Would you report a relative for abusing welfare?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A cousin of my mine (who is a single parent) lives with their parents in their $2M home rent-free. Cousin works once a week at a restaurant where they get paid mostly in cash tips.

I know for a fact that and their parents have conspired for cousin first to get WIC and then EBT, Medicaid and daycare vouchers. I know this because cousin openly talks about in extended family group chats, my parents mention it repeatedly and cousin has told me when I’ve been at their parents house. Cousin has almost no reported income.

I almost never think such benefits are being abused, but in this case, I am almost certain they are. Is there anywhere to report this? I’m infuriated.

I want your problems if this is what you can spend time fussing about.

[Anonymous]

Lots of people out there are beating the system, Op. When you grow up in low income area. You see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What? How is this welfare abuse OP? It sounds like your cousin is not a dependent, they have minor children, and they have very limited income. What is it that you want? For them to be homeless, too?

You suck, OP.

DP. You need to explain your housing situation when you apply for welfare. Free rent (in a $2m house or not) is a form of income/benefits.

No. Free housing means you have $0 housing expense. It is not treated as income.

Income shmincom. It is a benefit. Don't split hairs. If you are living in a house free of charge then it should be taken into consideration for calculating what your overall NEEDS are. There is a difference between someone with a place to live versus those who have NOTHING and nowhere to go.

Not correct. The person who lives on the street pays $0 rent. The person who lives with her parents pays $0 rent. There's no difference.

Medicaid and SNAP see them as having the same financial needs for food and medical care.

-former state benefits worker

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What? How is this welfare abuse OP? It sounds like your cousin is not a dependent, they have minor children, and they have very limited income. What is it that you want? For them to be homeless, too?

You suck, OP.

DP. You need to explain your housing situation when you apply for welfare. Free rent (in a $2m house or not) is a form of income/benefits.

No. Free housing means you have $0 housing expense. It is not treated as income.

Income shmincom. It is a benefit. Don't split hairs. If you are living in a house free of charge then it should be taken into consideration for calculating what your overall NEEDS are. There is a difference between someone with a place to live versus those who have NOTHING and nowhere to go.

Not correct. The person who lives on the street pays $0 rent. The person who lives with her parents pays $0 rent. There's no difference.

Medicaid and SNAP see them as having the same financial needs for food and medical care.

-former state benefits worker

So state benefits workers don’t count the household income, i.e. what the parents are making, in the eligibility calculations?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What? How is this welfare abuse OP? It sounds like your cousin is not a dependent, they have minor children, and they have very limited income. What is it that you want? For them to be homeless, too?

You suck, OP.

DP. You need to explain your housing situation when you apply for welfare. Free rent (in a $2m house or not) is a form of income/benefits.

No. Free housing means you have $0 housing expense. It is not treated as income.

No. Housing is a different program—Section 8.

Not sure what type of benefits OP’s relative is getting. To get TANF you need to show low income and that you’re a head of household or have a kid. I’m not positive but I’m pretty sure parental support (including free housing) is included in the calculation.

It's only included in the calculation if they receive cash money to pay their rent. And then a portion of the rent is considered as an expense. There are many types of housing assistance.

I feel like what's confusing the matter is that they look at INCOME and (some) EXPENSES.

If you don't pay rent, you don't have a housing expense. If Section 8 pays your landlord directly, it's not considered income to you. And the rent it covers isn't considered an expense.

If your mom gives you $300 prler month to cover your bills, that IS income. If she pays the utility companies directly, that is NOT income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What? How is this welfare abuse OP? It sounds like your cousin is not a dependent, they have minor children, and they have very limited income. What is it that you want? For them to be homeless, too?

You suck, OP.

DP. You need to explain your housing situation when you apply for welfare. Free rent (in a $2m house or not) is a form of income/benefits.

No. Free housing means you have $0 housing expense. It is not treated as income.

No. Housing is a different program—Section 8.

Not sure what type of benefits OP’s relative is getting. To get TANF you need to show low income and that you’re a head of household or have a kid. I’m not positive but I’m pretty sure parental support (including free housing) is included in the calculation.

Yes if they report money given by their parent, that is treated as income.
If their parent gives them a place to stay, i.e. free housing, having a no-cost place to stay is not treated as income. It is just treated as having $0 rent expense when they determine your eligibility.

At any rate, the OP’s cousin probably qualifies for the programs.

+1 you got it right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What? How is this welfare abuse OP? It sounds like your cousin is not a dependent, they have minor children, and they have very limited income. What is it that you want? For them to be homeless, too?

You suck, OP.

DP. You need to explain your housing situation when you apply for welfare. Free rent (in a $2m house or not) is a form of income/benefits.

No. Free housing means you have $0 housing expense. It is not treated as income.

Income shmincom. It is a benefit. Don't split hairs. If you are living in a house free of charge then it should be taken into consideration for calculating what your overall NEEDS are. There is a difference between someone with a place to live versus those who have NOTHING and nowhere to go.

Not correct. The person who lives on the street pays $0 rent. The person who lives with her parents pays $0 rent. There's no difference.

