Where is the help for those to truly need it?

I am writing to ask for your help and clarification on an issue that I am sure many Alaskans deal with every day.

I have lived in Alaska almost my entire life. I graduated from Charter College in Wasilla in 2010 with my associate’s degree in accounting and am currently attending Alaska Pacific University to complete my bachelor’s degree. While doing all of this I have maintained full-time employment, first as a manager of Taco Bell in Wasilla and now as a financial planner.

Jan. 28, 2011, I married my husband, who also is a lifetime Alaskan. My husband has been in the Alaska National Guard for six years this coming October. He has served our country overseas in our efforts to defend against terrorism and spent the past three years as active National Guard in Fort Greely defending our base. On March 31, my husband was relieved of his active duty status at Fort Greely, causing us to lose our Tri-Care medical coverage for him, our soon-to-be-born baby daughter (due in July), and myself.

This change also brought new financial burdens to our family. What we once were able to pay for with two incomes now became the responsibility of just my income of only $1,800 gross a month. Also, because I am pregnant, I am must have insurance which at my work costs $75 a paycheck and $50 every visit to my prenatal doctor.

My husband and I have always been hard workers. We have always worked full-time jobs, paid our taxes and done what we could to help each other. Due to these new changes in our lives I sought help. From talking to others I learned of the possibility to receive some state assistance. I got all the information together I thought I would need to apply for Denali KidCare and Food Stamps. I read over all of the information online on income guidelines and all other information that was on each site pertaining to my situation.

After meeting with them they came to the conclusion that I was not eligible for any help from the state. They concluded my husband could not be included in my household size because he was not working. In all other aspects of the government we are considered a household of two, even in financial aid to receive government benefits. But now, for some reason, it was like we were never married. Also, to not be able to include my child, who will be a part of our household in less than three months, shocked me.

As I sat there with tears welling up in my eyes listening to this man tell me one after another all of the assistance out there that I don’t qualify for due to my $1,800 a month income I began to think. Maybe if I were more like a friend I know I could get some help. She has worked multiple part-time jobs for the past 15 years. She is getting ready to give birth to her seventh child, fifth different father. She has had almost every child of hers taken by the state, collects every possible state assistance offered in Alaska and collects a dividend on almost every one of those children. Between state assistance, Alaska PFD and tax returns she was collecting over $40,000 a year. She has never held full-time employment, never kept a job for more than six months, and yet she can collect on everything my tax dollars have paid into.

Is that really what happens around our country? Those who put in the work and even serve our county can get no help when times get tough, but those who do nothing end up making more per month from assistance than I make in my 9-to-5 job.

My husband and I did fine before all of these financial changes and expect to be back on track as soon as he gets back to work. All we were asking for in a month, maybe two, of help to buy food and some assistance with the care of my daughter during my pregnancy, but we are told no because of $1,800. Our monthly combined bills total $3,577 and that does not even include purchasing any food for our home or paying for gas in our vehicles for me to get to and from work.

Luckily, at the beginning of this month my husband was accepted into the apprenticeship program for the Local 341 Laborers Union. They do not pay him for the apprenticeship, but they do give him gas money to drive to and from the training. Also, he started school here at Charter College and hopefully we will begin to receive his military assistance by the end of June or July. With this schedule he leaves the house Monday through Friday at 6:45 a.m. and does not return home until 10:30 p.m.

The reason I tell you all of this is to show you that we are trying. We are not people who have given up or are asking to live off a handout for the rest of our lives. We are dedicated Alaskans who want to succeed and live without having to wonder how we are going to pay our bills or buy food.

Although I do not see this letter helping me, I pray that it helps the next person who needs some help. Just because a person only needs help for a day, does not mean he or she doesn’t need help.

Thank you for your support.

Aundria McDaniel is a Wasilla resident.