Can bank transactions be checked when applying for charities?

[nagolins]

We are considering applying for a local charity help to assist us with our bills. We recently were given a sum of cash from family to be used as a gift for our infant son; obviously the intention was not to use it for our bills. We understand that when applying for charity help you are in essence, asking them to review your credit and financial situation, and most certainly giving them permission to do so. We also know that when someone does a check like this that bank account balances can be viewed. My question is this, can specific transactions from said account be viewed as well?

Our dilemma is that if the charity organization sees this "gift" of money, we will most likely be denied the financial assistance we desperately DO need. Should we withdraw it from our bank before the credit checks, or would that be considerred fraud? We ceratinly DONT want to do that- my God, the last thing we need are legal issues.

Any advice GREATLY appreciated! Can't find any answers for this anywehre else online. Thanks so much!!!

 

[Gail_in_Georgia]

Yes; some charities do bank checks to confirm that the folks asking for help qualify for such. This is especially true now when charities are stretched to the limit with so many people requesting help and so few donations coming in. Many are in the position where they have to make difficult choices on who gets financial help.

You need to be realistic. If you need help with your bills, then the money you were given as a gift for your infant son should be used to pay needed bills to help keep your head above water. It is pretty unrealistic to assume that you should be able to keep this money for gifts yet ask a charity for help to pay bills.

Gail