Medicaid and SNAP see them as having the same financial needs for food and medical care.

-former state benefits worker

So state benefits workers don’t count the household income, i.e. what the parents are making, in the eligibility calculations?

In OP's example, the cousin's income is counted. Not her parents' income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What? How is this welfare abuse OP? It sounds like your cousin is not a dependent, they have minor children, and they have very limited income. What is it that you want? For them to be homeless, too?

You suck, OP.

DP. You need to explain your housing situation when you apply for welfare. Free rent (in a $2m house or not) is a form of income/benefits.

No. Free housing means you have $0 housing expense. It is not treated as income.

Income shmincom. It is a benefit. Don't split hairs. If you are living in a house free of charge then it should be taken into consideration for calculating what your overall NEEDS are. There is a difference between someone with a place to live versus those who have NOTHING and nowhere to go.

Not correct. The person who lives on the street pays $0 rent. The person who lives with her parents pays $0 rent. There's no difference.

Medicaid and SNAP see them as having the same financial needs for food and medical care.

-former state benefits worker

So state benefits workers don’t count the household income, i.e. what the parents are making, in the eligibility calculations?

In OP's example, the cousin's income is counted. Not her parents' income.

Me again. And cousin is receiving food stamps for only herself and her kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What? How is this welfare abuse OP? It sounds like your cousin is not a dependent, they have minor children, and they have very limited income. What is it that you want? For them to be homeless, too?

You suck, OP.

DP. You need to explain your housing situation when you apply for welfare. Free rent (in a $2m house or not) is a form of income/benefits.

No. Free housing means you have $0 housing expense. It is not treated as income.

Income shmincom. It is a benefit. Don't split hairs. If you are living in a house free of charge then it should be taken into consideration for calculating what your overall NEEDS are. There is a difference between someone with a place to live versus those who have NOTHING and nowhere to go.

Not correct. The person who lives on the street pays $0 rent. The person who lives with her parents pays $0 rent. There's no difference.

Medicaid and SNAP see them as having the same financial needs for food and medical care.

-former state benefits worker

So state benefits workers don’t count the household income, i.e. what the parents are making, in the eligibility calculations?

In OP's example, the cousin's income is counted. Not her parents' income.

Ok, I’m one of the biggest fans of Social Security and SSDI you’ll find on this board. But it does seem to me that household, not personal, income should be the basis of the determination. That’s what SSDI does, and they also count in-kind things like living rent-free. In fact that can be disqualifying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What? How is this welfare abuse OP? It sounds like your cousin is not a dependent, they have minor children, and they have very limited income. What is it that you want? For them to be homeless, too?

You suck, OP.

DP. You need to explain your housing situation when you apply for welfare. Free rent (in a $2m house or not) is a form of income/benefits.

No. Free housing means you have $0 housing expense. It is not treated as income.

Income shmincom. It is a benefit. Don't split hairs. If you are living in a house free of charge then it should be taken into consideration for calculating what your overall NEEDS are. There is a difference between someone with a place to live versus those who have NOTHING and nowhere to go.

Not correct. The person who lives on the street pays $0 rent. The person who lives with her parents pays $0 rent. There's no difference.

Medicaid and SNAP see them as having the same financial needs for food and medical care.

-former state benefits worker

So state benefits workers don’t count the household income, i.e. what the parents are making, in the eligibility calculations?

In OP's example, the cousin's income is counted. Not her parents' income.

Ok, I’m one of the biggest fans of Social Security and SSDI you’ll find on this board. But it does seem to me that household, not personal, income should be the basis of the determination. That’s what SSDI does, and they also count in-kind things like living rent-free. In fact that can be disqualifying.

You are not correct about the household. A disabled adult who is eligible for SSI can receive the full benefit EVEN IF they live with their parents.

You're right about the in kind help for SSI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What? How is this welfare abuse OP? It sounds like your cousin is not a dependent, they have minor children, and they have very limited income. What is it that you want? For them to be homeless, too?

You suck, OP.

DP. You need to explain your housing situation when you apply for welfare. Free rent (in a $2m house or not) is a form of income/benefits.

No. Free housing means you have $0 housing expense. It is not treated as income.

Income shmincom. It is a benefit. Don't split hairs. If you are living in a house free of charge then it should be taken into consideration for calculating what your overall NEEDS are. There is a difference between someone with a place to live versus those who have NOTHING and nowhere to go.

Not correct. The person who lives on the street pays $0 rent. The person who lives with her parents pays $0 rent. There's no difference.

Medicaid and SNAP see them as having the same financial needs for food and medical care.

-former state benefits worker

So state benefits workers don’t count the household income, i.e. what the parents are making, in the eligibility calculations?

In OP's example, the cousin's income is counted. Not her parents' income.

Ok, I’m one of the biggest fans of Social Security and SSDI you’ll find on this board. But it does seem to me that household, not personal, income should be the basis of the determination. That’s what SSDI does, and they also count in-kind things like living rent-free. In fact that can be disqualifying.

