support

[mrsmomo]

Help!!! If anyone knows about this process please enlighten me....
Here's the situation father has been absent for five years although he lives ten minutes away. I am married to someone else and have another child. The four of us are on Medicaid as neither of our jobs supply health insurance. In order to receive benefits I am periodically required to go to child support enforcement. Nothing has ever come of this as I don't have an address or phone number for him or a ss # or anything but his name and birthdate. Today I ran into his sister who I have kept in touch with off and on, she informed me of a court date he has regarding child support in two days....

Now what, why have they not informed me? Does this even make sense and where could I find info on the court date

 

[CdnCarrie]

I'm confused.You know he lives 10 minutes away yet you can't figure out his address in all this time? Even by contacting a relative who lives in the area and asking?

 

[Colleen27]

I don't have any experience with FL but here in MI they don't necessarily notify the custodial parent of every hearing. Since strictly speaking I don't have to be present (the case will be decided by the judge based on ex's argument/circumstances) they don't send a notification for most of ex's court appearances. Which was really obnoxious when ex was seeking to modify a part of the order that we relied upon - him insuring DS because he was the only one working for an employer that offered benefits at the time. Usually the only notification I get is an after-the-fact notice of any changes that have been made.

 

[hereyago]

Not familiar with Fl child support, but here in Va.,I can access the case info. Last year, it showed my exh had a court date for back child support. However, I wasn't needed to appear.

 

[hereyago]

I am confused, why now would you need his ss? CS should all.ready have that and you should have a case number, therefore, not need that for recertification. Also, why not call CS and ask if THEY are taking him to court?

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

If you state you are on Medicare, Child Support is going after him to pay back your benefits. They are not going on your behalf therefore you were not informed.

Child Support will ask him if you have contact and information re: his insurance. If he has health insurance they may take your children by him off Medicare and put them on his insurance.

If you know where his sister is and or can get contact information I would advise you to do so. Good Luck!

 

[allison443]

Help!!! If anyone knows about this process please enlighten me....
Here's the situation father has been absent for five years although he lives ten minutes away. I am married to someone else and have another child. The four of us are on Medicaid as neither of our jobs supply health insurance. In order to receive benefits I am periodically required to go to child support enforcement. Nothing has ever come of this as I don't have an address or phone number for him or a ss # or anything but his name and birthdate. Today I ran into his sister who I have kept in touch with off and on, she informed me of a court date he has regarding child support in two days....

Now what, why have they not informed me? Does this even make sense and where could I find info on the court date

It sounds like the state is going after him since your kids are on medicaid. Generally it is a parent's responsibility to provide for their child before the taxpayers do. I hope you made sure you got his address and phone number from his sister who've you kept in touch with.

You could probably call the court house and ask about the calendar for that day. Sometimes it is online. You probably don't have to be there or you would have been given notice. Are you planning to go? Maybe you can start getting child support.

 

[mrsmomo]

His sister and him don't speak much because he's so irresponsible. From her I gathered that he's moved about three times in the last year and she's not sure where he is now but just found out he has another kid he didn't tell her about. That makes three for him. As far as me going to find him because he's ten minutes away I will not. He choose to stop calling his daughter for his own reasons I will not chase him down only to have him abandon my dd again. I'm hoping that it is for the insurance it just seemed very odd to me that they have had his name for seven years and now they decide to bring him to court

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

His sister and him don't speak much because he's so irresponsible. From her I gathered that he's moved about three times in the last year and she's not sure where he is now but just found out he has another kid he didn't tell her about. That makes three for him. As far as me going to find him because he's ten minutes away I will not. He choose to stop calling his daughter for his own reasons I will not chase him down only to have him abandon my dd again. I'm hoping that it is for the insurance it just seemed very odd to me that they have had his name for seven years and now they decide to bring him to court

I understand you are upset. I really do. But if you do not try to get the information for them and or if they find him and he can convince them you did you are risking your healthcare. The children do not need to know. He is 10 minutes away. You need health insurance, you may want to reconsider it. Just a thought. Sorry you are going through this it is never easy for anyone involved in these situations.

 

[mrsmomo]

I'm not really worried about health insurance I have been trying to get off Medicaid so that I can get Florida kid care but I don't make enough to qualify to pay for health insurance go figure. So if they take the Medicaid I can get the kid care sooooo much better!!! I'm really just trying to figure out what I can do to stay in the loop on court matters that pertain to my dds well being and future. I can't go to the court date because I don't know what room what judge what times and I will be at work.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

If you have a Child Support case worker and they are the ones taking him to court I would just call and ask for any updates they have after the court date. Many times they are adjourned numerous times before he would actually set foot in court. No need to waste that much time. Just give them a call and inquire. Do you get statements. I know in our state even in no money is changing hands a monthly statement is sent. It asks for any new info etc, but it would show if he was changed or paying Medicare.

