Not real sure as to why my sister in law should even file for child support now

[JohnDaleswife]

My sister in law is a single mom, works a job and does receive government assistance. She has a very nice low income apartment and I mean it is nice. She also gets a food stamp allotment each month and Georgia Medicaid for her child.

Even with the help of government assistance, she can barely make ends meet, even though she tries. So me and my husband were to the point that she is going to have to file for child support. Her daughters father is a dead beat, but he does work and keeps a job. The child is three.

But last night at work my co-workers informed me that any child support she would receive will count as income, therefore her rent payment would go up and her food stamp allotment would go down. So I am now torn as to why in the world she would even need to file for it. It doesn't seem as if it will help her that much financially now. And the same thing would happen too if she were to get a higher paying job or increase the amount of hours worked.

Am I wrong, or do I have a valid concern here? I am so very discouraged with all this. Thanks for reading.

 

[SirDuff]

Why should she apply? Because the child's father (rather than tax payers) should be supporting his child if able.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

I don't know how Georgia's assistance plans work but I think in NY you have to at least try to get child support from the other parent before receiving any government assistance. Once that is done and if there is no assistance to be had, then the single parent can be considered for child support (I would guess). This makes logical sense. What if the baby-daddy is a billionaire on the books and just isn't paying his due share? The government wants to know this before they give assistance to the mother and child (or will pursue this to be reimbursed by the deadbeat parent). Again, I don't know exactly how this works but if the mother and child are due support from the father, why should the government automatically give assistance to them? That's just my logical reasoning ... and I may be giving the government too much credit in the logic department.

 

[MichiganKris]

I think that you (your sister-in-law) should be checking with someone in Georgia on their laws. It seems to me that she should be going after him for child support.

 

[RitaE]

Why should she apply? Because the child's father (rather than tax payers) should be supporting his child if able.

That really says it all. I'm actually a little surprised the State of Georgia hasn't forced the issue of the child's biological father contributing before now but maybe I'm just too optimistic about welfare reforms.

I realize that this isn't your situation and you are right now kind of trying to process how it works and not stating an opinion. But at the base level what you are really saying is a form of: "Why should anybody work when they could just have government benefits?"

 

[Disneyliscious]

But last night at work my co-workers informed me that any child support she would receive will count as income, therefore her rent payment would go up and her food stamp allotment would go down. So I am now torn as to why in the world she would even need to file for it.

Because its the dads responsibility to financially support his half of raising the child, not the taxpayers.

 

[TwoMisfits]

My sister in law is a single mom, works a job and does receive government assistance. She has a very nice low income apartment and I mean it is nice. She also gets a food stamp allotment each month and Georgia Medicaid for her child.

Even with the help of government assistance, she can barely make ends meet, even though she tries. So me and my husband were to the point that she is going to have to file for child support. Her daughters father is a dead beat, but he does work and keeps a job. The child is three.

But last night at work my co-workers informed me that any child support she would receive will count as income, therefore her rent payment would go up and her food stamp allotment would go down. So I am now torn as to why in the world she would even need to file for it. It doesn't seem as if it will help her that much financially now. And the same thing would happen too if she were to get a higher paying job or increase the amount of hours worked.

Am I wrong, or do I have a valid concern here? I am so very discouraged with all this. Thanks for reading.

Reasons why she should file...
1. It's the right thing to do. The taxpayer should not be subsidizing the costs of what the father should rightfully be paying.
2. It's the safest thing to do. Taxpayer funded benefits could be gone tomorrow. No one is guaranteed low income housing, food stamps, or Medicaid. Eligibility could be restricted at any time and the benefit could be eliminated at any time for anyone. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT ANY STATE WELFARE PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE, especially as states and the federal government both face huge debts and deficits. HOWEVER, child support orders from a court are GUARANTEED to last until the child reaches 18 (unless a parent passes away). Since Georgia is a shared cost state, this arrangement would also ensure that the father of the child would pay his fair share throughout the child's life (since the order can be amended if someone really starts to do well in life).
3. It's the legally required thing to do. TANF in Georgia REQUIRES those receiving assistance to cooperate with the Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Child Support Services in order to receive TANF benefits unless good cause can be established. Just b/c this apparently hasn't been checked yet for her family does NOT mean your sister-in-law might not get caught later for avoiding this and LOSE ALL HER BENEFITS IMMEDIATELY. Being right with the man is never a mistake if the man is giving you benefits.

I could go on...but she really needs to do this yesterday if she doesn't want to risk all of what she has right now...

 

[cvjw]

Because as a taxpayer of the State of Georgia, it would be great if people would actually support THEIR kids without looking to me to pay more taxes to support them I have kids of my OWN to support.

