VISALIA, Calif. (FOX26) — A Visalia family is facing an unimaginable reality after a family member is diagnosed terminally ill.
A husband and father has been given just two months to live.
As time ran out, so did the family's income when disability payments suddenly stopped, leaving his family struggling to make ends meet.
The family says that assistance was arriving up until about 7 weeks ago, when they all of a sudden stopped seeing that money, despite qualifying for it.
And with about two months left to live, instead of worrying about his final moments, he is worried about what will happen to his family.
"Things should not be this challenging when people are on disability," said Chad Hatfield, who is suffering from terminal illness.
In his Visalia home, Chad Hatfield sits next to his wife, thanking her for standing by his side since he was diagnosed with a terminal illness in May.
They discovered at that time that he had cirrhosis and ascites.
"I can't swallow. I can't, my feet are numb. At least I could still feel my hands and my lips," he said.
Doctors told Chad he has about two months left to live.
The terminal illness has left him unable to work and completely dependent on disability benefits.
"Once it started, we didn't have to worry about any bills. We had all our money coming in, so nothing was late." Hatfield said.
But about seven weeks ago, payments stopped without warning.
"Yeah, it's been since November 2nd was the last payment. They do say that we are still eligible. We just aren't receiving the benefits," he said.
Chad had a list of activities planned for his family before he left, but now it feels like a dream impossible to reach.
"I wanna take my family, they've never been on a plane. I wanna take them to Hawaii." Hatfield said.
Instead of focusing on the final moments as a family, the stress of not receiving payments weighs heavily on Chad.
"After calling hundreds and hundreds, no joking, because I have to type in my social every time, they got a record of it. It's just really sad how many people are putting into, you know, we're taxed, this comes out of our check, and it's put aside for a meaningful day. Where does that money go?"
Meanwhile, FOX26 contacted the EDD to get answers.
Late Monday afternoon, EDD responded almost at the same time, and they called Chad.
Chad told FOX26 the EDD is now getting him $10,000 in back pay that should hit his account just in time for Christmas.
Chad and Cara live in Assembly member Stan Ellis' district.
In a statement, he says:
“The Employment Development Department continues to fail Californians, with constituents unable to get timely help—yet again. Just last week, a desperate caller reached my office seeking assistance because EDD wouldn't respond while she's caring for her terminally ill husband. EDD cases make up 60% of our office's state agency casework, taking two weeks to resolve on average—twice as long as any other agency. People in dire circumstances are forced to seek help from my office because EDD ignores their direct pleas. These breakdowns persist despite years of promises for reform by EDD leadership and Governor Newsom. This is unacceptable. My office will continue to fight for every single constituent in need. EDD leadership must be held accountable, and Californians deserve better—now.”
For this family, timing is everything.
"He could have this little as a few months left. And struggling, we already have a tremendous amount of struggles emotionally, physically," Hatfield's wife said.
Chad says he is grateful to have finally heard back from EDD and will get back pay, but is still left wondering why they had stopped the payments in the first place.