In the state of Nebraska particularly, it is nearly impossible for the working single parent making more than $12.00 per hour and working 35+ hours a week to survive with the cost of living. The income requirements to get any form of assistance is unrealistically low. As a personal and real example I give you myself. I make more than the average 23 year old woman at $16.50 per hour 40 hours a week. After taxes, this leaves me about $2240 a month. Seems just fine right? Let’s take my very basic necessities to survive as examples on this income to show my readers what I’m fighting for. I have done price comparisons for years on childcare in the city of Omaha that isn’t in home or below 3-star rated, run down centers. I have been quoted anywhere between $135-250 a week for a toddler under 5 years of age. I currently pay $195 a week for my daughters preschool however, let me just use the $135 lowest rate as an example. That would be $540 a month just for childcare. Deduct this from my personal monthly after tax income this goes to $1700. Now let’s take your average apartment rent in Nebraska as a deduction from my income. I currently pay a mortgage, but for the general public we will use the lowest costs and most reasonable examples for this petition. The average 2 bedroom apartment in Omaha, NE is $840 a month. I see this necessary with a toddler, but you can also do a 1 bedroom if you really need too for financial purposes which would be $657 a month average cost reported. We will use that for the example, so now it is $1700 minus $657.00 rent and average utilities for a one bedroom is $200 a month this is JUST for standard utilities nothing extra. We are now at $843.00 a month. We obviously need valid transportation to and from work or childcare. Average car payment for a used vehicle in 2019 is $391 according to Experians data however, I am lucky and paying less $289 a month so we will use this again as an example. So $843.00 minus $289.00 car payment and let’s include car insurance the average in Nebraska is $116 a month. We are now at $438.00. We are doing this with my income which is much higher than most people my age...take that into consideration. The average amount of groceries for a household of two ( parent and child ) is $373.00 a month. That is very realistic if you’re not eating junk and snacks. $373.00 a month is only $93.25 a week in food for two. But, let’s make it $300 a month for a more budget friendly example. That brings us to $138 left. This is only for rent, childcare, transportation and food. You’re very basic necessities. I have used very low averages as examples with a MUCH higher income than most my age. Imagine this at $13, $14 an hour? The average hourly rate in the state.. I’ll let you do the math. $138 left after the basic necessities is $34.50 a week for other household supplies, clothing, diapers if needed, emergency money, cell phone bill wasn’t even included, nothing extra was included here. I have had a child support order in place since my child was born and the state can never correctly track the absent parent down long enough to get any income for it. I know many other single parents can say the same... how is it that the hard working, society contributing people such as myself can’t get any kind of assistance but the lazy, non-working citizens of this country are getting hundreds of dollars in benefits? SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE with the income requirements for assistance with the Department of Health and Human Services as a whole! For a household of two...the maximum amount of income is $21,983 a year... meaning you can not make more than 11$ an hour working 40 hours a week in order to get assistance. They also do not take ANY expenses necessary for living into consideration. This is unjust and inhumane to young parents that are trying to do their best and not sit at home and mooch off of the government. I ask for your help in fighting for a better system for assistance and help for the working parents. A hustle is necessary no matter who you are.. but the constant struggle to make ends meet should not be so harsh for people in these situations. Do what’s right, this needs to be changed!