My roommate is a grad student at an area psychology school. She doesn't receive a stipend and pays her tuition with loans. So not only is she in considerable debt, she has a $0 income. She applied for food stamps last month and she's documenting this ridiculous experience she's having dealing with her caseworker:
Mid-February:
My mom suggests that I apply for Food Stamps, as I am a graduate student with no income (besides federal student loans).
February 20th:
I apply online for Food Stamps.
The DTA writes me a letter saying that a) they received my request, b) they will call me within 5 days to schedule an interview, and c) if I do not hear from them, I should call the office.
February 23rd:
The above letter is postmarked (but I receive it on the 24th.)
The DTA writes me a letter saying that a) an appointment has been scheduled for me on February 26th at 10am, b) if I cannot make the appointment, I must call to reschedule, c) I may qualify for a telephone interview, and d) my request for Food Stamps may be denied if I do not keep or reschedule this appointment.
February 25th:
The above letter is postmarked (but I receive it on the 26th.)
February 26th:
I (angrily) call my DTA Caseworker and leave a voicemail explaining that I received the letter informing me of my scheduled appointment on the same day as said appointment, so obviously, I was not able to make it, and please could she call me to reschedule?
February 27th - March 5th:
Instead of hearing back from my DTA Caseworker, I receive a letter alerting me to the fact that I missed my scheduled appointment (O RLY?!) and if I simply check a box on this form, they can remove my name from the list of applicants.
I call my Caseworker for the second time and leave a second voicemail asking for my appointment to be rescheduled and telling her to please keep my name on the list of applicants.
March 6th:
I call my DTA Caseworker for the third time and leave a third voicemail.
March 23rd:
The DTA writes me a letter saying that a) my application has been denied because I failed to complete the application process, b) I have the right to make another application at any time, c) I should call my Caseworker with any questions (HA HA HA), and d) I can request a hearing if I disagree with any action or inaction taken by the DTA.
March 24th:
The above letter is postmarked (but I receive it on the 26th).
March 26th:
I (angrily) call my DTA Caseworker and politely/firmly let her know that this is my fourth time calling and if I don-t hear from her by tomorrow (March 27th), I will be filing an appeal.
So, not only has this woman not called me back THREE TIMES NOW, she gave me no notice of a "mandatory" appointment and then denied my application based on my absence from said appointment and apparent failure to follow-up with her, despite the fact that, as I said, I left her THREE MESSAGES.
Frankly, I-m amazed that ANYONE is on Food Stamps when they make it easier to GIVE UP than to complete the process. Sucks for them that I intend to follow through on this to the bitter end. BRING IT ON, DTA. BRING. IT. ON.
No comments:
Post a Comment