[michelleb]

OK...have a question for you all.
Our foster home developer mentioned that we could get WIC vouchers for certain items we would need for infants and children b/c the child would be eligible for the WIC services.

DO any of you use these services?

I don't know if I feel right taking advantage of this...am I taking services away from someone else who needs it more?

My husband makes good $$ and I feel it is cheating to have the state help...but I could just be looking at this all wrong.

My husband says that if we used WIC we would be able to do more out-of-pocket things for the children we have AND he would consider taking sibling groups b/c it wouldn't put a strain on our finances if we had TWO or more in diapers and on formula.

What are your opinions on this? Are there only so many vouchers available and if I take some am I leaving someone who needs then WAY more than me out in the cold?

HELP!!! Just trying to get a clear picture of how it all works and what you all think!

[teachtofost]

I don't know the answer to whether you'd be taking it away from someone else. I do use WIC. It provides cereal and formula for my little one. Foster children are entitled to WIC. I figure if they are entitled to it, they should get it. It does allow me to buy my FS more extras.

It provides juice, peanut butter, cheese, eggs, milk at 1 year. It doesn't help with diapers. The money saved does help though.

[michelleb]

Thanks!
I just didn't want to feel like I was doing something wrong!

[claschober]

I use WIC and am glad that it is offered to us. It helped cover some of the costs for formula and definetly helps cover the cost of milk, eggs, cheese, cereal, juice and peanut butter. My oldest is Lactose intolerant and his milk is a little more expensive, so this helps defray some of the costs. There are some months where we don't use all of the checks that they offer us and there are other times where we do.

We understand that once their adoption is finalized we will lose these benefits and we are fine with that. We are just greatful they are an option for us right now.

I strongly recommend taking advantage of the resources and help that are offered to you, especially when it benefits your children!

[michelleb]

I guess my main "issue" is - we could absolutely take in 3-4 children on our own income without any help...to do this we would have to give up stuff like entertainment expenses, etc. (which I would be more than willing to do!)
Shouldn't I just give those things up rather than use state aid??

**Please understand..I would LOVE to have the extra $$ to help with groceries and stuff, but I am just trying to make sense of it in my own frugal head

[skygazer1016]

Back when I was in college and hubby was too and we found out we were pregnant (ughh) with no insurance, I applied for Medicaid and was also given WIC. After I delivered (days after I graduated) I was offered my job and health insurance so I was off Medicaid. I was still qualified to keep the WIC though.

The income guidelines aren't all that stringent as compared to Medicaid or other assistance. There's no cap that I've heard of that they cut it off after so many families use it- on the contrary I was told at the time I was on it that if they didn't get so many families then the fudning would be cut a little the next year.

My husband and I were doing well financially until we (unexpectedly) took in 2 teenagers. I changed my work schedule and lost quite a bit in shift differential (my job is home based so it didn't matter, I was here all the time anyways, but I needed to do so many things in the afternoon/night with having 5 kids now instead of 3, plus all the places I had to take them to. Since we're not licensed (yet- in the process still!) and not relatives, the state gives us no assistance whatsoever. We have spent well over $3000 in the past 6 months on everything they needed for them (which was EVERYTHING). Our electric bill and food bills have soared! So while before we were doing well, now we're tight financially but making it. I say take everything that is offered to help not just you out, but the children as well. If they are qualified, then you should have NO qualms taking it.

I'm frugal too, but also realistic. Listen to your husband this time around, get the WIC and put the other money away for a rainy day if that's what you want to do with it. You're not stealing, cheating or scamming.....you're only accepting something that is designed assist both you and the child.

[yanknrebel]

We have an adopted daughter (now 4) from the foster care system and 2 year old twins that we are fostering and hope to adopt soon. We recive WIC for all three of them. We got our daughter at birth, so she has always been on WIC. Then the twins were 29 week preemies. They were put on Neosure for their formula. This formula was very expensive. About $15.00 per small can and could only be gotten with a doctor's RX. Anyway, there is NO way we could have afforded to give them the formula they needed if it had not been for WIC. As for our daughter, when e adopted her, I told them after our next appointment that she was now leagally ours. They said it didn't matter. That since we were recieving adoption assistance for her, she is still eligible. The health dept employee stated to me after I told her that I didn't think we would qualify (hubby makes too much) that "If you are entitled to it, why not take it?. With 5 in the household, you'll use the stuff". So, we take it. It sure helps when my kids love to drink milk and eat Cherrios. ALso peanut butter and juice. It helps us out tremendously. We freeze the milk, and thaw it when we need it. All the other items get eaten or drank as well.