 

[Sandi]

This reminds me of how things worked with my college roommate 35 years ago. I was paying my own way, with the help of my parents. I had a job and was working as many hours as I could. My roommate had a work-study job and her financial aid was reduced because she had income from the job that the university found for her. It was not a 100% off set, but she quit her job so she would get all of the financial aid. That ticked me off then.

 

[afan]

This reminds me of how things worked with my college roommate 35 years ago. I was paying my own way, with the help of my parents. I had a job and was working as many hours as I could. My roommate had a work-study job and her financial aid was reduced because she had income from the job that the university found for her. It was not a 100% off set, but she quit her job so she would get all of the financial aid. That ticked me off then.

It doesn't work that way now, or at least now when I was in college in the late 90s. I was offered x amount for work study my freshman year but couldn't get a work study job, there just weren't many. My fa didn't go up because of it and since I didn't use it I never had it offered again.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Here in MO, child support is not considered income, but alimony is. As a result, I had a coworker who had to pay alimony to his ex while she was required to pay child support to him. They couldn't just offset the amount, each had to write the other a check. Goofy deal. What's more, when she fell thousands of dollars behind on her child support, he was still forced to continue paying her the alimony to avoid trouble with the court.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I here ya about it being what she should do, no doubt. It costs a lot to keep others up. But I am quite certain she won't unless it was going to benefit her finanicialy. But she doesn't receive TANIF at all, never has. I do think that is the only assistance that requires child support be filed.

What I am most discouraged about is how the government has made it to the point where, if she and others in similar circumstances were to make a little more money, it would be of hardly any benefit what so ever.

Her apartment she has is so nice and super cute. About 3-4 years old. It's lovely. There is a work requirement there in order to stay. They will evict you if you don't keep a job. But I think her rent is less than $200 a month. Quite certain of that. There is absolutely no reason for her to want to leave there. And I am glad she does have a nice place, but there's no incentive to make more money. Just kinda discouraged about the future. That's all.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

It doesn't work that way now, or at least now when I was in college in the late 90s. I was offered x amount for work study my freshman year but couldn't get a work study job, there just weren't many. My fa didn't go up because of it and since I didn't use it I never had it offered again.

Ya, we are putting a child through college with zero government aid. Lottery helps a lot, but still a couple thousand a year OOP.

 

[Bebella]

I'm surprised that the state didn't require her to file for child support from the father before they would offer assistance. Check with the laws in Georgia, since the child support may not count as "income," and wouldn't affect her rent payment.

But she should be asking for child support, since he should be financially supporting his child if he is able.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

Well when she did apply for the government housing she was required to the name the father of the child. She thought then that they would force her to go after support. But nothing else came of it. Child support is considered income in the state of Georgia. Medicaid, WIC, Food Stamps, government housing do not force the order, as of now, but TANIF will.

 

[barkley]

My sister in law is a single mom, works a job and does receive government assistance. She has a very nice low income apartment and I mean it is nice. She also gets a food stamp allotment each month and Georgia Medicaid for her child.

Even with the help of government assistance, she can barely make ends meet, even though she tries. So me and my husband were to the point that she is going to have to file for child support. Her daughters father is a dead beat, but he does work and keeps a job. The child is three.

But last night at work my co-workers informed me that any child support she would receive will count as income, therefore her rent payment would go up and her food stamp allotment would go down. So I am now torn as to why in the world she would even need to file for it. It doesn't seem as if it will help her that much financially now. And the same thing would happen too if she were to get a higher paying job or increase the amount of hours worked.

Am I wrong, or do I have a valid concern here? I am so very discouraged with all this. Thanks for reading.

I here ya about it being what she should do, no doubt. It costs a lot to keep others up. But I am quite certain she won't unless it was going to benefit her finanicialy. But she doesn't receive TANIF at all, never has. I do think that is the only assistance that requires child support be filed.

What I am most discouraged about is how the government has made it to the point where, if she and others in similar circumstances were to make a little more money, it would be of hardly any benefit what so ever.

Her apartment she has is so nice and super cute. About 3-4 years old. It's lovely. There is a work requirement there in order to stay. They will evict you if you don't keep a job. But I think her rent is less than $200 a month. Quite certain of that. There is absolutely no reason for her to want to leave there. And I am glad she does have a nice place, but there's no incentive to make more money. Just kinda discouraged about the future. That's all.

