[hollyl784]

My boyfriend and I just moved in together not long ago. I was talking to a friend of mine about getting on food stamps but my friend told me not to, unless I wanted to loose my kids. Apparently, he was told that 2 people can live together out of wed lock but not if there are children in the picture. Specifically someone else's children. My children's father is encarcerated and has been for the past 2 years. My boyfriend and I are planning on getting married but I don't want to rush into it just so we can live together. Is that true?

[ScottGem]

I don't believe there are any such laws, but you can check with your local social services agency.

On the other hand, if you do cohabitate, someone could report it to social services who may investigate.

How old are the kids?

[hollyl784]

Both are girls 4 & 3.

[ScottGem]

That is young and social services might frown on it. But I still don't think they will make an issue of it.

[cdad]

I believe the real issue is that with another income earner in the home you may not qualify for food stamps unless you exclude them from any income statements. That would be fraud.

[Fr_Chuck]

Ok, illegal, for taking you to court to put you in jail, even if there is, it would not be enforcable for many reason.

But the issue here is not law but rules of children and family services, they may look at what type of person the man is, what danger he si and more

Now if you don't report who is living in the house, and lie or cheat to get your food stamps that is another issue also.

[twinkiedooter]

To be properly eligible for food stamps every individual living at your address must be accounted for including kids and boyfriends. All income for the home must be accounted for as well. Also, if you do collect food stamps remember someone or both of you adults will have to "work" for the food stamps as they are not just handed out free with no reciprocal work involved. It could be so many hours of community service each month to "earn" the food stamp allottment your family unit would receive. If the one adult is working and making low income wages and the other adult is unemployed, then the unemployed adult will have to "work" for their share of the food stamps. The days of sitting at home doing nothing for food stamps is gone forever.

[cadillac59]

I would doubt there were such laws, even in a place like South Carolina, and if there were they almost surely would be unconstitutional.

[hollyl784]

Thank all of you for your responses. I just want to add that I do have a full time job, and my boyfriend just got laid off 2 weeks ago. Trust me we are not the type to sit home and do nothing and take advantage of the system. Both of us were raised old fashioned. My family is falling apart and my full time job is barely enough to pay the bills. I don't have money to buy my children food, that is the whole reason programs like this exist, right?