QUESTION: My children are eligible for Child Health Plus in New York State which is a free health insurance program for children of low-income families. I happen to know that the upper income eligibility limit for a family of four is $126,800 per year. My current salary is just under this limit and my manager has just offered me a raise which will put me over the limit. Since I do not want to give up this family health care benefit, am I permitted to refuse the raise so I can maintain my eligibility?
ANSWER: The short answer is “Yes,” you may refuse your raise to maintain your eligibility as long as Child Health Plus, or any other government benefit program for that matter, does not have in its terms and conditions, a rule that one is not allowed to forego income to maintain eligibility.
However, the long answer is that there are three more matters to consider.
- The first, is that this information on this benefit plan’s upper income limit is not very evident, and it is likely that the reason that this is so, is because New York State officials want to conceal it to some extent. If the information was more evident, then everyone would know the upper limit and many would voluntarily choose to stay under the income limit by foregoing income, as in your case, for example.
The Child Health Plus Plan was intended to benefit those who are truly in need, and not for those that could make more money but have decided not to. So, while it would be permitted to forego the raise to stay under the eligibility limit (assuming that there is nothing in the program rules that prohibit it), it is not the highest form of Emes (truth) which is seeking absolute integrity in all that we do since one is using the benefits of the plan that were not really intended for him as an individual that chose to forego income that would have made him ineligible.
- The second matter is whether it is really in one’s self-interest to forego a raise to maintain a benefit. As an example, often people reason that it is better to not own a home so they can continue to take advantage of Section 8 housing benefits. However, those that do this, may never end up buying a house and would therefore miss out on significant capital gains as their house increases in value.
- Finally, let us discuss Bitachon (having faith in Hashem). The fact is, the more Bitachon in Hashem we have, the easier He makes things for us. Accordingly, we should always try to do the right thing, which in this case would be to take the raise and not be eligible for Child Health Plus and then have the Bitachon that things will work out for the best. We know that the more Bitachon we have, the better and easier our lives will be.
How much easier it would have been for Bnei Yisrael to take possession of Eretz Yisrael if only they had the requisite amount of Bitachon. “I have set the land before you; come and possess the land which Hashem swore to your forefathers.” (Devarim 1:8) Rashi commenting on this verse cites a Midrash, that Hashem was saying that Eretz Yisrael was there for the taking. If Bnei Yisrael would have had more Bitachon, no one would have contested their takeover, and they would not have needed to go to war. However, since they did not have the requisite amount of Bitachon and wanted to send spies to seek out how to conquer the land, then Hashem required them to fight for it.
For all of the above reasons, do the right thing – accept your raise, forego your benefits and have Bitachon that because you are doing the right thing, Hashem will ensure that things will work out for the best.
