Please be careful about receiving PayPal/CashApp/ECT help during this crisis... It could affect your eligibility for welfare assistance and be considered unreported "income"

This is in regards to all of the posts of people offering to help others during the shutdown.

For welfare recipients: Please be careful about getting PayPal/CashApp/ECT. Most welfare programs unfortunately count that as income. I'm required to turn in all of that for Section 8, my LIHTC apartment (low income), and for my disability Medicaid. I turned in my bank statements and they questioned why I had PayPal transactions (that were refunds for things that I had bought online and returned). It was money coming into my account and I had to prove to them that it was actually refunds, not people giving me money or unreported earned income. Even something as low as $3.12 they questioned and I had to prove... 🫤

I had to send my daughter money for my grandbaby's diapers but I had to PayPal it through her friend's account so her welfare programs wouldn't see it. It's so unfair that they would penalize her for getting help for diapers for her baby but that's how our government works.

I'm not sure what type of benefits you all receive but you might want to check to see if getting payments could jeopardize that. PayPal/CashApp/ECT is all connected to your bank account so they can see those transactions.

If one of the food stamps workers sees this and wants to help clarify that would be great! Most of us on food stamps are also on other welfare programs too so even if it doesn't affect your food stamps eligibility, it could affect other welfare programs that you're enrolled in. I just wanted to warn everyone. I know things are incredibly rough right now and everyone needs help but receiving help could potentially cause you to lose government assistance.

Everyone hang in there. ❤️