I am a single mother raising three children in arizona, thier father has not payed a single cent of child support since I left him four years ago.
Recently, I tried to get assistance from the AZDES in child support enforcement and child care assistance. They informed me that the ONLY way to apply for either is to apply for cash assistance. So, I apply. I am told I have to comply not only with child support enforcement, but with jobs program as well, understandable, they want the mother to prove she is doing things to improve her situation before they offer help, so I comply. I sit through "orientation" and recieve a weekly timesheet which I must fill out and return each friday, I comply. I go to all my appointments, and comply FULLY.
I finally get approved for cash assistance, and the next month I recieve notice that my case is being closed and I will no longer be recieving cash assistance. Which means I am no longer eligible for child care assistance or child support enforcement.
Now, I am a WORKING single mother, I never wanted to apply for cash assistance in the first place, I just enrolled my boys in a college preparatory school, and am looking forward to enrolling my daughter there next year as well, so I would like to enroll her in a preschool, to prepare her for this fast-paced learning environment, hence, the want for childcare assistance while I wait for child suppot enforcement to come through. Now, I am back at the Start line.
I reapply. I have my first meeting with my new case worker who tells me that my caseworker with the JOBS program recieved confirmation that I was working as a house sitter and earning money above the amount allowed to recieve cash assistance, which is a COMPLETE LIE!!! I have never worked as, nor recieved monies for, house-sitting for anyone!
So, now I begin the process again - back to child support enforcement office, back to the jobs program, back to waiting for assistance.
I am just trying to do the best I can as a single mom, give my kids a full, happyy, and well-rounded life. I don't understand the need to shut down cases on good people, on false grounds.
Thanks DES!!!
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