working the system??

Question

can someone out there give me some pointers on to how to work the system.
I am a disabled American, currently living in south east Asia, have a wife and two minor children, every time I approach soc sec to get benefits for my children and survivor benefits for my wife, I am being told, I need to bring my family to america first.
so I am bringing my family to america, problem is my soc sec income is only $1300 per month, and I need to apply for public assistance right away, can anyone give me some pointers as to what to expect, what my rights are, I am relocating to Stockton Cal.

Answer 1

If you are a veteran, you could contact the Department of Veterans Affairs. If you are not, then have you tried contacting the American Embassy where you are to see if they can assist you with relocating your family to the U.S.? I wish I could offer better suggestions, but can't. I do know that because your wife is married to an American and your children are the children of an American, that should make them eligible for social services benefits when you do come to the U.S. Because you have minor children, if your income qualifies you for public assistance (sounds like it does), then you should be able to get Medicaid for the entire family, as well as Food Stamps to provide for a family of 4. I don't remember what the food stamp allotment is for a family of 4 because it has been a long time since I myself was on food stamps, but I believe it is around $400 per month, give or take a little.

Social Services can help, most likely, but once you get here, you will have to go into a Social Services office, where you will likely wait in line to find out what forms you need to fill out. Then you will have to fill out the forms and likely get back in line to turn them in. At that point, you will either be seen that day (depending upon the state and county office you go to), or you will be given an appointment to come back at a later date, usually anywhere from a few days to a couple weeks later. You can request expedited service to speed things up a bit. Bear in mind that you will likely not receive any benefits until the following month, unless they approve you for a pro-rated amount for the month you are in. Many times, depending upon the services you are requesting, they will require any able-bodied adults in the home to obtain employment or to be seeking employment. This is called the WorkFirst Program and is required of those applicants seeking financial assistance such as TANF (Temporary Aid to Needy Families). When you go to fill out your forms, be prepared to bring identifying information such as social security cards (of whomever may have them), birth and/or marriage certificates, something which shows proof of income and address, and be prepared to account for your living expenses each month. They may request to see some or all of the above. By the way, I live in Southern California and Medicaid is called Medi-Cal here. You might want to check out the State of California's website for services the state provides at : http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/cdssweb/FindServic_2312.htm
At the very least, you can scroll through the website and find a toll-free number you can call to speak to someone who may be able to advise you. Just know that obtaining help from Social Services does take time, so the sooner you act, the better. I wish you all the best.

Answer 2

CK has given you better advise than I could but I question why you chose Stockton. Cost of living there is very high. If you have friends or relatives there then you may want to look in nearby rural areas where you may find less expensive housing.