I'm retired from administering these programs, but I believe it still holds true that there are TREMENDOUD incentives for recipients to 'make more money'. a portion of the child support that's received by the government on behalf of the recipient is passed on to them is generally not counted against food stamps (used to be the first $50, not sure what it is now), and earnings do not count dollar for dollar against a benefit.

as for Medicaid type programs-it's can be more cost effective for a government agency to pay through an absent parent's employer the cost of medical coverage for a child vs. carrying the child on a government program (had MANY cases this was done on in the unit I supervised). sometimes it's even found that the absent parent could be covering their child for zero cost under their medical insurance so that child support order can be written up to ensure it's done (in most cases MUCH better insurance for the child/zero cost to taxpayers).


the incentive to make more money is to become self reliant so that no one is making rules about how you have to live your life, what decisions you have to make on pursuing other sources of income.....but the greater incentive (imho) in this type of situation is to set an example for the child-the statistics do not lie, generational public assistance receipt occurs most often when children grow up in it in a manner in which they don't see/know that it can be worked out of.

 

[barkley]

My sister in law is a single mom, works a job and does receive government assistance. She has a very nice low income apartment and I mean it is nice. She also gets a food stamp allotment each month and Georgia Medicaid for her child.

Even with the help of government assistance, she can barely make ends meet, even though she tries. So me and my husband were to the point that she is going to have to file for child support. Her daughters father is a dead beat, but he does work and keeps a job. The child is three.

But last night at work my co-workers informed me that any child support she would receive will count as income, therefore her rent payment would go up and her food stamp allotment would go down. So I am now torn as to why in the world she would even need to file for it. It doesn't seem as if it will help her that much financially now. And the same thing would happen too if she were to get a higher paying job or increase the amount of hours worked.

Am I wrong, or do I have a valid concern here? I am so very discouraged with all this. Thanks for reading.

I here ya about it being what she should do, no doubt. It costs a lot to keep others up. But I am quite certain she won't unless it was going to benefit her finanicialy. But she doesn't receive TANIF at all, never has. I do think that is the only assistance that requires child support be filed.

What I am most discouraged about is how the government has made it to the point where, if she and others in similar circumstances were to make a little more money, it would be of hardly any benefit what so ever.

Her apartment she has is so nice and super cute. About 3-4 years old. It's lovely. There is a work requirement there in order to stay. They will evict you if you don't keep a job. But I think her rent is less than $200 a month. Quite certain of that. There is absolutely no reason for her to want to leave there. And I am glad she does have a nice place, but there's no incentive to make more money. Just kinda discouraged about the future. That's all.

I'm retired from administering these programs, but I believe it still holds true that there are TREMENDOUD incentives for recipients to 'make more money'. a portion of the child support that's received by the government on behalf of the recipient is passed on to them is generally not counted against food stamps (used to be the first $50, not sure what it is now), and earnings do not count dollar for dollar against a benefit.

as for Medicaid type programs-it's can be more cost effective for a government agency to pay through an absent parent's employer the cost of medical coverage for a child vs. carrying the child on a government program (had MANY cases this was done on in the unit I supervised). sometimes it's even found that the absent parent could be covering their child for zero cost under their medical insurance so that child support order can be written up to ensure it's done (in most cases MUCH better insurance for the child/zero cost to taxpayers).


the incentive to make more money is to become self reliant so that no one is making rules about how you have to live your life, what decisions you have to make on pursuing other sources of income.....but the greater incentive (imho) in this type of situation is to set an example for the child-the statistics do not lie, generational public assistance receipt occurs most often when children grow up in it in a manner in which they don't see/know that it can be worked out of.

 

[aaarcher86]

Is there no yearly limit for programs like this?

 

[Disneyliscious]

She thought then that they would force her to go after support. But nothing else came of it.

It can take a year or two before he and her even get notified. The courts are backlogged.

 

[bababear_50]

Here in Ontario Canada
Child support is not considered income, it is just the amount the court sets to be paid by the parent who usually does not have full time custodial care if the child. If the parents were together that parent would naturally be contributing to the day to day expenses for that child.
Somehow dads and some moms seem to forget their obligations to their kids.
We have a very aggressive F.R.O (Family Responsibility Office) here that tracks parents not making their support payments. Drivers licenses can be suspended,wages can be garnished,trade licenses suspended,jail time, with holding of tax returns, etc can be used to enforce payment.
My ex racked up ten of thousands in back payments and eventually he had to pay up. While I never asked or received any gov support it was good to know it was there if needed. I just bucked up and went out and worked full time Mon to Friday and then part time on the weekends for 16 years. Thank-goodness for my family's support. My 3 sons are now well educated, caring adults and I take pride in knowing that I did it without gov help.
Sometimes we just have to do the right thing,
if it were my sister in-law I would encourage her to seek legal advise and pursue financial support from the child's father.
One thing I will mention is that there are a million and one ways in which people will "avoid" child support payments,,,yes it is sad. Please continue to support your sister inlaw-because omg raising kids alone is terrifying,difficult and at times very lonely.

Best wishes to your sister inlaw and her child
Hugs Mel


resource
Ontario Canada
http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/familyResponsibility/