I would be willing to bet you that the state gets so much funding for these items and what they don't use for WIC reciepients, is lost. Just my opinion.

[BrandyHagz]

There's no cap that I've heard of that they cut it off after so many families use it- on the contrary I was told at the time I was on it that if they didn't get so many families then the fudning would be cut a little the next year.

Just wanted to chime in, as someone who was denied services due to "overuse" - they do have a "cap" and they do turn people away...

[Kate1129]

The way we looked at is that it's not about us. This service is offered to the CHILDREN. They are the ones who are dependant on the state. Our SW said that it's important for us to continue it so that should the kids ever not live with us they still get the services. Now we are sure hoping they are here forever, but the services are not being offered to my husband and I. It's being offered to the kids.

It's a federal program. The government has a specific fund for it and if the kids are eligable, then they get it. That's how it is for foster kids. They are in the custody of the state and so the state is taking care of them. We got the impression we didn't have the option to turn it down. That wasn't a choice we got to make, the SW did.

[leaabc123]

We have enrolled all of our foster kids in WIC, as well as having some come with it already.

As foster kids, they are automatically elgible. It also helps them if they are returned home as they are already enrolled.

For kids under 1, it provides formula. Our girls get milk, cheese, cereal, peanut butter and vouchers for the farmers market. It averages 50 dollars a kid per month. Our girls are also on the low end of the growth charts so it helps to have their growth monitored as well.

There is a cap on the program but I haven't heard of anyone getting turned away recently.

I look at it as part of the monthly reimbursement, like mileage and clothing and daily rates.

We certainly don't make any money as we put it all back in terms of activities, clothing, etc, trips, etc.

[Aaronsmommy03]

We are currently fostering two children (the baby is still on formula). It is kind of an unwritten rule in our county that if you have young foster kids, it is your responsibility to either get them signed up for WIC or keep them going on WIC. It has never been an issue for us if we can afford "it" or not, I have always looked at it as part of our monthy stipend to receive WIC. We do not get reimbursed for diapers so every bit helps out for us with 4 little ones 3 and under.

[michelleb]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!
Man, these boards are such a blessing!!! I don't feel bad or guilty about applying for WIC for the children!!
This all made so much sense!!!
Thank you so much for your words of wisdom!!
I took it all to heart!!
You are all truly great friends!!!!!

[skygazer1016]

Originally Posted by BrandyHagz

Just wanted to chime in, as someone who was denied services due to "overuse" - they do have a "cap" and they do turn people away...

That's good to know- I have never heard of anyone being turned away if they qualified for it. I had heard that if they don't get enough people signed up for it then the funding is cut for the next cycle but didn't know if that actually happened or not. Granted the last time we were on it was quite a few years back and I haven't checked into it recently. We were asked if we would consider fostering an infant and we're considering it once our license comes in and I would have no qualms whatsoever using WIC checks to help out.

Edited to say I went to the USDA website re: WIC and read about the waiting/priority list. I didn't know about this because I've never heard of it happening! Hopefully your area was increased in grants based on the waiting list.

[shycar]

Im not sure if this is true or not, but this according to the lady that works at wic. She said that medicaid is actually the one that pays for everything. We were talking becouse next month we will be adopting our little guy who is on wic. I was feeling guilty using wic, becouse hubby make enough money and I was sure he was not going to qualify. I told her that he wont be coming back after april. She said that meciaid paid for it and that as long as he was on medicaid he qualifies no matter how much money we make and no I would not be taking checks from someone who needs it more, becouse again medicaid is the one paying. Like I said I dont know its true, but she said he would, lets see what happens after the adoption.

[skygazer1016]

http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/

Here is the USDA's webpage on WIC, with ALL KINDS of info including funding, qualifications, etc. Granted I'm a nerd and like to always find this stuff out, but thought maybe others would be interested too .