Menu
Florida Department of Children and Families - Food Stamp Program

Florida Department of Children and Families - Food Stamp Program review: Inability to reach the Florida Department of Children and Families 146

K
Author of the review
12:21 pm EST
Review updated:
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Featured review
This review was chosen algorithmically as the most valued customer feedback.

The Florida Department of Children and Families' ACCESS website should be disabled as well as the ACCESS toll-free number. It is at an expense to tax payers to maintain the website and the toll-free number and both, especially the ACCESS toll-free number, are practically useless. There is not any contact or email address on the website to assist one if you have a problem other than the listed ones. You can not reach a live person at all on the 800 number. I have a simple problem. I need my case number. I can not access any information with out it and I can not get anyone to help me get it. I am homebound, as many, many others that receive assistance are. This long-standing issue needs to be brought to the attention of our law makers as it is a gross misuse and mismanagment of tax payers dollars. I actual feel the the FDCF is intentionally making it as difficult as possible to receive assistance so that perhaps people will be discouraged and not apply or give up.

Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

146 comments
G
G
GJones1964
Boca Raton, US
Aug 16, 2010 6:48 pm EDT

I agree with some here and shake my head in disbelief on others and there reasonings. My situation is I am a single father of my two children and there 5 year old brother. My daughter is on SSI due to a rare medical condition. DCF took my children and there brother from my ex and her BF (boys biological father) due to several police visits for domestic issues between mom and BF. After the 8th complaint someone at the BSO decided enough was enough and Childnet (contracted with DCF in Broward County) was called and the children were removed. That was August 2008 and just last month after spending almost two years of my life and every cent I had I finally got full custody of all three children. The crap that I had to go through just to get custody was beyond belief but that is another story. This story is about trying to get my childrens medicaid switched from Ohio back to Florida as well as any assistance I may qualify for. I say back because the children were born and raised here but when I got temp custody I took them to Ohio. Unfortunately I had to return to Florida because the Judge wanted to see the children. Didn't want to see them for the whole time until last month but what the heck I did what I had too, including hiring a separate lawyer just for the children in case Florida was trying something funny. My story starts with the end of that and me applying for medicaid, cash assistance and food stamps on this new system that Florida uses called myaccess. For over a year I have not been able to work full time because of conditions set upon me and my children. I was ordered that only I and no other could take any of the children to doctors and since my daughter required many visits it made it impossible for me to hold full time employment. Now I am unemployed and in Florida and have been denied medicaid, cash assistance and food stamps because DCF says that I never sent them everything they asked. I did send it to them and they realized that after the dreaded 30 day mark but when I call the interview number all they tell me is they are sending an email to the case worker which of course I asked for that persons name and number and "BIG" surprise they are not allowed to give that to me. The CSR on the phone today told me my best chances are to reapply. I asked well what do I do if this happens again? Re-reapply...So now school starts tomorrow and my children can not attend because I can't get them the yellow physical form or the blue shot record form since I do not have the money and the doctors who have been the childrens doctors for almost all there lifes will not even see them unless the insurance is taken care of first. Very frustrating and I really don't expect anyone here to even offer advice let alone read this but I guess sites like this is probabaly made up by the very people we are complaining about so we have a way to vent. I guess what made me write more than anything else is the dead beat dad comment before mine. Just because you're a man doesn't mean you're a dead beat. The children's mother is a dead beat too. It makes me wonder if my problems I am having is related too being a man.

D
D
dasacc1
, US
Aug 16, 2010 4:05 pm EDT

I too agree with all of the post listed here. Everytime I recertify, I have to wait longer than the 30 days, or they don't get my information correct; then I am denied. If you can get through to the supposedly "customer service" line, they still can't help. They will tell you anything to get you off of the phone. They know that you probably won't get through again today. I think it is ridiculous. Maybe they should give me a job and I might not need food stamps. I am sure I can do a better job than many of the CSR's they already have.

M
M
michaeljf
Rockledge, US
Jul 29, 2010 9:38 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Isn't it incredible that will all the complaints in the world there appears to be no effort in improving the system. The original posting was done in 2008. It is now July 2010. Here we are two years later and the system still sucks. What a joke to call the 800 number and be told that "Call volume is too high...try your call another time..." and then have it hang up on you. Real nice. So, let me get this straight... people are expected to get back on their feet doing things like trying to get a good job or going back to school, but in order to get assistance in the mean time you must spend hours (and many times, days) trying to get through to someone that can offer help? Ok - I'll quit my job so I can try calling in full time, oh yeah, and I'll be sure to spend endless resources driving to the office and sending faxes using money I don't have.

