Food Stamp Saga continues…
By Milehimama on Dec 7, 2009 in Food Stamp Challenge
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We still are not able to buy food with food stamps. It has been 71 days since we turned in our application.
On Friday, Dec. 2 I received a letter detailing what our benefits would be. I received another letter stating that TWO of our eight children are certified for Medicaid and I’ll be getting numbers for them in the mail. No word why the other children were not certified.
I spent a fruitless day today calling all over. At one point, I was on hold for 90 minutes.
Several of the 1-800 numbers (and there is more than one) don’t work or simply say “we can’t help you right now” and hang up.
My case number will not be accepted by the computer.
We have $0 on our card to buy food with.
I finally spoke to someone, who said something “was wrong with the paperwork”, put me on hold without explanation, then popped me over to someone’s voicemail. I did leave a message.
I called the 800 # again, on hold for half an hour before speaking with another customer service representative.
Our application is on someone’s desk waiting for yet another rubber stamp before the benefits will be put on our card. Our case worker did not document anything, even though I’ve spoken with her twice (once on the phone, once in person).
I mentioned to the customer service rep that my phone call with the representative was punctuated by profanity (on the caseworkers part) and our face to face meeting was shocking. The worker made us stand in a hallway, repeatedly telling us she “didn’t have time for this” (i.e., taking our papers that she requested). We stood in the hallway for a while as she went to her office for something – next to a stack of paperwork that listed over twenty people’s names and social security numbers. Just right out in the open.
Finally, our case worker shoved our documents at the cleaning lady and told her to make copies, and told us to go back into the waiting area (where we had waited for SIX HOURS before the caseworker “didn’t have time for us”.)
Anyway, can’t say as I’m surprised that the caseworker didn’t document anything. She misspelled the children’s names in some cases, and has wrong birthdates in other cases. It’s pretty much simple incompetance, as I gave her official documents with official names and birthdates.
I called the supervisor, but was unable to leave a message because her voicemail was too full. I left a message instead for some other random person. I have not received a return phone call from anyone, haven’t received a denial of benefits, but have no benefits to use.
Again, it has been 71 days and now I’m in another limbo due to incompetance.
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Time to move it higher. Contact your state representative and senator. Let them know what is going on. Then think about contacting the press.
I always hate to go that route, but is sounds like you may need that type of higher up support.
Donna | Dec 7, 2009 | Reply
I did contact the ombudsman and got to a supervisor in Austin, who couldn’t believe how suckish my case worker is (that’s my word, BTW. The Austin lady was completely helpful and professional). Found out she didn’t even put baby Alli in the computer, didn’t bother to certify any of the children under the age of 6, and printed out the food stamp letter saying we were certified but then DIDN’T FINISH certifying us at all. Unfortunately, the office – and my case worker – have 7 days to respond to the ombudsman.
Meanwhile, I’m trying to work out if I can speak at a meeting concerning certifying farmer’s markets to take the food stamp card. It’s not right that you can buy a Snickers at Conoco with EBT but not a bunch of broccoli at a farmer’s market. There’s a food policy group I just found out about but their meeting is on Wednesday!
Milehimama | Dec 7, 2009 | Reply
oh no. That stinks. If you were still in SC I would share some of our garden stuff. I wish I could help.
beckye | Dec 7, 2009 | Reply
I have nothing of value to say – only that man, that really sucks. Incompetence breed incompetence and it seems government offices are in the midst of an epidemic. At least the Houston Food Stamp office.
Tia | Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
Oh dear. So we aren’t the only ones?
Sadly this kind of lassitude and indifference is shockingly commonplace. I guess most recipients of benefits are too exhausted by dealing with the vagaries of the system, plus their own domestic circumstances to take on the complaints procedure as well.
More power to you Milehi. I hope your experience, and your ability to articulate it so clearly, will be of benefit to those who can’t speak up and whose voices don’t have any clout.
Clare | Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
I think I would have fallen out after all this! Prayers for your continued sanity. Keep contacting your representative, or even your local news station. We have a news station here that takes up these sorts of problems in the community – weekly spot. Public embarrassment always seems to get the wheels turning in your favor.
Alexandra | Dec 9, 2009 | Reply
Oh geez- you know, I think they make it so hard and soul crushing to discourage you from actually getting the benefits.
I, too, wish that you could use food stamps at farmer’s markets. I hope you’re successful with getting that noticed.
Shannon | Dec 10, 2009 | Reply
Here in AL, you can use EBT at farmer’s markets, at least at ones that are set up for it. Hopefully they’ll start that in your area!
I also recently noticed signs in the grocery store stating that WIC can be used on fresh produce now, too. Not sure what the restrictions are on that since WIC is different than food stamps, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction!
Melanie | Dec 10, 2009 | Reply
Yes, WIC gives an allotment for fresh fruit and vegetables if you are breastfeeding. You can’t buy potatoes with it or bagged salad, but almost any other fruit/veg is eligible.
Milehimama | Dec 10, 2009 | Reply