We all have that one friend who is ready and willing to lend a helping hand. That’s Helene. Helene is 79 years old and cares for her adult disabled son.
Helene contacted Legal Aid because the Family Support Division (FSD) rejected her food stamp application due to a finding that her available resources exceeded the maximum.
Helene owns a home, but while she was out of town caring for a relative, the pipes burst and flooded most of her house. The family couldn’t afford the repairs, so Helene and her son moved in with Helene’s daughter.
Helene told the FSD that she could not live in her home because of the water damage. Instead of allowing Helene to prove the diminished value, the Division counted the total assessed value as the home’s market value and used that to reject her food stamp application. Helene’s paralegal submitted documentation about the water damage to the FSD and argued that the home had no market value. The agency agreed and did not pursue a hearing.
The FSD issued retroactive food stamp benefits to Helene for two months. Her monthly food stamp allotment started in December.
