Leslie B. of Lexington, TN contacted the Tennessee Justice Center for representation when the Department of Human Services cut off cash assistance (Families First aid) for her and her two young children. Ms. B. has cancer and her youngest son has a colon disease that requires doctor visits three times a week. The family’s assistance was terminated because Ms. B. was receiving child support of $60 per week.
Reflecting a misunderstanding which was widespread in DHS, her case manager told Ms. B. that she could not receive both child support and cash assistance. In fact, state law requires that DHS administer the Families First program “in a manner in which the maximum amount of child support and other income may be provided to the family and the children without loss of grant and Medicaid benefits.” Because this is a recurring problem observed in our review of closed Families First cases, we contacted the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office as well as DHS. In response, DHS restored Ms. B.’s benefits.
The agency also revised its written instructions to case managers statewide, and is conducting staff training to prevent such errors from recurring.
