My parents have been stealing my social security money.
location: California
I (F19) have been receiving Social Security benefits my entire life. Growing up, there was hardly any food in the house. My parents left me in dirty clothes, didn’t bathe me, or brush my teeth. I was neglected. The lack of dental care as a child led to me losing teeth at 15 years old.
Once I turned 18, I started receiving my Social Security benefits on a card with my name on it. Every month since then, my dad has taken me to the bank to withdraw the money in cash. As soon as we got back into the car, he would take all of it. I often asked if I could at least have half of it, or even just $50, but he always said no. I received about $800 a month.
None of this money has ever specifically gone toward me for clothes, oral care, bedding, or self-care products. To get those things for myself, I either had to donate plasma just to afford vitamins, body wash, and other basic necessities, or beg my parents for weeks. As soon as I turned 18, I started donating plasma on and off to make money. I don’t anymore because of my piercings.
My partner would buy me groceries when I needed them, purchase my hair and self-care products, and order me food when I had nothing.
Another important detail is that my dad has a gambling addiction. He has had one for as long as I can remember, and long before I was born. Whenever he loses money gambling, he tells us we all have to make “sacrifices.” My parents have been financially unstable for my entire life. There have been times when he took my Social Security money and gambled it away.
I have no access to any of “their” money in any way. Occasionally, they would buy me something from a thrift store or get me bedding after I had asked for months. Whenever I brought up that the Social Security money is my money, it always ended with my mom crying and calling me selfish, or my dad yelling until I was crying and didn’t want to talk about it anymore.
Not once since I turned 18 has my Social Security money been used specifically for me.
I want to take legal action when I move out, but I don’t know where to start. I’m scared of ruining my relationship with my parents or what’s left of it. What do I even do?