Medicaid Anyone?

[PrinceShawnsMom]

I'm due in a few weeks & had concerns about receiving medicaid. My son & I both receive medicaid & food stamps, even though we live with my boyfriend who receives BCBS through his job & makes to much to qualify for any state aid. When our baby came, we planned on putting her on his insurance so he wouldn't have to be on child support. I'm worried about my food stamps though...

Has anyone known about or been in a sinilar situation & onows what will happen? Before the pregnancy on paperwork I said we lived together but ate separate & that allowed his finances not to be included. Because we will have a baby together will they force his finances on my case?

Sorry it's so long, just really stressing about this situation because I refuse to lie to the state/government.

[PrinceShawnsMom]

@specialmom thanks! ♡ I try.lol After talking it over with him again, we finally came to an agreement-mostly he just gave in because he knows I won't do it. We've been going over how we're going to get by just in case the worst happens. 5 more weeks & we shall see, so fingers crossed!

[specialmom]

You're a smart lady with good ethics!  I love that!!  In my state, they 'look' for those trying to fool the system.  The idea is to take what you need (although we always need more and there can be legitimate debate about how much is needed) and leave the rest for another person who is also in need.  If everyone works the system to get more, there is never going to be enough.  If you are honest and fair, I think that comes back to you.  

And my state makes going after child support a first priority in decisions regarding benefits.  They are pretty tough on that but again, it is just to spread the dollars farther.  

I think it is wonderful you are encouraging your boyfriend to be more honest in life and do the right thing even when others aren't.  Good for you!  Stay this way, it's a wonderful quality!!

[PrinceShawnsMom]

@specialmom Yes, that is something I worry about. & I think the same way in finding it hard to believe people in a relationship don't eat together, that's why I asked because so many tell me it's fine. I keep telling him it would better for them just to collect child support-in hopes that because the baby would be on his insurance they wouldn't ask for much. But he constantly tells me what other people do, saying they live together & all that but the father isn't on child support & the mother still receives all benefits she did before. I don't understand it & would rather go without than get in trouble for lieing.

[KeziaBrightsea]

No problem! I was worried too and so I got a meeting with my worker and she explained it all to me. Luckily for me, I was planning on going to college in January and I can get my benefits back then since I'll have to drastically reduce my work hours so even as a unit, we should be fine.

[PrinceShawnsMom]

@keziabrightsea Our situations sound just about the same & that is EXACTLY what I was thinking & worried about. THANK YOU!

[specialmom]

should *not* (left that word out).  sorry for typo.  

[specialmom]

Hm.  Your caseworker is helping you do a work around of the situation to receive greater benefits?  Where I live, they do investigate a bit to make sure that the money is allotted appropriately.  A single woman who does not have the father of her children living with her is in a different financial situation than one who does.  They also attempt to collect child support from the father before giving any benefits.  This is all done not to take anything away from someone but just to make the dollars go further to help more people.  Because in reality, it is hard to believe a couple lives together as a family and don't share food together.  But if your caseworker says to exclude him, then you can try it.  I just know in my state, there is follow up that can be done at any time to determine these things.

No judgment or thoughts on what you should or should do by the way.  I just don't want you to get hit with fraud.  good luck

[KeziaBrightsea]

I was told that once our son is born,they are including my fiance's income with mine whether it's the truth or not. Otherwise they will go after my fiance for child support. We just recently put our income together (and were living as roommates even though we were together) so I didn't falsify any documents and that is what you can explain to them. You really do buy food separate so they can't get on you for that. On the negative, once baby is born and if he puts his name on the certificate (which I'm assuming he is) they will include all four of you as a family unite whether you like it or not. I'm getting my food stamps and my personal Medicaid taken away because we make literally like $50 over before taxes. It definitely stinks.
But you'll be fine I'm sure. I would suggest talking to your case worker about what might happen. Your situation might be completely different from mine. Good luck!

[RockRose]

If she's your caseworker,  maybe that will still hold true and this won't be an issue at all.  

Best wishes.

