dooper

This is just a hypothetical question...it isnt about me !

If you were a female with a child in the US and you left your husband/split up/got divorced..would you get any kind of state aid in the form of cash/housing/medical whatever..?

Presumably there are regulations to make your husband pay but what would he be compelled to pay for?

Rete

I was in that situation 30 odd years ago. The court awards child support payments based on what the father can afford. In my case the judge said during the session, I will not authorize these payments until you go to social services and sign on because it is a known fact that fathers will stop paying after a while and you will be back here in court.

So the arrangement was that his payments went to thru the court and the court sent it to social services and I got a "welfare" check for that amount each month. The judge was correct. Deadbeat stopped paying 8 months into the order. SS then went after him for reimbursement and they did get it.

ian-mstm

Is the female in question an illegal alien? A USC? A PR? Someone waiting for adjustment to PR?


Of course!

Ian

dooper

The person in question now has USC.

OK its a real person I'm talking about but it isnt me or anyone I'm associated with...I'm just curious as to how a certain situation might work out.

Bluegrass Lass

As far as I'm aware, there's no such thing as cash support.

If the hypothetical woman/child make too much money, they will not qualify for any aid. If they are considered poor, then they would likely qualify for Medicaid, possibly food stamps, and a housing subsidy (look up Section 8). Also, if the child is young enough (and mom doesn't make much $$), mom may qualify for the WIC program (helps pay for milk/formula/cereal/juice/etc that the child may need).

Mummy in the foothills

Theres one off TANF payment too if she qualifies

Giantaxe

Typically, the amount of child support depends on the percentage of custody each parent has, and their relative incomes. So without knowing more specifics, it's a difficult question to answer.

penguinsix

It would all depend on her income level and what state she is living in. Many of the states have a standard form with which you apply for all the available programs in one form. But it is entirely income based, and in the first year they might have some problems as they have 'split' income up until the point of the divorce from the time with the husband and that might count against her.

Many folks planning a divorce first plan their finances, if they have the time and patience. Some states have separation requirements I think (i.e. you have to be legally separated first before a divorce) and during that time many folks are advised to sort out things financially so they can handle when they are on their own.

Bob

All depends on the state, but in MA, to get that Section 8, there's something like a 2 year waiting list. To get help for childcare, there's a 5-7 year wait.

Sally Redux

I volunteer with a charitable group which provides some absolute basics to school-age children in need.

Nicole5446

Depends on the state...in CA, if her income AND property levels (car, stocks, savings - NOT house) are low enough, she will qualify for emergency cash aid (called Calworks). The child support division will also be required at the time of application to go after the husband for child support if she files for aid (as they want the money back that they are paying!)

snowbunny

Yep, heavily dependent upon the state. No such word as welfare any longer - there's food stamps, AFDC, WIC, TANF, and a lot of alphabet soup. Some "assistance" is available here in Austin that is not elsewhere in Texas, for example. There are usually advocacy groups that can handle this kind of enquiry - if nowhere else, the women's shelter is a place to start.