How Do I Apply For Food Stamps?

/3 Comments/in , , /by

Family

Food stamps are a wonderful benefit for those who qualify.  If there are times when you are finding yourself in the predicament of deciding whether to pay the energy bill or buy groceries for the week, you should take the time to research the eligibility requirements for food stamps.  If you are in North Carolina, check out the NC food stamps website for information on how to apply for food stamps. Visit this pageto find out where the Department of Social Services (“DSS”) office is located in your county.

The most difficult part of applying for food stamps is finding the time.  If you can go to the website, print out the necessary forms, and fill them out beforehand, that is half the battle.  You will need certain documents to verify the information you have listed on the application.  These are the basic documents you will need – but verify with your local Department of Social Services to ensure you have gathered all of the documents they require:

Drivers license and social security card (or some other official document with your name and social security number on it).

Your last two months of paychecks.  If your check is usually the same, sometimes just one month will be accepted, but try to provide at least two.

Proof of your daycare/after school care expenses.

Proof of utility bills in your name.

You can make the process easier on yourself by keeping your documents organized. As you fill out your application, make note of the sections and what documentation may be required for your personal answers.

Next, you must go to the DSS office.  Unfortunately, there is no “good” time to go stand in line.  Regardless of the day of the week or time of day, you will be waiting in line and it will be crowded. If you have kids, you may want to try to find a babysitter or bring a book to keep them occupied if you have to bring them with you. Please be patient while you are there; remember the specialists are there to help and can only work so fast! They are excellent in answering questions of all types or at least giving you a number to the department you should be contacting.

After this line, you will then move to a different area (with chairs this time) to wait for your assigned case worker to call your name for an interview.  This interview is not bad and they are just going over your application, so no need to be nervous!  As a side note, if you are interested in any other services such as WIC, Medicaid, help with child support, housing, or daycare, your case worker usually can steer you in the right direction.

Food stamps are now issued as an EBT card, which works exactly as a debit card.  It makes paying fast and easy.  And the icing on the cake is that most grocery stores have an option for EBT/Food stamps, for those who need the help but are a little embarrassed.

How to Write a Cease and Desist Letter

/3 Comments/in , , , , , /by

If you are currently suffering from some type of creditor harassment or dispute and you believe that if the matter went in front of a judge that you would win the dispute, writing a cease and desist letter may be a good option for you.

A cease and desist letter is a letter that may be written by anyone – not just a lawyer – in an attempt to stop some sort of harmful activity (usually harassment or a dispute by a bill collector). Cease and desist letters are usually used when the matter is not serious enough to spend money taking the other party to court. Although cease and desist letters are usually written by lawyers, they are not required to be and can certainly be written by an individual who is not a lawyer.

Envelope Icon

Usually, a cease and desist letter threatens further legal action if the harmful harassment or dispute does not end immediately. For example, if debt collectors are constantly harassing you, you can write a cease and desist letter. The information you include in your letter should be:

The name and address of the person you are contacting

The name and address of the party who is harassing you or against whom you have a dispute

A description of the harmful actions that the other party has taken against you (harassing phone calls, harassing letters, etc. – be as specific as possible, including dates, times, people’s names, etc.)

A specific demand that the actions stop immediately

A statement that if the actions do not stop immediately, further legal action will be taken (you can be as specific here as you would like – lawsuit filed in a certain court, certain damages will be sought, etc.)

It is also a good idea to send the letter via certified mail, return receipt requested, so that someone will have to sign off on receipt of the letter. That way, the other party cannot argue that they never received your letter. If you send the letter via regular mail, the other party may argue that they never received your letter or that it was lost in the mail.

Although some people do hire attorneys to write a cease and desist letter on their behalf, it can definitely be done by an individual who is not an attorney – just be sure to include all necessary information and be stern in your demands. Here is an example of a Sample Cease and Desist Letter.

The Basics of Understanding Financial Statements for Your Business

/1 Comment/in , , , , /by

There are two financial statements that you must provide for your business when you file personal bankruptcy: the income statement or profit and loss and the balance sheet. We will look at the financial statements for a small plumbing business, ABC Plumbing. We encourage you to click on the blue links to open examples of a profit & loss statement and balance sheet. This is a simplified approach to the financial statements, so you should seek advice from your accountant should you have questions when preparing the financial statements for your business. We will also only be looking at Operating Income and will not consider interest income, interest expense or other non-operating items that most businesses incur.

Read more