[PrinceShawnsMom]

@rockrose I'm not affended or thinking your crabby. I asked for advice h said I appreciate yours, even if it isn't what I want to hear. But my worker was the one who said he didn't have to be identified as a member of the household because we don't eat together. I went through the same before I moved in with him. I lived with my aunt & uncle & she said they are just providing housing, not necessarily sharing food to be considered a unit.

[RockRose]

This whole discussion is about determining household income,  MAGI.  

When you live as a family,  and share those expenses as a family,  he is a family member whether he sits down at the table and eats with you.  He is a member of your family unit.

I'm sorry if I came off sounding crabby,  I'm not feeling crabby.  I'm just telling you this may be an issue.  

He is the father of one of your children,  and you all live together,  so he is a  member of your household for their purposes and not a roommate.

[PrinceShawnsMom]

@mrsevans0o thanks, I understand it.lol Others at his job who are in similar situations was telling him not to put the baby on his insurance until about a month after so the birthing bills wouldn't go on his insurance, possibly resulting in a hefty copay. I was concerned thinking as soon as shes born they would force me to file for medicaid or name him as the father so they would go after his insurance immediately.
This whole thing is a headache . Lol

[hersheyma]

One thing I do known is what rockrose said about telling them you falsified documents,  you don't have to do that, you have a boyfriend not a husband and him taking care of his child shouldn't affect your benefits (not sure) whenever your child is added just inform your caseworker

[KoriAnn]

No,  that totally makes sense. If you guys aren't legally married I agree,  you could just keep on going about how you are.
They state will be happy about your baby having their own insurance n_-
Less for them to pay.

[KoriAnn]

No,  that totally makes sense. If you guys aren't legally married I agree,  you could just keep on going about how you are.
They state will be happy about your baby having their own insurance n_-
Less for them to pay.

[PrinceShawnsMom]

@Koriann thanks so much! Many people have been telling me that but it's still scares me becasue I don't like to lie or 'bend the truth' no matter the consequences. When we 1st moved in together I didn't belive friends/family telling me he didn't have to be considered in my "household" until my worker told me. I am terrified of getting in trouble with the state/government.

[MrsEvans0o]

@roserose YOU DIDNT GIVE ANY ADVISE!! why did you even leave a comment??

I have food stamps and medicaid too. Whenever it's time to renew your food stamps you can still do it the same way you have been doing it. It should be fine. Just when its time to renew don't renew the medicaid for your baby. They won't ask questions. I accidently let my ebt and medicaid expire because I didn't renew it on time and when I finally re applied I only applied for food stamps. And later on I re applied for medicaid for my kids. That's how I know they won't ask anything bc when I re applied for the food stamps they didn't mention medicaid. This probably sounds confusing lol but I hope it helps

[PrinceShawnsMom]

@Koriann thanks. That's what some people have told me but it doesn't make sense to me.
@rockrose I appreciate the advice. But I didn't lie previously. We really don't eat together-weird, but he works over 40hrs weekly & is in school fulltime. He's barely home except sometime after modnight, then leaves 1st thing in the morning. For whatever reason he never eats breakfast, & he's a chef so he eats at work. The 1 night he has off we don't have dinner together because I have a 4hr class. So I was being completely honest - he buys what little food he does eat out of his pocket. I don't get much & I spend most on my sons lunch & snacks for school. I was just asking because now we're having a child, I assumed they would force his income on my case.... (?)

[KoriAnn]

I claimed myself seperate from my fiance and I,  along with his mother when she lived with us. They said that was fine,  because we in fact were very independant.
But I'm not sure how it is where you live..  I am in NC.  
It isn't a lie, just tell them the situation and they will help you out the best they can.

[RockRose]

The problem is you already have lied to the state/government,  in saying that you eat separately and basically called him a 'roommate' for purposes of determining your household.

So basically you're going to have to go back to them,  and say you falsified your other forms and in fact you two are a couple and you are a household of 3,  soon to be a household of 4.

I don't know whether you relationships came about after you filed your original welfare forms and so wouldn't be an issue,  or whether you signed and swore that the government forms were true and correct while they weren't.  

Maybe someone who has been through this will answer and make it clear whether this is a problem.

  

[KoriAnn]

I think you can still be seperate. Like you can only claim your baby on your taxes because you aren't married.
But I am not completely sure..  Good luck!