Child Support, and Government Assistance?

I just a letter in the mail that I need to call DHS and figure out my CS stuff. It said that I had filed saying I wanted to receive CS, and I didn't.

When you receive Food Stamps, WIC, and Medicaid and the BD is NOT in the picture, do they automatically sign you up (for lack of a better term) for CS?

Also, if I deny CS, will my assistance be cut? Because I know when you get CS, the state gets money before you do and if I deny it I am wondering if that is telling them that I don't NEED the CS, which may lead them to believe that I don't NEED the other assistance, which I do.

The reason I don't want it is 1-BD is in jail, and 2-he wants nothing to do with me, or DS and I want nothing to do with him. I am in school, and I am going to make a life for DS and I all on my own.

They told me to call before July 17th, so I am going to call them Tuesday. I just wanted to know anyone's thoughts or insight on this if it has happened to you?

TIA- Post & Run.

Here if you aren't married and you are on some type of assistance they set up a court hearing for it no matter what. I went to it and said I did not want to seek CS and we would handle it between ourselves. That was that. I still get assistance.

In TX, if you want Medicaid for yourself or any type of cash assistance for you/your child, you have to open up a CS support case. Other states do it for SNAP/Food Stamps too. If you decline to open a CS case they can deny you the benefits for yourself, but the child will still receive benefits. It varies by state though.

Since he is in jail, you can say that you don't want to persue it becasue you are scared of him.

But generally, yes, the state will go after him even if you don't want to. The child isn't the states responsiblility

They automatically send your info to CS and if you decline to file, they can turn off your benefits. Here in my state at least. Because it's like you're turning down money that could be used to fund your kids and taking it from the state instead. Same with if your BD has insurance. Your kids have to be on it before they can receive Medicaid.

But that's my state.

I know here if you want assistance, they will pursue CS for you.

In Florida they made me file through them for CS even though my daughter's dad was paying me faithfully every month. They told me if I didn't file then I wouldn't get benefits. I think a lot of states are like that. But if you explain your situation they might let it go.

i am pretty sure that in michigan if you do not file for CS they will cut your benefits (unless you are married).

my aunt was on medicaid cause she had a smurfload of health problems going on. after about a month of her being on she got a letter like yours, asking her to file for CS. she called her working and told her she did not want to file because her BD was the sole provider for both her and her girls (he was the only one working) and that he was already paying well over his half for them. Her worker said it didn't matter, and because they were not married she had to file or would no longer get benefits.

Here if you put on the application that BD is not in the picture they will send papers for CS. It's happened to my husband when his ex tried to lie on her application for Food Stamps. When they were together she put that he was not in the picture and they sent him papers for CS. IDK how it works where you are though.

I have Medicaid and WIC for myself and future child and I didn't have to open a CS case. I live in TX. We aren't married although I do call him my husband. They do have on file that we live together and he is helping pay for things but we had to both show are check stubs and such to show them I did need assistance.

Thanks for all the info guys  

It all seems pretty much the same except for a few of you. I will definitely be calling them on Tuesday, and finding out what I need to do.

The thing is, is that he is in jail for over $24,000 in backed child support right now.

I hope I don't have to accept any CS from him because he's worthless. Been arrested 2 times in 6 months.  

Thanks again everyone!