
Originally Posted by
Melonie
^^^ if your son's father is currently unemployed, IMHO taking all of the 'disclosure' risks associated with filing a child support claim ... in hopes of receiving 9% of his $300 per week unemployment check or $27 ... definitely sounds like a 'losing' proposition.
I also hate to mention this on principle, but with a child's welfare at stake I probably should. The 'equivalent cash value' of BadgerCare + EBT 'food stamps' + other available social welfare benefits for you and your son can easily add up to $10,000 per year if you wind up having to pay for health insurance coverage out of pocket, having to pay full price for food, utility bills, day care etc. After some quick searching, in your situation the Wisconsin benefit eligibility limit on income is about $23,000 per year ( = $440 per week net income ). Since your webcam host is going to report this income, you face a potential dilemma. If you limit your camming so that your average earnings don't exceed $440 per week you can maintain eligibility for benefits. If however you increase your average earnings to say $600 per week, between the higher taxes due on that income plus having to pay for health care out of your own pocket plus having to pay full price for food, utilities etc. you could be WORSE off than if you had only worked enough to earn $440 per week !!!
This 'moral hazard' situation of earning $440 per week with benefit eligibility essentially equalling earning $750 per week without benefit eligibility, and with people earning something in between actually winding up 'worse off', is a pet peeve of mine. However, as this could have a major impact on you and your son, it's worth thinking about.
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