Things I Learned This Week: Food Stamps
By Milehimama on Sep 29, 2009 in Food Stamp Challenge, featured
I shared a couple of weeks ago that we were going to apply for food stamps.
We do not qualify for emergency food stamps (expedited appointment, basically.) Yes, you have to apply to have a quicker appointment. According to the published guidelines, we should qualify (especially with $0 income and 8 children!)
No one would give me a reason as to why we didn’t qualify, although I spoke to three different people including the director of the office. I suspect they were simply out of emergency next day appointments. They refused to double check the application to see if there was a clerical error.
(Side note: If I were a migrant worker, I’d automatically qualify for an emergency, expedited appointment.)
Federal and state law require the food stamp office to process an application within 30 days. I was given an appointment to come back to determine eligibility in November, 58 days from now. That’s right, they haven’t even looked at the application or seen any of my paperwork documenting expenses. The end of line is almost 60 days out.
The food stamp offfice is out of compliance, violating applicants rights, and there is, apparently, nothing to be done about it. A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of the poor, the ombudsman took my complaint, but at the end of the day there are no consequences and no accountability. I watched them hand out at least 50 appointments for November in the two and a half hours I was at the office.
Another burden on the poor is that there simply aren’t enough offices. I drove 12 miles to my local office, for the privilege of turning my application in. One can mail the application, but what if you are desperate? Taking a bus isn’t an option in many parts of Houston, including where I live, because there aren’t any routes.
Well.
. . . . .
Well.
Someone has to do something. It’s not right. These people are at the office because they can’t feed themselves or their children, and they’re told to come back around Thanksgiving? The government is recommending we visit charities in the meantime.
Our local food pantry also has a broken system. Their requirements are even more stringent than the food stamp office, requiring a certified birth certificate for every child in the house before they will give the poor any food. (Also, a copy of your lease, a letter from your neighbor, utility bills, pay stubs, letter from unemployment office, notarized document from your mother stating you’re a good person…I digress.)
The charities recommend getting on food stamps.
That food pantry is a collaborative effort of several area churches, including two local Catholic churches.
It is a crime against charity to require a government issued piece of paper before they will give food to hungry children.
I am fortunate in that I have several weeks’ worth of food in my pantry. We’re not in a pickle, yet. I read the government instructions when Swiney Hiney flu hit, recommending having a month’s worth of food on hand in case of natural disaster or outbreak, and I tried to stock up whenever I could.
But what about people who couldn’t do that? What about people who have nothing and can’t get any food? It is unacceptable that people – dozens I saw yesterday – are basically told to scrounge what they can until the government gets around to looking at their application in a couple of months.
Perhaps Glenn Beck is right, and we really are living in times of fundamental change in the American way of life.
Now I’ve got a bee in my bonnet. Wonder where it will lead?
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That is absolutely appalling that you did not qualify for an expedited appointment! I would keep calling if I were you! I have to deal with the assistance office often. I would not let this rest! What a shame!! I know we live in different states, but PA is in VERY bad shape right now.
butterflygirl | Sep 29, 2009 | Reply
Sorry to hear what you have to go through to get help. Our local food pantries have almost no rules and it makes me mad to see some people abuse the system. Our scout group has adopted the food pantry at the local Episcopal church and I volunteer at the pantry at our church. There are several others in town. I see the same people at both churches and I’m sure they “do the circuit.” There are no requirements at either place. I’ve heard that due to heavy increases in people needing help that they are trying to coordinate something so that more people can be helped.
Hope you will call your representatives – state and federal and wish you best in getting help!!
patrice | Sep 29, 2009 | Reply
In the DC area they do no checks at all for food banks and as a consequence there are people like those in the article they ran today driving top of the line SUV’s from gated communities, sprawling homes and carrying designer handbags walking in to get food… then- the kicker- criticizing the food that they are given.
