Is it right for a mother to keep the social security check from deceased father & give me $75 a month!?

Question

Janice's 2 youngest children, AMber & Matt, had their father pass away last July. Since she has been recieving Social Security which comes to around $450 each child totaling $900 a month. Janice gives $75 to each child each month and tells them they are responsible for all their expenses including bathroom items, personal hygine, clothing, family outings, school supplies and everything else. She does provide family groceries becuase of foodstamps.

Janice does make $15 under the table on an average of 25-40 a week cleaning houses.

She states this is more like childsupport that he never paid during their lives (ages 15 & 16) and they are lucky to get any of the money during the month. When they misbehave (son is very agressive and smartmouths and hits sometimes who is 15 yrs) she deducts their money and sometimes they are left with ZERO money for the month and she keeps this money, it does not go into savings.

What is your opinion on this situation?

Answer 1

Well Janice is and have been taking care of her children without the help of their father for years and she has paid for everything up until now right? Now that a check is coming in to help her take care of her kids her kids want the money right? Wrong! That money is to go towards taking care of the children. After giving the children $75.00 each she has a total of $750.00 which is probally spent on rent, car insurance, car note, and whatever else to keep the household going. I mean you didn't say that Janice had the children living in a box and beating them. So I agree with Janice! She is just a single parent trying to take care of her children. And as far as taking the kids money when they are mis-behaving. All I can say is they better be glad it is not my mama. Because she would take it out of their a ss. They better be glad they getting any money. I don't see how she is supporting two kids and herself on that little bit of money each month. Greedy unappreciative kids! They need to stay out of grown folks business and do as they are told.

Answer 2

If Janice (the window) is receiving her deceased husband's Social Security, it is because she is entitled to it. You neglected to mention that she is the single surviving parent, and that she keeps the roof over everyone's head. As the kids are minors, she is responsible for clothing the kids, and providing for them, including an allowance. She may be practicing some tough love, but she is not providing everything a parent should provide. I would contact some authorities, so that the situation may be clarified and rectified. Make sure you have all of your facts straight first. $75.00 is not enough for clothing and everything else for the month.

Answer 3

The money comes to her because she is the one of legal age. If she is keeping a roof over your head and food on the table then she is by law doing the right thing. She does not have to give you any so if you are getting $75 a month then you should be happy. She could put you on the street and still keep the money. So grow up get a job and break the cycle.

Answer 4

$900 a month plus $15/hour would not be enough money for me to live off of and take care of my children. Does Janice pay rent or mortgage and utilities.?
Amber and Matt are 15 and 16 years old and can get a job. They should have counselling to deal with the death of their father and need support to finish their education.

Answer 5

I'm not sure how she is getting his social security check if they were separated or divorced (child support payments), unless it is the kind you get after a person dies (this is entirely likely) and she was the beneficiary - or the children were. If you are really concerned, find out who the executor of his estate was and see if they can provide that information. As for the kids, that sounds a bit mean but on the other hand they are close to being of age that they can leave and be on their own anyway so if it is really unbearable, that's what they should be doing.

Answer 6

I went through the same thing with my mom I was giving a SSI check but my mom had control over it and only gave me so much a month. She use the rest on other things and i did not like it then. I finally have the control of my own SSI check but took a long time to put it in my name.
She should have give each child more than 75.00 dollars a month this is not right.
Call the Social Security office and explain what is going on. this is not right for the kids

Answer 7

Janice is neither right or wrong. If she has custody of the children, then she is still responsible for their care, which is one of the points to the benefits. However, she is still responsible for them so to say that they are all responsible for their own expenses. It seems that she is only interested in the money and doesn't care that legally the children rate all that money not her. Someone should step in and assist the children in getting what is rightfully theirs. That money should be for them to get a car, or buy themselves the things teens these days like to have, or more importantly, post secondary education.

Answer 8

To me sounds like she expects them to do a lot with $75 a month. There is no way that can cover all she expects of them. She does provide a home, power, food, etc for them though. So they must keep that in mind. If I were the kids, I'd start saving receipts to prove where the money goes and why I need more.

Answer 9

I understand when your a teenager kids get angry they are producing crazy hormones learned it in biology and the smartmaouth is unacceptable you don't have to get crazy with your kid but you do need to let them understand you are the parent and they must respect you but you must also respect your chil as well it works both ways some parents don't understand that. I have been taking child development class for what I am studying for. To leave them broke I think is not cool especially if it is a necessaity they need with the money I understand kids need stability and structure. A month is too long with no money they are kids I know they need to be resposible but cut them slack they are not adults adults have a lot of stress I know I work with kids all day the parents and teachers are the most diffucult to work with.

Answer 10

She should at least sock some of the money away on a monthly basis incase the kids would like to go to college. She does have the right to use the money in order to house, feed and clothes the kids. I think the way she is going about it is not very paternal.
I would hope that she cared more for her family.