After my hearing Social Security Disability hearing yesterday, today we had our recertification interview by phone for our Food Stamps and Medicaid. We think we are still getting those for another 90 day period. Not really sure though nothing has changed on our end. However, we no longer qualify for TANF--Temporary Aide to Needy Families.
Apparently, under Texas law, since Sandi gave birth to Scott (instead of adopting him) and he is now 18 and out of High School because he graduated he no longer qualifies as a dependent child. He is now classified as an adult for their purposes even though he remains special needs, lives at home, and has no job or prospects for one at this time. If he had been adopted we could still have him qualify until age 21.
I don't begin to understand this one. The bottom line is the $275 we received at the first of the month that we used to pay the phone bill, drug stuff, and tide us over grocery wise till the middle of the month is gone. We also have to somehow pay back the benefits we received for this month as we should not have gotten that. Supposedly they will work with us on that as they understand repayment can be difficult. They stress using a credit card to pay it quickly.
As if we had any credit anywhere.
On one other fun fact after four hours on the phone today. If I am declared disabled by the ALJ then I would be supposedly eligible for some other state aide programs. What those programs/benefits are and whether they would help me, the folks would not explain or discuss. For Texas Food Stamps and medicaid purposes, an official finding of disability would mean I would be classified as Sandi's dependent child.
Kevin
This procrss id sll do degrading, and I know you are sick of it. I'm glad you're seeing it through, though. They hope by making it onerous, that you will give up, as if you had other options. Three to six months after two years is stupid and inhumane. Thirty minutes should be enough to say yes or no.
ReplyDeleteThe hearing itself was a hour. I thought I was going to die by the time it was over. I hurt so bad and I still had to drive home.
ReplyDeleteAs you know from seeing me, I can barely move and have real problems. I am sure there are scammers out there but I am not one of them. I just hope I proved my case to all and things will start going in the right direction.
Wait a minute -- YOU would qualify as Sandi's dependent child, but her CHILD doesn't qualify as her dependent child? Okay, I think my brain just went on strike. If it stays that way, maybe I should move to Texas and go into government. ... ?
ReplyDeleteI know, Marian! Somehow, an official diagnosis of being disabled by the ALJ/Social Security would cause me to somehow be classified as Sandi's dependent child while Scott still would not be makes no sense at all to me. I simply don't get it.
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