I’m so sorry for you, this is such a broken aggravating system we have in this country. I realize I’ve never met you, but you are such a wonderful family. If you need anything before your processing comes through please let me know, I’d love to help.
Kim | Sep 29, 2009 | Reply
I have a sad food stamp story from years ago. My dad was out of work. My parents were expecting their 6th child. Things were bad so mom went to apply for food stamps. There was a $10 dollar processing fee. She didn’t have it.
Mom went to the neighbor’s home to beg the $10. This neighbor was the wife of a minister. She told my mom she would only give her the $10 if she would also let her pay for mom to go to New York to have an abortion. (This was just before Roe.) Needless to say we were pretty hungry till the money came from somewhere else.
Hang in there dear. No one would think badly of you if you put a donate button up on the blog. We all have to stick together in tough times.
Bridget | Sep 29, 2009 | Reply
I think a donate button is a fabulous idea! I was talking to my hubs about this last night – mentioning that I just tithed elsewhere and wished I had known sooner because I’d have loved to help provide for your families basic needs. I already planned to try to help you next payday but a button would be a great idea. I know you are okay, today. But, maybe today, while people have a little extra they would be happy to share.
The system is very frustrating, isn’t it? So much is broken but lets focus on keeping school kids in school during nights and weekends instead… stupidity at its best!
Kaira | Sep 29, 2009 | Reply
Wow. I am not sure what else I can say but wow and that that is just appalling.
DebbieQ | Sep 29, 2009 | Reply
I think they don’t bother because they know most people claiming don’t have the skills to make proper complaints etc about it. When we were claiming benefits in the past we had terrible trouble. At one point they incorrectly stopped paying us *and* didn’t tell us they were stopping. We were okay because we were only getting a small amount and we manage our finances well but for a lot of people on that kind of benefit it would be a serious problem so I made a formal complaint. In the end they started using our case as an example in training to prevent it happening to others.
Do people like congressmen or senators help people out with issues? (I wrote to my MP when our housing and council tax benefit claim hadn’t been processed after three months and within a couple of weeks we received a backdated cheque.)
Susan | Sep 29, 2009 | Reply
While I know that you have enough food for a few weeks, you still might try salvation army.
As for food stamps, I have always heard that in Texas they were a bit corrupt.
Sarah | Sep 29, 2009 | Reply
What about your church? Do they have any funds to help out in emergencies? Ours does, and it’s at the discretion of our priest, called the Discretionary Fund. Also our church has a food bank. If yours doesn’t, perhaps there are others in the area. Check the yellow pages.
But I still think you ought to contact all your Congressmen/women about your plight. It is unconscionable that you have to wait for 60 days just to get an appointment! No telling how long after that you will have to wait to get the stamps.
Grandma Margie | Sep 29, 2009 | Reply
Wow. That just…blows. I feel horribly for you but am full of admiration for the fact that you are stocked and prepared none the less. Great job, Milehi!
Government bureaucracy is insane, and ridiculous. No food stamp or pantry story – but my unemployment deferment ran out on my student loans and so did the forbearance they were in. So, I went for the economic hardship deferment, at the recommendation of customer service (that should have been my first clue). Apparently, I do not qualify for an economic hardship deference because…I don’t have a job. To qualify, one must work at least 30 hours a week yet still be unable to make payments. Ummm…no job isn’t an economic hardship? Fortunately I got another forbearance, but the interest continues to build…but still…their guidelines or whatever for determining economic hardship are just a bit – what? off? or something.
While nothing compared to your situation with government programs, it’s just a reminder that they’re ALL screwed up and seem to make no sense whatsoever!
I wish you luck and strength in all of this.
Tia | Sep 29, 2009 | Reply
It is insane. I waited for an hour in front of an empty desk.
Ya know, if they’re short handed I’d be happy to hire in and help ‘em out.
Milehimama | Sep 29, 2009 | Reply
Wow, people are really hurting. I read today that 12% of the American population is on foodstamps. And it looks like that number is going up if people are waiting. It unbelievable in this country. I’ll be following the bee in your bonnet. Go girl.
