Another mind boggling day at the welfare office.

Sometimes I swear, the people who make up the rules for public assistance programs have no clue what impact those rules make for the people who adminster the programs.
It would be nice if I worked in a big city, with lots of workers where I could specialize in just one area like SNAP (food stamps), or TANF (the "welfare" program as most people think of welfare) or even just the Medicaid program. (Sigh)
But, alas,I don't, I work in a smaller community so I get to deal with all programs.

And of course each program has it's own rules and regulations, none of which have much in common with the rules and regulations of the other programs.

For example you are an average 18 year old "adult". You can vote, buy lottery tickets, be charged in criminal court as an adult and enjoy many of the other benefits of being " all grown up". But, if you're living with mommy and daddy we still need to consider their income to see if you qualify for Medicaid. (Unless you're married or otherwise emancipated.) However, if you're 18 and have a baby we don't have to look at their income if you apply for the cash through TANF whether you're married or not.

Once you turn 21 we no longer have to look at counting your parents income for Medicaid for you, but unless you're disabled or pregnant or a parent of a minor child yourself you're not eligible for Medicaid anyway. So big deal.

You could apply for SNAP (I really don't like that name) or Food Stamps as I will call it, but if you're under 22 and living with your parents we again have to look at your parents income to see if you're eligible. Even if you are married!

So, what if your mom is not living with your dad? What if she's living with her trophy husband? Or her latest boyfriend? Good News! We never have to look at his income to see if you're eligible for Cash or Medical, but if you guys all eat the same food together then guess what, yep, his income is counted for the Food Stamp program.

This is just one teensy, tiny area of the laws I have to deal with. I haven't even to touched on what happens if you, Miss 18 year old, are not only living with your parents, but they are nice enough to allow your loser boyfriend to move in with them.
YIKES - how soon til I can retire?