #low income #classism #anti homeless spikes #find real solutions #fuck capitalism

[acitygirlsthoughts]

Despite what you see online there are readers who

Can’t afford to buy books

Can’t afford to buy as many books as they want

Have a job (or jobs)

Go to school

Juggle both school and work

Keep that in mind before assuming we’re all rich or wealthy, read all day, are on social media 24/7, and hoard books from impulsive buying

#booklr #bookish #bookworm #poor reader #low income #readers of tumblr #reader #book readers #social media #stop assuming #we’re not the same #assumptions

[cleverclovers]

Hey, if you're on the ACP (Affordable connectivity program) in the USA, please read this

I received an email this evening from my broadband provider. Here's screenshots, and I'll copy paste the text, as well. TL;DR at the end of the post.

"Important ACP Update

Dear Valued Astound Broadband Customer: On January 11, 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) will end in a few months unless the US federal government provides additional funds for the program. The FCC is requiring ACP providers like Astound Broadband (Astound) to inform ACP participants about the potential end of the ACP.¹

What Happens Now

You should begin to review your options.

•  If you are an Astound ACP customer on or before February 7, 2024, you will continue to receive the up-to $30 ACP benefit to your ACP-supported internet services until the end of the ACP so long as you continue to be eligible to participate in ACP and remain an Astound customer.²

•  After February 7, 2024, the ACP will not accept new or re-enrolled ACP participants and you may not be able to transfer your ACP benefit to another ACP provider.³

What Happens if the ACP Ends

If the ACP ends, you will no longer receive the up-to $30 per month ACP benefit and other Astound promotional credits for your internet services and, in the final month of the ACP, you may not receive the full up-to $30 per month ACP benefit and other Astound promotional credits for your internet services. If you continue to receive Astound internet services after the ACP ends, the full undiscounted rate for your service will apply or there may be the option to select an alternate package. Additional information will be coming soon regarding your future package options.

The FCC will provide more information on the status of the ACP in the coming weeks, and Astound will provide you with further updates.

If you have questions about the ACP, please contact the Universal Service Administrative Company ACP Support Center at [phone] or visit www.fcc.gov/acp or https://affordableconnectivity.gov/ for more information. In the meantime, thank you for being a valued customer. We look forward to serving you.

Sincerely,

Astound Broadband Team"

the footnotes I forgot to screen cap are thus:

"¹Astound Broadband refers to the following ACP participating entities operating in separate service areas throughout the US: RCN Telecom Services, LLC; RCN Telecom Services (Lehigh) LLC; RCN Telecom Services of Philadelphia, LLC; RCN Telecom Services of Massachusetts, LLC; ETS Telephone Company, Inc.; Grande Communications Networks, LLC; and WaveDivision Holdings, LLC.

²The ACP is a US federal government benefit program operated by the FCC that reduces one eligible household’s broadband Internet service bill by up to $30 per month. Without incurring a termination fee, at any time, a household may apply the ACP benefit to any broadband Internet service plan available in the area, at the same terms available to households not eligible for ACP, or a household may transfer the ACP benefit to another provider or opt-out of the program. If the ACP benefit does not completely cover the cost of your home and/or mobile internet services, you must make monthly payments to your ACP-supported broadband Internet services. If the ACP benefit covers the full retail rate of your home and/or mobile internet services, you must use your Internet services at least once every 30 days. If the ACP ends, if the household transfers its ACP benefit to another provider but continues to receive Astound Broadband Internet service, or if de-enrolled from the ACP, the full, undiscounted retail rate and general terms and conditions of service apply.

³If the ACP does not receive additional funds, after February 7, 2024, ACP providers are not required to allow ACP households to transfer their ACP benefit from other ACP providers."

This is a link to the PDF fact sheet from the FCC regarding the ACP wind down

TL;DR:

In April, 2024, it's expected that the fund that makes low cost or free access to the internet possible for low income families and individuals, and college students on pell grants, will run out, without federal intervention. People on the program will loose that financial support, and internet may no longer be a thing people with restricted incomes can afford. Pressure needs to be put on the federal government so that people who rely on the internet for work and education, or even just access to friends and family, can continue to have that access.

The pandemic taught us that the internet is a vital resource that people need access to. A lot of us disabled people already knew that, having fought for work from home/school from home options for years, only receiving them finally during lockdown. Access to the internet has greatly improved most of our lives, and we can't lose that now.

If you know you need the financial support to have cheaper internet, you have until the 7th of February to get your application approved by the FCC, and your provider set up with that information, to give you a little relief until April. Take. that. opportunity.

I have not, as yet, received any indication from other low income support programs, like Social Security, utility discount programs, or food stamps, being cut. I'm keeping an eye out.

I'll update this post in reblogs as I get more information going forward.

