Advice? SIS and SSI

[redhen]

I just feel bad for her kids...

 

[EweSheep]

I am on SSI/SSD, Medicare, Medicaid and when warrants, depending on how much hubby makes a month, I get food stamps.

You CAN get into trouble with SSI and FS if they found out that she is not living with you. It is illegial to use FS other than her kids and herself for food, nothing else and no body else either. She must report of her whereabouts, they do not take it kindly with someone living elsewhere!!!!!! That is why we fill out questionaire that how long we have lived there, rent, or anything like that and if you lied to them (as stated on the last page when you sign your name), you would be fined, jailed and must pay EVERY penny back.

Yes she can get SSI/SSD if she is not mentally well. They test you every five years to make sure you are not improving or never got better than the last exam. I have an uncle who is mentally unstable but he sure can work under the table and got away with it. He said I've worked all those years and it's time for me to collect, even he was only in his 30's when he collected. Many times he was reported but so far, none were valiated. So to this day, he is still collecting SSI and working under the table!

Every five years, he gets called in by SSI to see if his mental status was improved, his thing was when he is due for an appt, he would go into a deep depression three days prior to the exam, unshaven, uncleaned, gets himself in a trance that he is unstable, he passed the test with flying colors. When he gets back from testings, he would go back home, get cleaned up and wait for the next five years to be retested again. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

 

[EweSheep]

Oh, do not sign or accept ANYTHING pertaning to SS and Public Aid or any kind of assistance. If you do sign, you are just as liable as she is and it would nto be pleasant.

From now on, no papers signed, no acceptance of anything even a bribe. NADA!

 

[PineappleMama]

Yeah, she just doesn't get that even offering to give anyone food, via her food stamps, for rent OR any other reason is fraud. Does not get it at all. And not for lack of warning, she's KNOWN someone who was busted. But, as with pot I guess she figures the cops, the gov't etc all have better things to do so there's no way she'll get caught.

I refused to fill out the affidavit so DD could go to my kids' school. When she WAS actually living with us that was no problem. But once she wasn't I immediately let the school know. I never filled out doodly on the FS/Medicaid, and I know that there is an affidavit involved. I'm not sure how she got around that when she changed her addy except that maybe once approved they don't double check until the next renewal?? I've no plans to sign this affidavit either. But, other than my conscience, and the Fraud argument that's done No Good, I couldn't think of any reason to give her.

Can't believe it too so long for the FAFSA thing to register... not to mention the IRS... I mean DUH... clearly this has me frazzled to where logic just ain't workin'

Appreciate you guys giving me the ideas, and the support. This is not going to be fun but neither would an audit or jail so I just gotta suck it up and prepare for the backlash.

 

[PineappleMama]

Sorry for the DP here but a new facet has been added to the mix...

Sis just called to say she's in a shelter... it provides food, clothes, diapers, formula, they (her, DD and baby) have a room w/lock, and they have a bus that takes the kids to school. The school that services this shelter happens to be the same one that DD is already enrolled in.

She didn't mention the form or anything, short 'just letting you know where we are' kind of call. She said they have time limits on phone calls there, so she got off the phone at the six minute mark. Said her cell would be back on on Wed (that's when child support is direct deposited) and she'd be able to talk more.

I'm thinking that part of the services in a shelter would be Aid Applications wouldn't it? Of course, staying there she can't claim any rent at all, so her income would show the total of her child support... I think that's $120 or so a week. Seems like this would be the exact situation when TANF would be appropriate? Aid to help in times of crisis to get you on your feet? Pay for rent, deposits and whatnot to get a place?

I don't know much about shelters, as I've never been in one, but seems like that'd be something that the ... workers? would discuss?

 

[redhen]

Yeah..i think they they help you get back on your feet..even help find you housing... (if its a battered womans shelter..)
*sigh* You've got your hands full there... what a tough situation you're in...

 

[PineappleMama]

It's not that bad. It's just stressful to try and do the right thing by my conscience and beliefs and still do the sisterly loyalty thing too. Ah, and of course we can't forget that I'm the eldest... it's sort of ingrained.

Not too much harder than when I've got to ground one of the kids for bad behavior. Hate to do it, but how the heck will they learn to be responsible adults if you don't.

But it is nice to have a place to vent. Otherwise all that angst might come flying out in a convo with her and then I'd very much regret it.

 

[EweSheep]

If she is getting cash and living in shelter, her rental income would be ZERO and she would have to prove or get an affadavit from the shelter that she is now residing there. I do not know of the situation how she got into the shelter but she better not give you the blame game!

Most women shelters are pretty good and they do take care of the family and make sure they have a bed or cot to sleep, a place to feel secure and a place they can go for food. Yes they do have strict rules and if she does not follow them, they will kick her out and tell her to find another shelter or someone that would take her and her kids in. They will give her a time frame of how long she can stay there, she can not stay there indefinately.

Hubby was homeless for three months and he said its a hard reality of life, strict rules and they make you leave the premises at seven or eight AM until six PM. If you are not back by six PM, either they can mark a point against you (he has three point system) for each tardy that you didnt show up unless you let them know ahead of time why you would not be in before that curfew time.

So she isnt going to play around this time.

 

[redhen]

Yeah... i know what you mean..
Shes GOT to learn to be responsible somehow... sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom.
And sometimes that means loosing your kids...

 

[PineappleMama]

Well, she didn't confirm or deny but I think that it may be the same shelter that my aunt stayed in some time back. If it is then one of the rules was that you had to be out trying to find a job. It was hard for my aunt because she didn't have a vehicle. She had to hike all over the place, in Texas heat, and many took one look at her and said No Thanks. But, sis is younger and has her own car so hopefully she'll have better luck. But, in this economy... and with her attitude towards work anyways... plus they do NOT provide sitting services for non-school age kids. Makes things hard, but plenty have done it and made it. Found work, found a place, and moved on with their lives. All hypothetical, since I don't know if this is the same place or if it is if they have the same rules.

She gets child support for her eldest. That is her only cash income. That's the income she was trying to lower by saying she was paying us rent. She offered to give us food instead. So, FS fraud AND SS fraud. Not to mention that income if found by the IRS could mean an audit. Or if found by FAFSA could lower/eliminate DH's financial aid. She does get (I think) upwards of $500/mo in FS for her three kids (when only two live with her fraud again) and they have medicaid. I'm not sure but I don't think she's applied/gotten TANF before. Seems I read that it was a one time deal, or limited amount lifetime or something. So, for her sake I hope she hasn't already blown that.

Responsibility wise... she HAS lost her kids before... DD came to us, her son was living with his dad, baby not here yet... but even then she continued using for months and months until they started hinting that it was getting to some time limit where the separation could be made final. Then she finally got off the hard stuff, long enough to pass anyways. Never did get a job, or a place to live for her or the kids, but they still gave DD back. Didn't make much sense to me as they had stipulated that she couldn't be returned until she was Drug Free AND able to provide a stable home... but there you go.

Hope like heck DD doesn't have to go through all that again. Poor kid has already been through enough already.