MESA, AZ (AZFamily) — What began as a routine application for disability services turned into a nightmare for one Mesa mom.

Jessica, who asked that her last name not be used, was in the process of applying for Arizona Long Term Care Services (ALTCS) for her 4-year-old autistic daughter when she discovered her daughter had already become the victim of identity theft.

“I had delayed applying for ALTCS for quite a while, and thankfully, I finally did, only to find out that she had had her identity stolen,” Jessica said.

Jessica says she was informed by ALTCS officials that someone in Chicago had been receiving paychecks using her daughter’s Social Security number for at least two months.

“Why would you do this? Why would you steal from someone? It’s essentially stealing, right? It’s

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