>> Judge Judy: At the time that
you wrote her that letter, was
your daughter living in her
mother's house?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: And you were
using her utilities accounts?
Notice your husband says that
your daughter was not living in
the house.
>> No, I was not.
In the very beginning, my
daughter moved in to my home --
>> Judge Judy: I'm not talking
about the beginning.
I'm talking about when your
husband wrote to his daughter.
>> No. I did not put it in her
name.
She voluntarily did it herself.
She went and got energy
assistance to prove that she's
the one --
I'm not responsible.
>> Judge Judy: Subsequently, she
closed the account.
>> Right.
>> Judge Judy: She closed the
account.
It was reopened. How?!
>> She -- I was talking to her,
and she felt bad for me, and she
says, "Mom, I don't want you to
not have electricity.
I'll let you do it a little bit
longer, until you get your
situation straightened out."
>> Judge Judy: Okay. Very good.
You owe her $1,235.
[ Light laughter ]
Now we're gonna get to the other
part of this counterclaim that
we have, so, so far, $123--
>> Um --
>> Judge Judy: I'm speaking.
Your last name is...?
>> Evans.
>> Judge Judy: Mr. Evans, how
long were you incarcerated?
>> 18 months.
>> Judge Judy: Your counterclaim
says that, during the time you
were incarcerated, you were also
receiving disability.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: How long have you
been receiving disability?
>> Since 2007.
>> Judge Judy: What were you
incarcerated for?
>> Violation of probation.
>> Judge Judy: What was the
crime?
>> Violation of a protective
order.
>> Judge Judy: Which protective
order?
>> Her. Her protective order.
>> Judge Judy: Now, you were
incarcerated for six months,
which means that the state which
incarcerated you was paying for
your room, board, medical,
et cetera.
>> The state wasn't.
It was Social Security.
>> Judge Judy: No. Listen to me.
Social Security was not paying
to clothe you, to house you, to
feed you while you were in jail!
>> But she was collecting my
checks.
>> Judge Judy: [ Chuckles ]
Are you following me?
>> No. I'm following you.
No. No, they weren't paying for
me to be --
>> Judge Judy: They were paying
for you!
When you go to jail, unless you
were in a jail where you paid --
Did you pay for your own jail?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: Did you pay for
your own jail?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: Then Byrd paid to
keep you in jail -- to keep a
cell over your head, to keep
food three times a day, to take
care of your medical care, to
take care of your clothes.
The state paid for you.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: So,
why didn't you notify
Social Security Disability that
your checks should stop?
>> She was my payee.
>> Judge Judy: Listen to me!
That's not my question to you!
My question is
Social Security Disability is
designed to take care of you
because you can't work.
>> Yeah.
>> Judge Judy: Did you work when
you were in prison?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: What did you do?
Did you have a prison job?
>> I couldn't get a prison job.
>> Judge Judy: Why?
>> Because there was a long list
of people.
>> Judge Judy: Did you try?
>> Yes. I was on that list.
>> Judge Judy: You were on the
list?
What did you want to do?
>> I wanted to do the washing of
the floors, sweeping, and stuff
like that.
>> Judge Judy: Well, why can't
you do that when you're out?
>> Huh?
>> Judge Judy: Why can't you do
that when you're out?
If you could it in prison, why
can't you do it when you're out
to make money instead of
collecting disability?
>> Yes.
I understand what you're --
[ Light laughter ]
>> Judge Judy: You understand
what I'm saying?
>> Yeah.
>> Judge Judy: I know you
understand what I'm saying.
If you think that I'm gonna
give you back
Social Security Disability
checks, even if she was your
payee, while you were in prison
that I was paying for, you got
another think coming.
[ Laughter ]
I just wish --
Social Security is gonna have a
new administrator.
Pay careful attention.
When somebody is incarcerated,
their disability payments should
stop.
When somebody is incarcerated,
welfare payments should stop.
When somebody is incarcerated,
foster-care payments should
stop.
We don't have to pay twice or
three times.
Once is bad enough.
We understand each other,
Congress?
[ Laughter ]
[ Applause ]