Hello,
I am a dad of 2 mentally handicapped children 18F and 20M. Can anyone help?
this is my story. For 20 yrs. I was married, after 5 yrs. my x developed a cocaine addiction.
This addiction cost me pretty much everything, but I stayed for the kids as I worked 58 hrs/week on average, and that would b difficult to do and still care for 2 mentally challenged kids alone, not to mention that it would b hard on the kids to b without mom. Finally, after many yrs. of struggle I finally tossed her out. She took my daughter, whom was much more attached to her than I and I took the Son.
I am in a very highly skilled trade that is dying here in the U.S due to the rising amt. of outsourcing.When I tossed her out (June of 07) I was already broke but then became unemployed. I drew unemployment till Jan 08 exhausting my benefits until June of 08. At the end of Jan. I returned to work ( fr a smaller wage than I had been working for as this was better than 0. My x filed for financial assistance so guess what? The State of MI came to me looking for a re-imbursment for the aid provided to her, The case started in March. In April the company I was working for went under at the end of April leaving me without work and unable to collect unemployment for about 10 weeks. As the weeks passed and I became more and more financially stressed I filed for aid myself and recieved a brige card but no help for rent as the only income for the house was my sons $637/mo ssdi check, they told me I didn't make enough to get aid for rent. Luckily my landlord has been wonderfull to me and has been patient despite the fact I am behind about $3,000. I did Apply for unemployment in mid June and am eligible to get the max for 26 wks. (1240/mo take home) This cut my bridge card to $10/mo.
Now, back to the States' case against me, when it started I was employed, they had me come in with a few check stubs. They never asked what my finances r like, they just looked at the #'s put them to a chart and said "$535/mo. is what u have to pay, if you dispute that wait until you go into default and ask for a hearing". What they didn't tell me is taht I would b in the rear to about $900 by the time I went into default. I did as they asked but, before I was in default and could get a review, I was in contempt for non-payment. When I went to show cause y I shouldn't b held in contempt the mediator wanted to hear nothing but " how much can you pay". It mattered none to him when I informed him I have 2 mentally challenged kids, neither of whom are ever likely to b self sufficent, 1 is with me and she has 1, shouldn't that cancel support for her? Anyways the State can take up to 65% of my unemployment income.
The mediator was in no way intrested in anything I said, he even asked "ever been to jail" as if to threaten me. if I do not pay the State will take my drivers license also, preventing me from being able to go to work without risking getting caught and having more troubles. So that leads to today, I have yet to recieve unemployment( The state has my check and has yet to send my portion), I have a landlord whos' patients will eventually wear out if he recieves no $, ( I wouldn't blame him), My utilities are getting close to shut-off and the State has yet to review my case and the $amt. keeps rising. If they do take the max from my unemployment (65%), I will certainaly have my utilities shut off and face eviction before long.
so please!! if there is anyone with suggestions, what can I do? is there someone who can help get the State to back off? I am in fear of what happens if no work is found and they don't