You are incorrect. For my adult disabled son my income is not counted. Nor have they ever asked for my income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What? How is this welfare abuse OP? It sounds like your cousin is not a dependent, they have minor children, and they have very limited income. What is it that you want? For them to be homeless, too?

You suck, OP.

DP. You need to explain your housing situation when you apply for welfare. Free rent (in a $2m house or not) is a form of income/benefits.

No. Free housing means you have $0 housing expense. It is not treated as income.

Income shmincom. It is a benefit. Don't split hairs. If you are living in a house free of charge then it should be taken into consideration for calculating what your overall NEEDS are. There is a difference between someone with a place to live versus those who have NOTHING and nowhere to go.

Not correct. The person who lives on the street pays $0 rent. The person who lives with her parents pays $0 rent. There's no difference.

Medicaid and SNAP see them as having the same financial needs for food and medical care.

-former state benefits worker

So state benefits workers don’t count the household income, i.e. what the parents are making, in the eligibility calculations?

In OP's example, the cousin's income is counted. Not her parents' income.

Ok, I’m one of the biggest fans of Social Security and SSDI you’ll find on this board. But it does seem to me that household, not personal, income should be the basis of the determination. That’s what SSDI does, and they also count in-kind things like living rent-free. In fact that can be disqualifying.

NP. A family member taking pity on you and letting you live with them does not mean their income is your income. It’s a really simple concept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a lot of misinformation in this thread. To give you an example, I have a kid with profound intellectual disability. We are high income, but she is already eligible for Medicaid under a waiver for kids with disabilities. Now, there isn’t enough funding for this, so she is on an insanely long waitlist, but she is eligible. When she is 18, she will immediately qualify. Your cousin could have a mental health issue that qualifies her. You have no idea.

So, once my kid is 18, I will likely be paying for her food with SNAP and her healthcare through Medicaid, while she lives in my nice house and I drive a nice car. You can debate whether this is the right answer from a public policy perspective, but under current rules, she will qualify.

From my perspective, money is fungible and so by using those benefits, I can pay for other therapies, etc that are not funded for her. The reality is that even making more than $500k a year, we will never have enough money for her 24/7 care for the 40 plus years she could live after we die. Eventually, she will end up in a Medicaid funded facility.

This is shameful. There are low income families who actually need this money. It should not be for people like you with 500k income. How do you sleep at night?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What? How is this welfare abuse OP? It sounds like your cousin is not a dependent, they have minor children, and they have very limited income. What is it that you want? For them to be homeless, too?

You suck, OP.

DP. You need to explain your housing situation when you apply for welfare. Free rent (in a $2m house or not) is a form of income/benefits.

No. Free housing means you have $0 housing expense. It is not treated as income.

Income shmincom. It is a benefit. Don't split hairs. If you are living in a house free of charge then it should be taken into consideration for calculating what your overall NEEDS are. There is a difference between someone with a place to live versus those who have NOTHING and nowhere to go.

Not correct. The person who lives on the street pays $0 rent. The person who lives with her parents pays $0 rent. There's no difference.

Medicaid and SNAP see them as having the same financial needs for food and medical care.

-former state benefits worker

So state benefits workers don’t count the household income, i.e. what the parents are making, in the eligibility calculations?

In OP's example, the cousin's income is counted. Not her parents' income.

Ok, I’m one of the biggest fans of Social Security and SSDI you’ll find on this board. But it does seem to me that household, not personal, income should be the basis of the determination. That’s what SSDI does, and they also count in-kind things like living rent-free. In fact that can be disqualifying.

NP. A family member taking pity on you and letting you live with them does not mean their income is your income. It’s a really simple concept.

Thank you!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a lot of misinformation in this thread. To give you an example, I have a kid with profound intellectual disability. We are high income, but she is already eligible for Medicaid under a waiver for kids with disabilities. Now, there isn’t enough funding for this, so she is on an insanely long waitlist, but she is eligible. When she is 18, she will immediately qualify. Your cousin could have a mental health issue that qualifies her. You have no idea.

So, once my kid is 18, I will likely be paying for her food with SNAP and her healthcare through Medicaid, while she lives in my nice house and I drive a nice car. You can debate whether this is the right answer from a public policy perspective, but under current rules, she will qualify.

From my perspective, money is fungible and so by using those benefits, I can pay for other therapies, etc that are not funded for her. The reality is that even making more than $500k a year, we will never have enough money for her 24/7 care for the 40 plus years she could live after we die. Eventually, she will end up in a Medicaid funded facility.

This is shameful. There are low income families who actually need this money. It should not be for people like you with 500k income. How do you sleep at night?

Np. It's shameful that a disabled adult will be eligible for Medicaid and food stamps? Are you insane? She'll receive like $50- mayyyybe up to $300 per month MAX (probably less) in snap, and the food stamps program has never struggled for funds. And do you think someone who makes even $500,000 per year can afford the astronomical medical bills needed for a disabled adult, especially one living in a facility? Here's hoping you're just misreading the post and you aren't actually this cruel.