Q: When people talk about “welfare,” they usually refer to the U.S. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. This program provides tax assistance to certain households with severely limited or no income. There are several other welfare programs available through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, however, so review each one and determine which best suits your needs.  Child support and child care programs provide families with government-regulated child care placement assistance. Caretakers can spend more time working or training for work since they are provided with supplemental or full financial help for the cost of child care. Energy or utility assistance provides supplemental or full financial aid to people who cannot afford to pay for essential utility needs, including heat, electricity, gas, and water.  Food assistance programs, more commonly referred to as food stamps or SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), offers low-income households assistance with the cost of food. A special type of food assistance known as WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) is limited to women with young children. Medical assistance programs offer some form of medical insurance to those who cannot obtain it on their own. The two most commonly used programs are Medicare and Medicaid. Vocational rehabilitation services provide individuals with job training and skill training that can hopefully allow recipients to find adequate employment. While welfare programs are set up by the federal government, many are regulated by state. As such, there may be additional requirements for various welfare programs in your state that are not necessarily shared nationwide.   Check both the DHHS website for both the federal government and your own state government. The federal DHHS website can be found here: http://www.hhs.gov Not just anyone can apply for welfare. You must meet various financial and non-financial requirements, and these exact requirements can vary by state and by program.  There are, however, a few basic federal requirements that apply to most U.S. welfare programs.  You must lack gainful employment opportunities. This can either be caused by a lack of potential employers or a lack of positions for which you are qualified for. You must be willing to enter into a formal agreement stating that you are committed toward the goal of becoming self-sufficient within a certain specified time frame. All heads of household must sign a commitment to cooperate and comply with all the regulations and requirements of the program. You must also commit to be accurate and honest during the program. In the majority of cases, there must be dependent children living in the household. All minors must attend school and be fully immunized. You must be 18 years of age or older to receive benefits. You must be a legal and permanent resident of the state you are applying in, as well as a citizen or qualified non-citizen legal resident of the United States. You must be willing to reveal all your monetary resources. Additionally, you must be willing to create a household budget and stick to it. Applying for benefits is a process that can also vary by state and by program, but there are some generalities here, too.  Usually, you will need to schedule an appointment with your state Department of Health and Human Services or a local branch of that office. You will need to fill out an application that may include various forms, most of which can be found via your state's DHHS website. Bring any filled out applications to your appointment along with any requested identification information. At the interview, you can ask questions and the interviewer will review with you what your needs are and offer consultation on the best way to address those needs. If your application is successful, you will usually know by the end of the appointment.
A: Know the different welfare options available to you. Check federal and state guidelines. Meet the basic eligibility requirements. Understand how the basic process works.

Q: This will help keep your bottles from getting lost if something happens to the package and the address label is damaged. Write the recipient and return address on a piece of paper and place it in the box. Using packing tape at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) wide, seal the inner box closed by taping down the middle and on each side, in an H pattern. Add some more packing materials on top, then tape the larger box closed in the same way. To make sure that your package reaches its destination on time, check the entire outside of the box and make sure there are no labels or barcodes. If there are, peel them off or black them out thoroughly with a Sharpie. Double check to make sure you have the correct address. You can either write the address neatly or print a shipping label using the USPS website. Include your return address on the box. If you ship bottles frequently, you may want to invest in a “Fragile” stamp. You may also be able to ask an employee at the post office to stamp it for you, but it’s best to write it yourself as well just in case. It’s also a good idea to write “this side up” with an arrow pointing towards the top on each side, especially if you are shipping bottles that contain liquid.
A: Write the shipping address on a card and put it in the box. Tape both boxes closed with packing tape. Remove or cross out any labels on the outer box. Write the shipping address clearly on the top of the outer box. Write “Fragile” in large letters on each side of the box.

Q: If your cat suddenly stops eating, pay attention, particularly if it lasts for more than a day. That's a sign your cat needs to go to the vet to help determine what's wrong. Not eating could be a sign your cat's digestive system is blocked by a hairball. If your cat is continually hacking but not producing anything, that could be a sign your cat has a blockage in its digestive system. Pay particular attention if your cat hacks without production several times in one day.  You should also check to see if your cat is defecating. If it's not, then it definitely has a blockage and needs to be seen by a vet. Alternatively, your cat may have diarrhea because it can't get much around the blockage. Place your hand on the cat's stomach. If it feels harder than normal, that could indicate a blockage. Your cat may also seem really lethargic, like it doesn't have the energy to do much.
A:
Watch for loss of appetite. Notice if your cat hacks without bringing up a hairball. Check the cat's stomach and energy levels.