Students turn to food stamps
Shantrice Radford
Issue date: 9/24/08 Section: Campus
With the cost of gas, tuition and everyday living steadily rising, today's financially challenged college students are turning to a different type of financial aid - food stamps. "The reason I chose to get food stamps is because they're helpful when you don't have money for groceries, or when you've paid all of your bills and there's not enough money to buy food," Trinity Williams, junior, said.
According to the Department of Social Services website there are over 100 thousand households in South Carolina that rely on food stamps every month for groceries, but hundreds of students don't even know that they are an option that can be used in conjunction with other types of financial aid.
"I guess I would (use food stamps) if I could," Megan Dewitt, sophomore, said. "I just don't know how to (apply for them)."
To be eligible for this type of government assistance, students need to be enrolled as full-time students and either live on campus or in their own off campus residency. Students also need to have a job in which they are working a minimum of 20 hours per week.
Students that fall under the umbrella of work study can not be turned away but those that do not are examined on a case by case basis.
Caseworkers say the most important thing to do is to turn the required paperwork that is asked of you as soon as possible.
"Turning in your paperwork on time (is very important)," Paul Smith, a caseworker at Florence County Department of Social Services said. "If they tell you to return something, do it - they ask for a reason".
Students can get money ranging anywhere from 30 dollars per month to 162 dollars, so many like the idea of having to spend less in the grocery store.
"The reason I would get food stamps is because it's the government giving us free money," Tiffany Wilson, junior, said. "Being a college student we struggle, we need all the help we can get."
Wilson was not alone in her feelings as Shaninda Cernac said that feels an even heavier financial burden by being an out of state student.
"As a 'broke college student' it would be beneficial to me to be able to get so much money a month," Cernac, senior, said. "Since I'm out of state tuition is already expensive so it's hard."
Some agree with the idea, but not the normal perception that goes along with the image of someone on food stamps.
"They're good when you're on a very tight budget," Darius Sims, freshman, said. "As for me, I wouldn't go on food stamps because they're a form of welfare and I'm here in college so I won't have to be on welfare."
Other students don't mind that image that may pertain to them, as long as they're getting what they need.
"I don't have much money so it'd be nice to have food stamps to help me," Jared Barkdoll, senior, said. "I don't care what anyone else says, if I needed them I'd use them."
According to the Department of Social Services website there are over 100 thousand households in South Carolina that rely on food stamps every month for groceries, but hundreds of students don't even know that they are an option that can be used in conjunction with other types of financial aid.
"I guess I would (use food stamps) if I could," Megan Dewitt, sophomore, said. "I just don't know how to (apply for them)."
To be eligible for this type of government assistance, students need to be enrolled as full-time students and either live on campus or in their own off campus residency. Students also need to have a job in which they are working a minimum of 20 hours per week.
Students that fall under the umbrella of work study can not be turned away but those that do not are examined on a case by case basis.
Caseworkers say the most important thing to do is to turn the required paperwork that is asked of you as soon as possible.
"Turning in your paperwork on time (is very important)," Paul Smith, a caseworker at Florence County Department of Social Services said. "If they tell you to return something, do it - they ask for a reason".
Students can get money ranging anywhere from 30 dollars per month to 162 dollars, so many like the idea of having to spend less in the grocery store.
"The reason I would get food stamps is because it's the government giving us free money," Tiffany Wilson, junior, said. "Being a college student we struggle, we need all the help we can get."
Wilson was not alone in her feelings as Shaninda Cernac said that feels an even heavier financial burden by being an out of state student.
"As a 'broke college student' it would be beneficial to me to be able to get so much money a month," Cernac, senior, said. "Since I'm out of state tuition is already expensive so it's hard."
Some agree with the idea, but not the normal perception that goes along with the image of someone on food stamps.
"They're good when you're on a very tight budget," Darius Sims, freshman, said. "As for me, I wouldn't go on food stamps because they're a form of welfare and I'm here in college so I won't have to be on welfare."
Other students don't mind that image that may pertain to them, as long as they're getting what they need.
"I don't have much money so it'd be nice to have food stamps to help me," Jared Barkdoll, senior, said. "I don't care what anyone else says, if I needed them I'd use them."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
mike howard
posted 1/06/10 @ 11:12 AM EST
Recently unemployed student on student loan,denied stamps because I don't have a 20hr.a week job.Am I missing something here or is the system? I personally see a large hole here that I happened to fall into. (Continued…)
Mitch
posted 8/19/10 @ 9:49 AM EST
Too bad. get a new job. If you are going to college you should be able to afford to eat. If you cant, then youre probably going on my dime already to start with. (Continued…)
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