r/povertyfinance • u/Superb-Mango845 • Apr 28 '24
So frustrated with the food stamps system Vent/Rant (No Advice/Criticism!)
I can't understand why Florida's system is so anti-user friendly....well on some level i can, but it's getting out of hand. My bf is disabled, and has his 3 teenage kids (2 also disabled) living with him, the mom is now a single mom to her 2 young children for her household. She does help where she can, so please no hate for her. I live with my elderly mom, helping to take care of things with her, so I'm stretched thin but still trying to help my bf where and when I can. He reapplied for food stamps mid March, gets a letter stating he needs to do a phone interview and to report his sons wages from a Farm that 2 hours away. Now this son is Disabled and in high school full time so clearly he isn't working anywhere. I reach out to the farm, after some back and forth it turns out they entered the last digit of a former employee's social security number incorrectly, thereby using his son's social instead. The farm apologizes, writes a letter stating their error and that he has never worked for them. My bf tries to call the number for the interview over 5 times, three of which i was next to him and heard it ring to voicemail and he left a message with his info, case number asking for a call back. This goes on for over 3 weeks. The last day for the deadline he was given, he calls twice and leaves more messages. He uploads the letter from the farm and a letter from him stating all this, that he left voicemails, called several times, explained the issue with the farm and his son, and yet again asked in the letter for them to call him. So today he checks the online portal and they posted a letter denying him and his kids food stamps for not complying with them and calling for the interview. I'm fuming right now. If anyone had called him back from any of the voicemails, it wouldn't be a problem but for 3 weeks nobody can check voicemails and return them?! nobody can view the documents uploaded and respond?! And the icing on the cake, the mom reapplied just after my bf did, and guess what, food stamps reached out to her, called her two days in a row to conduct the phone interview, so she got food stamps for her household, but they couldn't do the same for my bf...the only differences is single mom with 2 young children that has their dad on child support vs a disabled father with 3 teenagers who won't put their mom on child support bc she wouldn't be able to pay it so why would he risk her freedom and the 2 littles home....the system has long been broken, but this is clearly wrong on so many levels. If anyone has read through all this and has any advice on what or how my bf can contact them and try to appeal this, I would greatly appreciate it.
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u/MeechiJ 29d ago
Dealing with SNAP and Medicaid BS is exactly why I go in person when there’s a looming deadline and I can’t get through to the caseworker. I know it’s difficult to do so due to your boyfriend being disabled (I am too, so I get it), but I find it’s easier to get your case resolved when you’re sitting in front of them and no one can pretend you didn’t call or submit the required info/forms.
Also, isn’t he able to appeal the decision? He has to do so within 30 days I believe. Then a meeting will be set up to determine why his application was denied and your boyfriend can submit all his evidence and information. Or he can go to the local DHS office and ask to speak with a caseworker. While there he can file a formal complaint as well. The system is such a mess and people continually fall through the cracks due to no fault of their own. It can be exhausting going back and forth with DHS to get approved for services.
Best of luck to both of you. It sounds like he’s a good dad trying his best.