Invasion of privacy?

[manda1003]

I recently lost my job. I live with my fiancee and I am pregnant. I'm having a hard time finding work, and I recently applied for county assistance. (food stamps) When I applied I made it very clear to the person I was speaking to that I was applying for myself, and not for my fiancee. Of course, since we live in the same household they needed his information too as far as how much he makes, etc. Along with all kinds of information that I don't really feel should make a difference because we are not married. They told me what I needed to send them, and asked me to send it in if I was still interested in applying. A few days later, a letter comes in the mail addressed to my fiancee and the letter is stating that HIS application is being reviewed and waiting on other information before they made their decision. My question is, is it legal for them to contact him on this matter when I am the one that applied? I never even sent in any of his other information, so why would they have a reason or a right to contact him? In my opinion, (and my fiancee's also) that could be construed as a violation of my privacy. For all they know, I was doing it without his knowledge. (which was not the case) Especially since we are unmarried and just living together, and his name was not on the application as an applicant but only as a household member. Any information on this would be greatly appreciated.

[vfielder]

Who pays the rent and utlilites? If your fiancee is part of the house hold and has an income...yes they have a right to inquire about what he's contributing
to the house hold.

[cahoonzie]

Fiancee or not. Doesn't matter. If these folks are going to extend services to you, they must justify whether you meet a "means' test. Since your "fiancee" is living in "your" house, he will be sucking some of the benefits extended to you. Now, you have the freedom to throw him out in which case he has no obligation to report income. But, you cannot double dip. That is suck up his income and apply for county assistance too. If both your incomes meet the county's criteria for assistance, no problem and you should not be concerned about the inquiry into his income. On the other hand, your "fiancee" could be making $70,000+ a year. The county has a right to know if they are to extend assistance to you. Good Luck.

[cahoonzie]

vfielder: You are correct. Whether it is a "fiancee" brother, mother, father, daughter, son and so on. The extending agency needs to asses the "household" income as a whole. Who pays what is not material. It is the gross household income that is material.