Help for a friend

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Honestly, while 350 a week might not seem like a whole lot, it’s

higher than working a 40 hour per week job at minimum wage. In fact,

it’s the same as if she were working a job and getting paid $8.75

take home pay. That might not be much, but I recall the days not too

long ago when my husband and I were surviving just fine on $6.50 an

hour for 1 job, 40 hours a week, 5 people.

She will likely qualify for WIC, as well as food stamps. Because she

got a judgement for getting child support, WIC will NOT go by what

the husband makes, but rather the judgement pay. I -think- that food

stamps will as well, but even if they go by the husband’s supposed

pay, it won’t effect the amount by a whole lot, and they will be

required to put down 6 people instead of 5.

Going to the IRS won’t do a whole lot of good if both the boss and

employee show records of him only making $500 a week. They could

investigate it, but it’s not going to get your friend anyway, and

certainly not for a while.

If she can’t afford the payments on where she is living, rent or

owning, she should find subsidized housing, which is 30% of her

income for the price of rent- $420 a month, based on her judgement

of $1400 a month.

If she has a job on top of this, then it’s not likely she will get

much, if anything, from state aid.

— In Budget101_@yahoogroups.com, Jennifer Huff

wrote:

>

> I have a relatively new friend (our daughters just started

playing

> with each other in Kindergarden this year) who just called to tell

me

> she spent the day yesterday in court. Her husband dragged her out

of

> the house by her neck and was attacking her. Fortunately the kids

> were sleeping. The neighbors called the cops. She did manage to

get a

> year long restraining order against him. But now this mom of 4

(kids

> are 5, 4, 2.5 and 1.5) must live on her own. The court could only

> prove that the husband makes $500 per week-he works for his uncle

and

> makes at least double that but under the table-so she will only

get

> $350 per week to support 5 people! Has anyone else run into this.

I

> think (but haven’t said anything to her yet) that she should tell

him

> that he needs to cough up more money or she will call the IRS. Or

> will this land her into trouble too as she is still married to

the

> jerk? We live in the NorthEast and I’m sure the rent at her place

is

> easily $1500 per month. She doesn’t have a degree so she would

never

> make enough money per hour as she would have 3 kids in daycare!

I

> want to help, but don’t know what to do. Any suggestions are

helpful.

> I know abuse happens, I’ve just never known anyone it has

happened

> to. Thanks.

> Jennifer

>

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