A NEW INCOME

A New Income Q&A

Q: I need a lawyer for a discrimination issue?

I live in Phoenix, AZ. I lost my job and had to go to DES for help and was given ACCCESS and a small food award, for which I am thankful. But because I collect $240 per week from unemployment, no other assistance is available. I was making twice that when I worked but barely getting by, so the loss has been devistating, and we are now homeless. Not long ago I learned from a DES worker, why many other families are able to buy new cars and clothes for their children, even with the economy being so bad. Only 1 parent is working but they are able to pay off their homes early, and support multiple children, while making payments and insurance on at least 2 new, or almost new vehicles. Our welfare system pays full benefits to children with parents that do not have a Social Security number. Its no wonder people are risking death to get here. Even IF the parent that's working has a work permit, DES ONLY DEEMS 10% OF HIS/HER INCOME. Incidentally she/he files exempt on his/her taxes, and claims not only his children, but his relative's children as well. The DES worker that I spoke to wants to remain anonymous for fear of losing her job as she is not supposed to disclose such information. But I asked a few DES workers and they would not speak about it, but nodded and agreed that is the policy of DES to give our taxes to non citizens to take care of their families while US citizen families go without. In one specific case mentioned, the mother doesn't work. She has a full time job taking care of 7 children, some of which are not hers, but are related to her. Supposedly her sister left them and they would otherwise be orphans. The man of the house BRINGS HOME $1300.00 per week, and has a permit to work in the USA. Because neither parent has a SS#, only 10% of his income is deemed on the family's application for benefits. The children, and the adults, qualify and collect the maximum allowed benefits for each family member. Maximum food stamps, maximum cash assistance, and ACCCESS. If the working member of the house doesn't have a work permit, there is no way for DES or the IRS to track his/her earnings. The children are treated as their own "household". With no one working in their "household", they qualify for max benefits. They live in "low income" parts of town, but drive Escalades with TVs in the headrests! Their children drive new Maximas and Accords and somehow they can afford the driver's insurance for these kids as well, and with only one parent working. I dont know about you all, but both my parents had to work all my life. And we were barely scraping by. My children, and yours if you have a SS#, have been discriminated against simply because we are American citizens, we have Social Security numbers, and work for a living. What steps do I take to rectify the situation? Who do I file complaints with? What channels do I take? I don't have a lot of money. Should I get a lawyer? Where might I find a lawyer to represent us? I am a single mother, and for the last 17 years I have struggled to raise my daughters alone. I worked hard and still barely scraped by. My daughter suffered in the way that I could not afford extracurricular activities, dental work she, (we,) desperately needed, better nutrition, better housing in a better part of town, etc.You could consider me a "playa hater" but I am so frustrated I don't know what else to do. My daughter turned 18 yesterday, and she still has no car. She finished high school, taking the bus. I could have given her more, much more, if DES had only deemed 10% of my income on our DES application.

A: It appears that your complaint is with the Social Security Administration. If you feel that there is an injustice, document specific info about a particular recipient, call a rep from the SSA and register your complaint. You dont need an attorney to do this . They have a hotline for suspected fraud cases. Give them a call.

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