For the past 2 years and 5 months my dad has been dealing with a Workman's Comp issue that has kept him totally out of work since October 2017. As of March 2018, when he filed for Total Temporary Disability he was supposed to receive payments of $500/week from Workman's comp. He was receiving 2/3 of his salary for his primary job while he was on disability. He was supposed to make about $6000/month before expenses. He is not receiving the $2000 a month from Workman's comp. Right now because of this he is receiving $4000/month before taxes. Due to misguided financial decisions and unforseen circumstances, he is paying about $4800 in either bills, loans, insurance, groceries etc.
I am working a job where I can make around $500 per month after taxes. He wants me to refrain from spending my money so that he can use it when his bank account gets closer to negative. He will not refinance anything, and every time I am paid he mentions me not spending any of it. He also wants me to take out a subsidized/non-subsidized Stafford loan (whichever means no interest during school) so that we can use it in an emergency. It's difficult for me to trust him with my money because of his poor financial decisions.
Is taking a Stafford loan a means to build credit at a young age? I will not be using the money for schooling if my dad gets his way. Please help me see if he is using me.
I am 18 years old in a trade school with free tuition, my father let's me use one of his cars anytime I need it, I live with him as I always have and he pays for nearly all of my expenses. I.e I don't have much expenses other than food and gas.
Tl;dr I think my dad wants to take advantage of my money and student loans because of his circumstances. I know a little bit about finances but I don't know enough to tell if this is a bad decision.
Edit: I'm adding more information that i said in the comments.
My father and I are co-owners of his bank account, this was done during a scare with cancer, he wasn't certain if he would live, so to alleviate financial issues after his potential death I would be on the account already.
Submitted September 05, 2018 at 10:40PM by Shakeybalance https://ift.tt/2wN7LzN