Oh, and one other thing... good luck getting dead beat dads to pay their child support. The FL court system is so screwed up, you will spend 10 times the amount of child support you 'might" get in court. I have heard more excuses from the FL court system explain why there is nothing they can do to help. Hmmm, I don't know... maybe try putting these people on lock-down. Suspend their drivers license, fine them, arrest them, garnish their wages. Self-employed dead beats should have their business license revoked.

I highly recommend that everyone impacted by this should contact the Governor's office using whatever means possible (phone, email, snail mail, front door).

http://www.flgov.com/contact_governor

Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com
Jeff.Kottkamp@MyFlorida.com

Contact the Governor or Lt. Governor
Office of Governor Charlie Crist
State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL [protected]

Telephone:

¦Citizen Services Hotline: [protected]
¦Executive Office of the Governor Switchboard: [protected]
[Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time]

Fax: [protected]

For individuals with hearing loss or speech disability:
[protected] (TTY)

F
F
FLORIDA BABY
PENSACOLA, US
Jul 02, 2010 5:20 pm EDT

I HAVE MANY PROBLEMS WITH DCF, I HAVE BEEN GETTING FOOD STAMPS FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS BECAUSE I IHAVE 2 CHILDREN AND MAKE ONLY 10 DOLLARS AN HOUR.

LAST MONTH IT WAS TIME FO MY RECERTIFICATION AND I HAVE BEEN DENIED 2 TIMES FOR THE REASON BEING THAT I HAVE RECEIVED A LUMP SUM. BUT I HAVE NOT
!

NO ONE EVEN CALLED ME TO VERIFY THEIR INFORMATION WAS CORRECT, THEY JUST DENIED IT AND CLOSED THE CASE, NOW I AM STILL FIGHTING TO GET MY FOOD STAMPS WHICH I REALLY NEED TO GET BY WITH MY 2 KIDS, AS I ONLY MAKE 10 DOLLARS AN HOUR.

B
B
BabyMomma561
Hobe Sound, US
Jul 01, 2010 3:15 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I have had benefits on and off since 2006. Back then it was easy to get information from them. NOW... it has taken me up to 3 days of calling to get a hold of someone.
Also, Since i am pregnant again, i needed my HMO changed to pregnancy medicaid and they told me they did it, but i went to 3 appointments just to get told my HMO is still showing up and they couldnt see me till it said Medcaid. When i called Department of children and families they finally told me why it keeps showing up to doctors as a HMO, caseworkers were switching people to pregnancy medicaid but forgetting to cancel out the HMO, i was not the only person this happened to. I am 15 weeks pregnant now and still have no seen a doctor because now they tell me it will switch in the system by August 1st. DCF needs to get on the ball here, they are not like how they used to be, or they just stopped caring.
and good luck calling with the appointment letters.. i found out what works, fax them saying u have called many times and can not get through, they will call you. it works for my mother-in-law a couple weeks ago!

O
O
Opinionatedone
, MX
Jun 11, 2010 1:39 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I agree with everyone. Something needs to be done about the "customer service". I am a single mother, and have applied 4 times to try to get foodstamps, and i have not received anything in the mail except 1 letter that said i had a phone interview. The letter stated the phone interview was on the 6th and I received the letter on the 9th. They closed my case and made me apply all over again. It does seem as if they want to discourage people so that we dont get the help we need and deserve. If I did not need the help from the state...trust me...I would not go through all this hassle for someone to butt into my life and several "workers" to be rude and unprofessional.

C
C
chelsey28
Jacksonville, US
Jun 10, 2010 12:06 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

does anybody know how i can find out what my case number is? i cant do anything without it! i have been waiting for a month and a half to get my money and still do not have it.. when i call to see what my deposit date is they ask for my case number! so can anybody help me figure out how to get it please!

S
S
shleps
Kissimm, US
May 26, 2010 9:08 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I just was denied food stamps today for myself. I was over by $8.50! $8.50! I am unemployed, receiving unemployment, only pays car and roof over my head. Cant pay electric, can't by food. I have worked hard all my life, single mother of one who is just finishing first year of college. So proud, but cannot feel her when she comes home this summer. This really sucks

D
D
David M. C
Zephyrhills, US
May 24, 2010 8:46 am EDT

Same deal with me. I have never received my benefiets for March of this year. Received my Feburary emergency food stamps, but when i applied for Medicade in March, its somehow stopped my March benefits. I have received benefits for Apr, May and am eligible for June and July, but i guess they are just going to keep my March benefits. What did they do with THAT money. Have spend several hours on phone and actually got to speak to someone on the ACCESS phone systme twice and both times they stated that they see what the problem is and was going to turn it over to their supervisors to correct and i should have the money on my EBT card within 10 days. This was told to me TWICE, and as of yet... NOTHING. Tried calling last several days and went through the circle of options just to get the recording that due to heavy caller volume call back... WTF! I am in pasco county. Does anyone know anything i can do. If so please email me at dmcatlett@verizon.net THanks, David

A
A
aliousala
jax, US
May 02, 2010 11:52 am EDT

Can people really take this crap? The thing to do is to hold a welfare mom party at the DCF offices where you live.!

