Public Aid and "separation"

[kpepperz]

What is the name of your state? IL

My dad has been out of work for about 8 months and his wife (my stepmom) has never gotten off her butt to work. She has a sizable inheritance from her dad that she has refused to use to help with the household. My dad has been receiving unemployment and food stamps, as well as pulic aid inurance.

My stepmom has decided to leave my dad after 18 years of marriage, and is apparently on public aid, or at least that is what she told my father. She is moving out this weekend and is getting rent assistance thru the state.

My question is this: can a person that is still married (and has no legal separation agreement nor divorce papers filed) get public aid without the spouse's knowledge? Can my dad be responsible for repaying any benefits given to my step-idiot if she lied to the caseworker?

I just want to protect my dad. His wife is a conniving witch and I wouldn't doubt she lied to the state.

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by kpepperz

What is the name of your state? IL

My dad has been out of work for about 8 months and his wife (my stepmom) has never gotten off her butt to work. She has a sizable inheritance from her dad that she has refused to use to help with the household. My dad has been receiving unemployment and food stamps, as well as pulic aid inurance.

My stepmom has decided to leave my dad after 18 years of marriage, and is apparently on public aid, or at least that is what she told my father. She is moving out this weekend and is getting rent assistance thru the state.

My question is this: can a person that is still married (and has no legal separation agreement nor divorce papers filed) get public aid without the spouse's knowledge? Can my dad be responsible for repaying any benefits given to my step-idiot if she lied to the caseworker?

I just want to protect my dad. His wife is a conniving witch and I wouldn't doubt she lied to the state.

None of this makes any sense.

Availablity of public aid (food stamps, medicaid) etc depends on household income and assets. If your stepmother has a sizeable inheritance your father never should have qualified for foodstamps or medicaid. Unemployment yes....that doesn't depend on household income, but the rest, NO.

The same goes for your stepmother. If she has a sizeable inheritance then she shouldn't qualify for any kind of public aid either.

[kpepperz]

According to what she has told my dad is that her "inheritance" is being used on the first 3 months rent and then public aid is helping her after that.

Also, since she applied for public aid, my dad was told by his caseworker that he has to reapply in person, since her application for assistance was granted and his was canceled as a result.

When I was told this, it made no sense to me. I have never heard of stuff like this happening. I am beginning to wonder if I am not hearing the entire story**************

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by kpepperz

According to what she has told my dad is that her "inheritance" is being used on the first 3 months rent and then public aid is helping her after that.

Also, since she applied for public aid, my dad was told by his caseworker that he has to reapply in person, since her application for assistance was granted and his was canceled as a result.

When I was told this, it made no sense to me. I have never heard of stuff like this happening. I am beginning to wonder if I am not hearing the entire story**************

Do they have minor children? That could explain the cancellation of his benefits and the need to reapply....or if she was included in his prior claim that could also explain it.

Its also possible that you and I have a different definition of "sizeable", as far as the inheritance is concerned.