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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Mom loses benefits after status of 4 kids changed to dead

Associated Press

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – A Rhode Island mother says she lost her child care voucher when the state’s new benefits computer system mistakenly changed the status of her four children from living to dead.

Jasmine Tinker is a substitute teacher at Head Start, in Newport. The 25-year-old single mother’s three youngest children also attend the center.

Tinker told the Providence Journal she was told last week her voucher expired and she would have to pay $750 out of pocket.

Tinker says the Department of Human Services told her she made too much money, which she denied, then told her she was “only a family of one.”

A printout from the Unified Healthcare Infrastructure Project system said her children were dead.

A state spokeswoman said Monday they’ve reinstated Tinker’s childcare and food assistance coverage.