Does accepting government help

[mo2]

in any way affect your right to homeschool? I'm talking like WIC or Medicaid. My husband has recently been laid off and we may be looking into these programs.

[asta]

Goodness I would hope not!

Gov't aid is there for you because you've paid into the system and now it is supposed to help tide you over until you get back on your feet.

I'm sorry about your hubby's job. Hang in there.


asta

[lori in tx]

No I don't think so, I know WIC it doesn't affect at all. Medicaid I don't think so, we are in the process of signing up for CHIP and where it asks for school I gave them our Hs school name.
hth
lori

[ClassicMom]

One has nothing to do with the other! Unfortunately, we are living during a financial time where many, many people who would at any other time would NEVER have thought of applying for help are doing so.

I have many friends living on the fence and if costs go up any more or if they take any more hits of any sort, they too, will be applying.

I am so sorry to hear about your husbands job. Just think of this as a season in your life. You have paid into these programs and this is the type of situation it was made for. Unfortunately, it has been given such a bad stigma because so many have taken such advantage of it. But you have nothing to be ashamed of and no reason to worry.

I am sure that there are many on the board who are either on the fence or already accepting help.

:grouphug:

[Jackie in AR]

No, one doesn't have anything to do with the other.

I'm so sorry about your dh's job; I will pray that he finds work soon.

[Karen sn]

Mo2,
I too am going to apply for WIC and Medicaid this week. Dear boyfriend got laid off last week. My job has cut my hours. Can you believe an RN with no insurance? And I'm not working per diem (where you get more money an hour but no benefits).
I would be shocked to find that it matters if one homeschools.
Unemployment is $275 a week! And we have a baby due in 3 months.
ahhh....life!
I'm actually not as freaked out as I thought I was gonna be when we discussed the possibility a few months ago. Don't know why.......
Well, good luck to us!

[GVA]

I have a good friend who subsisted on Medicaid/WIC/food stamps for several years while she took care of her husband who had recurring cancer and homeschooled her five kids (she's a heroine for managing all that!). Another friend was on those programs for about a year after her husband left until she was able to get on her feet, and she also homeschooled the whole time.

DH likely will retire sometime in the next few years on Social Security Disability and disability retirement from the federal government, and it isn't an issue there either unless you plan to homeschool a child past the age of 18, and even that can be handled with proper documentation.

[Joanne]

Nope. I just went through "the system" myself and homeschooling was never an issue.

[mo2]

Thanks all. I know that is what the programs are there for, and now I have to make use of them. We've had medicaid before for the babies, but that was before homeschooling.

Karen, I feel for you! Although I agree, having my hubby out of work is not as bad as I thought it would be. We're just kind of realizing that we don't NEED as much. As long as we eat, it's okay. :)

[Cadam]

no.

[Mamasteff]

They will ask about your children's school information if you are getting help for them too... and depending on what state you are in this might not be a great thing, to invite more scrutiny.

[Joanne]

Sorry to disagree a little but...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They will ask about your children's school information if you are getting help for them too... and depending on what state you are in this might not be a great thing, to invite more scrutiny.

Do you have experience or knowledge of this happening to someone(s) or is it a concern that *might* materialize?

Here in TX, homeschooling is so common now that it's hard for me to get perspective on other situations.

[Plaid Dad]

We receive a number of kinds of state assistance and homeschooling has never been an issue.

[Karin]

I know a homeschooling family that does WIC and Medicaid pays their part of the dad's medical insurance premium beyond what his employer pays because they're below poverty level for their number of children. They manage on very, very cheap rent from a relative.

[Mamasteff]

I do have experience with receiving state funds and getting a lot of questions... it's not very comfortable. (We are in California, and there have been so many questions this year anyway).

If you have all your ducks in a row, all your paperwork if you are a private school, and feel comfortable with it, go for it - receiving the assistance is not anything to be ashamed of, but I know that it is very hard to get over our culture's taboo and ask for it - and they don't make it easy to get!