 

[mrsmomo]

If you have a Child Support case worker and they are the ones taking him to court I would just call and ask for any updates they have after the court date. Many times they are adjourned numerous times before he would actually set foot in court. No need to waste that much time. Just give them a call and inquire. Do you get statements. I know in our state even in no money is changing hands a monthly statement is sent. It asks for any new info etc, but it would show if he was changed or paying Medicare.

That's part of the problem I have no case worker! In order to revive benefits in fl they send you every other year to the enforcement office, the last time I called two years ago I was told they have no information for me because they closed my case. Craziness, I think I would have been better off just not knowing, now I'm worried that it will effect my dd.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

That's part of the problem I have no case worker! In order to revive benefits in fl they send you every other year to the enforcement office, the last time I called two years ago I was told they have no information for me because they closed my case. Craziness, I think I would have been better off just not knowing, now I'm worried that it will effect my dd.

Please don't worry. It sounds like your ex does not have a stable income that would provide benefits. They will just take what they can to offset your benefits.

You said you prefer to get to the next type of insurance and if he sends in a little maybe that will allow you to get her on it. Think positive. Like I said it may take a year or so before he even goes. No need to upset yourself for all that time.

Deep breaths and remind yourself you do the best you can. No one can ask for more. Plus it looks like you have a trip planned. Think happy thoughts. It all goes by so quickly. Enjoy it now! Sorry if my posts put you on edge, I was just trying to make sense of what may be happening. I could be way off. Plus who knows, maybe it is for a child you don't even know about?

 

[Colleen27]

His sister and him don't speak much because he's so irresponsible. From her I gathered that he's moved about three times in the last year and she's not sure where he is now but just found out he has another kid he didn't tell her about. That makes three for him. As far as me going to find him because he's ten minutes away I will not. He choose to stop calling his daughter for his own reasons I will not chase him down only to have him abandon my dd again. I'm hoping that it is for the insurance it just seemed very odd to me that they have had his name for seven years and now they decide to bring him to court

Could it be that he's working a legit job now? Or applied for disability? It could be that something in his situation has changed to make the situation look like one that is worth pursuing now when it wasn't before, or something in internal policy has changed to make enforcement activities more aggressive even against "uncollectable" non-custodial parents.

I wouldn't worry about it. If they need you, you'll get a notice. If anything changes (ie a support order is established), you'll get a notice. You did what was asked of you by providing the information you have on your ex; let the system take it from there.

 

[mrsmomo]

Thank you for the replies I think I'm getting myself worked up about nothing but if nothing else it was good to put it out there and get feedback. My favorite one is think happy thoughts lol, I know it will all work out just fine but I am good at worked up about nothing

 

[Lady V]

crazy thought here but could it be child support for a different child? As in...not yours?

 

[mrsmomo]

crazy thought here but could it be child support for a different child? As in...not yours?

That's what I asked his sister apparently the letter has my dds name on it but at this point anything is possible, I'm secretly hoping this is the case or that he has a real job for the first time in years and as someone posted Medicaid may be reimbursing themselves.

 

[kellyg403]

crazy thought here but could it be child support for a different child? As in...not yours?

This is what I was thinking as well. Possibly the latest child.

OP, if the mom of the new baby is also on Medicaid and other services, she could have filed a c/s case as well.

In VA and NC, when you are on Public Assistance of any kind, you are required to also file a C/S claim for the missing parent. My guess is since you had no address or ssn to give them, the new mom made sure to do that. It was a matter of time before it happened to you dd's dad.

My dd goes through the state for her c/s. She periodically will get a letter than the case has been reviewed for some reason and if there are any changes. She has never been asked to go to court.

Kelly

 

[mrsmomo]

This is what I was thinking as well. Possibly the latest child.

OP, if the mom of the new baby is also on Medicaid and other services, she could have filed a c/s case as well.

In VA and NC, when you are on Public Assistance of any kind, you are required to also file a C/S claim for the missing parent. My guess is since you had no address or ssn to give them, the new mom made sure to do that. It was a matter of time before it happened to you dd's dad.

My dd goes through the state for her c/s. She periodically will get a letter than the case has been reviewed for some reason and if there are any changes. She has never been asked to go to court.

Kelly

That is good to hear I don't want her involved in any unnecessary drama. I was thinking the same about his two other kids maybe their mom went but as far as I know she hasn't gone to the state. I told his sister maybe he has another child that she doesn't know about and all the information finally got linked in the system.

I was going to wait until she was ten to discuss her missing dad with her. The last time we discussed it she was five and asked to please never have to see him again it broke my heart. But she's nine now so maybe its just that time

 

[wvjules]

Crazy thought...how are you on medicaid but can take two trips to Disney in one year?