Disagree with Child Support Order

[FamilyGirl]

That wasn't what she was counting as income. Her ex got a deviation because he is allegedly supporting his stepchildren. However, his wife is receiving child support from their father, plus all the state bennies, therefore its questionable if her ex is providing much, if any support at all for the stepchildren. She was stating that the child support for the stepchildren he is allegedly supporting should have been counted in. In normal circumstances, that would not be the case. However, with the claim that he is supporting those stepchildren and the subsequent request for a deviation, any other funds contributing towards their support certainly should have been factored in.

However, I also have some concern about those state bennies...because if the household is receiving those bennies without dad's income factored in (and thats an awful lot of bennies for 35.00 a week to be a deviation from dad's income)...mom's appeal could open a huge can of worms for dad's family.

What do you mean?

 

[LdiJ]

What do you mean?

The income threshold to receive food stamps, Medicaid and assistance with utilities is fairly low. It doesn't take much income for a family to be over the threshold. The fact that dad's wife is receiving these benefits for her children makes me concerned that she is either not telling the state that she is married, living with her husband, and her husband has income, or is giving the state the impression that she is not married at all. If so, once everything starts being brought out in the open it could cause problems for dad's wife, and dad, by extension.

 

[Pinkie39]

The income threshold to receive food stamps, Medicaid and assistance with utilities is fairly low. It doesn't take much income for a family to be over the threshold. The fact that dad's wife is receiving these benefits for her children makes me concerned that she is either not telling the state that she is married, living with her husband, and her husband has income, or is giving the state the impression that she is not married at all. If so, once everything starts being brought out in the open it could cause problems for dad's wife, and dad, by extension.

Not necessarily. I work for my county department of job and family services as an eligibility specialist, so I am very familiar with this subject. I deal with it daily.

Medicaid income limits for families with children are actually fairly high, especially since the Affordable Care Act. And even more so in high cost of living states like many northeastern states. Same for the federal HEAP utility assistance program.

Food stamp income limits are lower, but she might not be getting a whole lot in food stamps anyway.

 

[FamilyGirl]

The income threshold to receive food stamps, Medicaid and assistance with utilities is fairly low. It doesn't take much income for a family to be over the threshold. The fact that dad's wife is receiving these benefits for her children makes me concerned that she is either not telling the state that she is married, living with her husband, and her husband has income, or is giving the state the impression that she is not married at all. If so, once everything starts being brought out in the open it could cause problems for dad's wife, and dad, by extension.

They seem to be pretty liberal with State benefits here. To answer yours and the above posters questions, along with their Financial Affidavit they also submitted "proofs". Copies of his most recent paystubs, and their notice of Decision from DHHS. Dad is listed on the case and I believe he also receives medical benefits...now that you mention it though it does seem kind of screwy. Dad changed jobs within the past few months. Usually DHHS renewal appointments are every six months. I don't think they have submitted his new paychecks to the DHHS, hence the reason he is still receiving free medical benefits. Although they do have a five person household, and he might be right under the line. He grosses about $500 a week. Electrical Assistance renewal applications are only once a year. I don't mean to open up a can of worms for them but I do know she receives child support and that income is not listed on the Financial Affidavit they submitted. She told me herself her ex-husband pays child support and has the children every other weekend. I totaled his last four checks and that is the income they stated on the FA, yet all the expenses for them as a family are listed. The Child support is not listed on the FA and that part of the DHHS Notice of Decision is left out. Usually it is included on their Notice of Decisions. It seems that page was left out.

 

[Pinkie39]

They seem to be pretty liberal with State benefits here. To answer yours and the above posters questions, along with their Financial Affidavit they also submitted "proofs". Copies of his most recent paystubs, and their notice of Decision from DHHS. Dad is listed on the case and I believe he also receives medical benefits...now that you mention it though it does seem kind of screwy. Dad changed jobs within the past few months. Usually DHHS renewal appointments are every six months. I don't think they have submitted his new paychecks to the DHHS, hence the reason he is still receiving free medical benefits. Although they do have a five person household, and he might be right under the line. He grosses about $500 a week. Electrical Assistance renewal applications are only once a year. I don't mean to open up a can of worms for them but I do know she receives child support and that income is not listed on the Financial Affidavit they submitted. She told me herself her ex-husband pays child support and has the children every other weekend. I totaled his last four checks and that is the income they stated on the FA, yet all the expenses for them as a family are listed. The Child support is not listed on the FA and that part of the DHHS Notice of Decision is left out. Usually it is included on their Notice of Decisions. It seems that page was left out.

$500 a week gross for a family of five in NH is nothing. I can just about guarantee he qualifies for Medicaid.

Plus keep in mind that there are federal deductions allowed in the food stamp program. There's a shelter costs deduction for rent and utilities, an earned income deduction, deductions for court ordered child support paid, for child care, and for excess medical expenses for elderly or disabled people. So no one's food benefits are based solely on their gross income.

Even on the odd chance that the mom gets say, $1000 a month in child support for her 3 kids, that still only puts them at a gross income of $38,000 for a family of 5. Again, that's not much at all.

I don't see it as being unlikely at all that they qualify for food stamps.

 

[FamilyGirl]

$500 a week gross for a family of five in NH is nothing. I can just about guarantee he qualifies for Medicaid.

Plus keep in mind that there are federal deductions allowed in the food stamp program. There's a shelter costs deduction for rent and utilities, an earned income deduction, deductions for court ordered child support paid, for child care, and for excess medical expenses for elderly or disabled people. So no one's food benefits are based solely on their gross income.

Even on the odd chance that the mom gets say, $1000 a month in child support for her 3 kids, that still only puts them at a gross income of $38,000 for a family of 5. Again, that's not much at all.

I don't see it as being unlikely at all that they qualify for food stamps.

It doesn't surprise me they receive Food Stamps, and now that they have expanded health care I see that is probably reasonable too. The problem is that the child support she receives for her three children was not disclosed on the Financial Affidavit submitted to the Court. It's obviously being submitted to DHHS, as they probably enforce the order to begin with. This is why I brought up the fact that she doesn't work. Not to be spiteful, but we're not talking about a woman who has the luxury of staying home. Nor does she have any children who are not in school to stay home with. They are all in school. She chooses to stay home, and as a result the State is picking up the tab for it and now my daughter in turn gets less child support. How does a family of five people live off $500 a week? They don't. She's getting an undisclosed amount of child support and that should have been included in the calculation, and it was not. This is also a voluntary situation of poverty. There is no reason for her to be unemployed and for my ex to be claiming he's supporting her children. Her and her baby's Daddy need to support their kids. I'm pretty sure she's turning in all her proofs to DHHS, but they're not being truthful with the Court.