Lying on medicaid application to get benifits (child support, baby, support)

[miasmommy]

This topic sortof fits here but I know many of you more than on any other forum.

One of my brothers just found out his girlfriend is pregnant. He is 34 and she is I believe 25ish. Neither has medical insurance. My brother was just laid off and he has been doing temp work for years so unemployment isn't an option? I helped his girlfriend get the application for medical coverage for the pregnancy. She probably qualifies for food stamps (for now) and WIC since she cleans houses and will not be able to do it for all of her pregnancy.

So here is the part that really pi**es me off! Her friend AND her mother's boyfriend are telling them that he shouldn't put his name on the birth certificate because she can get more benifits and "THEY will come after him."

I totally believe these people telling him/her this are complete and utter idiots. However, my brother is not the brightest bulb in the box and he is confused as to why they would tell him this if it isn't true.

I've explained and pleaded with him to do it honestly and correctly and to put his name on there. I understand ALL the reasons for doing it the "correct" way and have told both of them.

Can someone provide me with some links to show him from the government or something proving the kind of trouble they could get into or provide some personal stories? I'd like to show it to them.

I found a couple of articles in the Sun Times library but nothing significant. I'd like them to see that if he doesn't go on the bc that he will have no say in the baby's life, the mother can just leave at any time, that if they lie and use only her income to get benifits they will not only get very little but they are risking getting caught and going to jail and paying fines and paying it back and ............They will STILL seek to find the father to pay child support since she is asking the state for money thus getting him in even more trouble.

Help!!!! Links!!!! Help me get my brother and girlfriend to do the right thing

[k101608]

I'm sorry to hear about your situation... here is the story...

First it doesn't matter if he is put on the birth certificate or not. To get approved for Food Stamps they go by household income. Do they live together?

If your brother's girlfriend puts down that she doesn't live with the father they will come after him for child support and keep in mind that she will not get all the money your brother pays because Food Stamp will keep their share. It sound to me like they would already qualify for food stamps especially if they are living together no reason to lie.

PS I would worry more about this senerio more when the baby is born because that is when they really check... baby's father, living situation, etc...

Here is a link
The Columbus Dispatch : 8 men accused of food-stamp abuse

Good luck!

[LML]

It is hard to know what could sway the actions of someone who is willing to brand her child as having no father just so that she could possibly get more money.

[k101608]

Originally Posted by LML

It is hard to know what could sway the actions of someone who is willing to brand her child as having no father just so that she could possibly get more money.

This is sooo true...
There is no reason to do this...

[deerislesmile]

The only reason he shouldn't put his name on that certificate should be if he doubts that it's his child. Claiming paternity protects HIS rights to this child, and does not have ANY impact on whether or not they qualify for welfare programs. They will not "get more benefits" if he doesn't claim paternity, only if tehy choose to lie about the fact that they live together. If she gets $400 a month in TANF/AFDC, the state will be coming after him for that $400, UNLESS he is the child's father and living in the home- there is usually a provision that if 2 parents are in the home and the income is still low enough to qualify for programs, none of that TANF $$ would have to be repaid to the state. But if she is trying to list him as an absentee parent, he will owe the state.

[miasmommy]

Originally Posted by k101608

This is sooo true...
There is no reason to do this...

That is what I am saying!!! There is NO reason, money or no money to do such a thing.

They both aren't that bright and are not out to make a buck. They have really ignorant people around them telling them to do this.

They do NOT live together as of now. They plan on living together in the future. She lives with a Vet who lets her live for free in exchange for cleaning his home and doing his laundrey and shopping. He just moved in my parent's basement since the temp job lost it's "ummph."

I don't want to put down their character and/or say how they should have been more careful. I just need some info to counter what their idiot friends are telling them.

So it's by income no matter what?? Do they ask what the father contributes if they don't live together?

I was told how stupid I was by the same people for reporting both of my hubby's jobs on the application!!! Why would I risk anything for a hundred bucks? And if the numbers show I DON'T qualify for help I'm pretty sure that means we CAN afford to pay ourselves

[k101608]

Originally Posted by miasmommy

That is what I am saying!!! There is NO reason, money or no money to do such a thing.

They both aren't that bright and are not out to make a buck. They have really ignorant people around them telling them to do this.

They do NOT live together as of now. They plan on living together in the future. She lives with a Vet who lets her live for free in exchange for cleaning his home and doing his laundrey and shopping. He just moved in my parent's basement since the temp job lost it's "ummph."

I don't want to put down their character and/or say how they should have been more careful. I just need some info to counter what their idiot friends are telling them.

So it's by income no matter what?? Do they ask what the father contributes if they don't live together?

I was told how stupid I was by the same people for reporting both of my hubby's jobs on the application!!! Why would I risk anything for a hundred bucks? And if the numbers show I DON'T qualify for help I'm pretty sure that means we CAN afford to pay ourselves

They will ask what sort of incomes she is getting and she could put down that your brother contributes but it doesn't matter to Food Stamp. If they aren't living together they make your brother pay child support so Food Stamps can take their cut.

If they do end up living together with their current situation they will qualify no need to lie and your brother wouldn't have to worry about them coming after him because they live together.

[*Danielle*]

If he wants to guarantee his future involvement with his child, he better put his name on it...

Increased benifits or the possibility that she could be a total *itch and take the child from him with no strings attached...and he would have to jump through loops to prove paternity. Seen it happen to good guys.

[NC~Mom]

First things first.....he should get a paternity test.

[NC~Mom]

Originally Posted by k101608

I'm sorry to hear about your situation... here is the story...

First it doesn't matter if he is put on the birth certificate or not. To get approved for Food Stamps they go by household income. Do they live together?

If your brother's girlfriend puts down that she doesn't live with the father they will come after him for child support and keep in mind that she will not get all the money your brother pays because Food Stamp will keep their share. It sound to me like they would already qualify for food stamps especially if they are living together no reason to lie.

PS I would worry more about this senerio more when the baby is born because that is when they really check... baby's father, living situation, etc...

Here is a link
The Columbus Dispatch : 8 men accused of food-stamp abuse

Good luck!

Here in NC...the bolded statement is not true....the only thing that must be payed back to the state out of CS is cash benefits...such a Workfirst...etc.
Food Stamps or Medicaid do not have to be payed back to the state once CS is received.