Houstonmom | Sep 29, 2009 | Reply
[...] here for a Houston mother’s experience trying to get help after her husband lost his job. [...]
Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.
12% of American population on foodstamps « houstonmom | Sep 30, 2009 | Reply
This is terrible. In an emergency, the system is totally crap. It’s the same here.
I agree with Kaira, a ‘Donate’ button is a great idea. Or perhaps consider an Amazon wishlist (As I’m sure you know, Barbara Curtis did this.)
Please God something will turn up soon, this is rough for you all.
Clare | Sep 30, 2009 | Reply
Our local food pantry also has a broken system. Their requirements are even more stringent than the food stamp office, requiring a certified birth certificate for every child in the house before they will give the poor any food.
Presumably, this is so they know the children actually exist? If I were a wicked woman, I’d suggest turning up at the food pantry with all eight of them in tow…
rosamundi | Sep 30, 2009 | Reply
I agree that a donate button would be a great idea.
I hear so many people say that they would love to help out (not just here but in real life as well) but folks don’t let them or people don’t speak up until they are desparate. Don’t wait until it get’s bad. Let us help.
Shelli | Sep 30, 2009 | Reply
Ok, I caved to peer pressure
I put up a donate button. I’ve truly overwhelmed at the people who have contacted me to help our family! Thank you so much!
Milehimama | Sep 30, 2009 | Reply
I just read Shelli’s comment and she makes a great point. Many people wait too long to ask for help. For me, I’d rather know right away if a friend needs help. We don’t have a lot of wiggle room in our budget so if I know my neighbor (honestly, my neighbor really burns me so this is hard to write) needs help – I’d like to know so I can plan how to work them into my budget. For example, maybe I’ll skip a splurge at the grocery store and get give that $ away instead. Also, with the way people are losing jobs these days, it’s good to help while we have a job!
Two thumbs up for you for prepping for the future! This is such a testimony to why we should all store up for lean seasons.
Kaira | Oct 1, 2009 | Reply
I told my husband about this, he said it just goes to show if you are going to use food stamps you’d better plan ahead. None of those “waiting until you’re sure you need it” scruples. . . . what a shame for our country.
Marie | Oct 3, 2009 | Reply
There is currently a class action lawsuit against the state of Texas for the long food stamp wait times. 40% of the applicants are made to wait past the federally mandated 30 day approval guidelines. We will be severely reduced on ours come the recert period as I have found a job. We will maybe receive 25% of what we were receiving. We are cutting back on what we have for the next 2 months so we can stretch out the remainder of the benefits.
Laurie | Oct 6, 2009 | Reply
I just read about your situation. If you have not already, you could check into Angel food ministries. I don’t believe they have requirements and they have some centers in Texas. I hope this helps!
http://www.angelfoodministries.com/
Heather | Oct 16, 2009 | Reply
Thanks for the tip, Heather!
I’ve looked into Angelfood ministries, but my oldest son can’t have certain kinds of food so it’s a better use of money to purchase what we CAN eat ourselves. However, if anyone else uses Angelfood, Hillbilly Housewife (www.hillbillyhousewife.com) posts monthly menus using the boxes!
Milehimama | Oct 16, 2009 | Reply
Back in the eighties, we came on hard times and went to the food stamp office for help. They told us, both of us, had to go and put in fifty applications a piece showing we were looking for work just to get a one month help with food stamps. Our relatives couldn’t help us, it was bad for everyone at the time. We didn’t have gas money to go to what would have been 100 places. We ended up going to a food pantry and they helped us for the month until my DH got the money that was owed him for a job. All we wanted was one month’s help and they wouldn’t do it. Also, you don’t put in an application when you are a sheetrock hanger. You are self employed but we couldn’t make the lady understand that.
eve | Nov 29, 2009 | Reply