#affordable connectivity program #internet service #low income #disability #accessibility #poverty #united states federal low income support #united states politics #united states #federal government

[thebeardedgrandma]

I always hear people talk about how no one talks to or knows their neighbors anymore and how that has never been my experience. In the somewhat lower middle class neighborhood I grew up in we all knew our neighbors, you’d dog sit for neighbors and someone from down the street would come ask to borrow an egg. You can’t walk down the block without someone waving and saying hi as they pass. Then my partner and I moved into an even lower income neighborhoods in our city and there was an amazing big connected community there. Everyone in our apartment building knew each other, the people in neighboring buildings still stopped to say hi and greet new people moving in. When someone was injured and couldn’t go to work everyone in the building put together meals and chipped in money for her food. Those with cars would carpool others to the grocery store. It was such a vibrant and caring community where people relied on their neighbors and were more than happy to help a neighbor when they can.

I think the “no one talks to their neighbors anymore” is a rich people problem.

#idk what to tag this as #rambles #income inequality #community #low income #rich people problems

[chronicallycouchbound]

“Benefits” my ass.

These are mandatory forms for General Assistance, which pays for my rent, household needs ($45) and some food (100$).

I am disabled and have been fighting for SSI since 2017. Once I am eventually approved, I have to use my backpay to pay back a portion of this (about 1/3 of my backpay, my lawyer gets another 1/3, I get whats left).

In order to have housing (after YEARS of homelessness) I have to waive my rights to confidentiality for my own medical records.

Note that “phone bills” are misspent money. I am entirely reliant on someone else’s kindness to be on their phone plan. This had to be approved by my GA caseworker. I NEED a phone, not just for my dozens of appointments to manage my life threatening chronic health conditions and serious mental illnesses, but also to call the pharmacy, to call my landlord, DHHS, heating assistance programs, case management and therapy, AND, of course, for my monthly general assistance appointment. Yes. They REQUIRE me to have a phone AND I cannot pay for it. I have zero income since I’m unable to work anyways.

What happens if I “misuse” these theoretical funds? Federal prison time, a mandatory minimum of 1 year, PLUS disqualification of all government services for up to 5 years.

So yeah, “Benefits” my ass.

#chronically couchbound #disability #disabled #poverty #forced poverty #government aid #goverment assistance #goverment benefits #public welfare #social welfare #welfare programs #assistance programs #government assistance #dhhs #general assistance #impoverished #poor #zero income #low income #actually zero income #homeless #unhoused #homelessness #houselessness

[themellowyellowmomma]

This is the only time you will ever see a post like this from me.

My partner and I are both disabled and we have special needs twins (Autism, ADHD, ODD, sensory processing disorder) whose birthday is New Year's Eve, due to bad advice from their school we've accidentally disqualified ourselves from Christmas help this year.

I've made an Amazon as well as walmart wish list of a few items under $25 (I won't add anything more expensive) please don't feel obligated to buy anything. Even if you can only reblog or share somewhere else I'll be thankful. We have already given up everything we can and just found out the building we rent in is under foreclosure.

https://www.walmart.com/lists/shared/WL/7a37648c-3a41-4eb8-a44b-17c1888aed94

#amazon #help #christmas #low income #kids help #wishlist #share #reblog #charity #Christmas help #Santa #santas helper #pass it on #save Christmas #poor #poverty #Autism #Autism mom #autistic #autistic mom #Oppositional Defiant Disorder #ADHD #special needs #kids #mom #mom life #struggle #struggle bus #love #embarrassing

[bfpnola]

Hiring: Advocacy Committee! Volunteers Needed!

More information on our open leadership positions. Update: You’ll notice that the “Body Neutrality Advocate” has been changed to the “Fat Liberation Advocate.”

🚨 Better Future Program (BFP) is looking to fill the following Advocacy roles! Sound like a good fit? Apply today! 🚨

And if you don’t know who we are? Welcome! BFP is a youth-run nonprofit founded in 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana, but we accept volunteers GLOBALLY. Here, we envision a future in which youth are not only empowered to challenge oppressive hierarchies each day, but to create new, innovative, and inclusive frameworks of community care and intersectional justice! To fulfill this goal, we offer over 3,000 free resources through our Liberation Library, design and execute mutual aid-based projects, and offer the safe space activists need to ask questions and grow.

Wanna help us out? We got plenty of opportunities just for you!

-- @reaux07

#reaux speaks #advocacy #hiring #bipoc #intersectional feminism #queer #trans #indigenous #neurodivergent #immigrant rights #low income #jewish #muslim #pagan #climate change #disability justice #black lives matter #stop asian hate #volunteer #volunteer work #latine #latinx #reproductive justice

[spiffy-sea-dragon]

I was gonna say I may be a broke ass bitch but at least I can afford pringles but then I went to buy pringles and that shit is $5 a tube so. no. there is no ray of light in this tunnel.

#cost of living crisis #low income #hello darkness my old friend #tumblr meme #this post is glib but the message behind it is sadness because legit I just wanna easily be able to buy pringles