These people are paid by tax payers. And they are only there instead of you because they know someone who got them in. So please, don't take crap from welfare workers or any gov. worker.

I vote for stores with my $$$. I should be able to hold local, state and national gov. workers accountable as well.

If a store treats me like crap, I never come back. e.g. KMart lost my business about 8 years ago. Apparently I was not the only one. They had to file bankruptcy when the economy was still booming, before even the country was in recession.

K
K
Kelvin E Brown/Mary Brown
Fort Myers, US
Apr 12, 2010 5:36 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I have been trying for days to reach the [protected] for a deaf man who's did not get his stamps for April. he recertified 3/8/10, faxed the information asked of him.no stamps for
April.he has tried thru the TDD phone for the deaf. its always says all agents are busy, call later and hang up. this man has had numeral people call and can't get thru and when
you go to the local office in ft myers, can get no help. who can this young man call.just terrible. what can a person in this situation do.

D
D
disgruntled for sure
Lake Worth, US
Apr 07, 2010 5:44 am EDT

GOOD luck, , , Iam disabled, have a disabled minor child and a single parent I was on medicade for a year, , I need a organ transplant by the way, , , so I cant work, , my child gets ssi and I get regular disability, , , I didnt want food stamps, only the medical well after a year they put me on medical needy and, none of my docxs take that soooo, what am I gonna do now, , , the say I make to much money well, , ok run a house take care of a child and buy meds on 1200 a month, , , plus I cant even go to the docs now, , and I need so many test every week its not funny, , , the people hang up on you, , , the case worker I have lied to me, , , she called and left a message that they needed more info for my foodstamp app, well I never put one in I called her said I only redid my medicaid, , she said all of that was ok and just a month later it was all gone, , , The state of Fl, is the worst state there is, , , , I have been here 35 years and this is the second time I have needed help and both times its been BAD>>>>>

I
I
Impulse26
Hudson, US
Apr 06, 2010 12:14 pm EDT

I am having such a terrible time with this, every time I call the call center I get a recorded message that tells me all the lines are busy and then it hangs up on me! I have been through the stupid recordings like a hundred times with the same result each time. I have been on food stamps for a while, I'm disabled and rarely know where I am going to sleep from one night to the next and for whatever reason they cut off my food! I don't know what to do . . .

C
C
c norman
Yulee, US
Mar 29, 2010 7:53 pm EDT

i have found this number it is Jacksonville number, but heck it is a DCF number Nancy Dreicer, Regional Director
5920 Arlington Expressway, Jacksonville 32211
[protected]

A
A
ANGRALEE61
Lady Lake, US
Mar 12, 2010 6:31 pm EST

I HOPE THIS WILL HELP SOME OF YOU. IN MY FRUSTRATION I LEARNED THE PERSON IN CHARGE (THIS WAS IN SEMINOLE COUNTY THOUGH) BUT YOU GET LIVE PEOPLE ON THE PHONE THAT ARE NICE! MAYBE AFTER THEY GET BOMBARDED WITH CALLS FROM ALL OF YOU IT MIGHT CHANGE BUT HERE GOES. THE MANS NAME IS ~ DAMN I 4GOT HIS FIRST NAME ALL OF A SUDDEN BUT ITS: MR. GLICK. IM SORRY I CAN'T FIND MY OLD PHONE BOOK. WHEN I DO I'LL REPORT BACK. TO THE PERSON LOOKING FOR HER CASE #. IF YOU RECIEVE ANY CORRESPONDANCE FROM D.C.F. YOUR CASE # APPEARS EITHER UNDER PAYEE NAME, OR ITS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PAGE BY ITSELF. USUALLY BEGINNING WITH THE #'S1107, OR ITS UNDER THE DATE OF SUBSEQUENT PGS OF ANY LETTERS. IF YOU HAVE NOTHING FROM THEM? SORRY!

A
A
ANGRALEE61
Lady Lake, US
Mar 12, 2010 6:13 pm EST

IVE BEEN DISABLED FOR MANY YRS. WHENEVER I DID GET THROUGH AND TRYING TO BE AS PLEASANT AS POSSIBLE (SO NOT TO HAVE A MISERABLE PERSON HANG UP ON ME) THE PEOPLE WITH PERSONALITY ACTUALLY TOLD ME THAT HER OWN HUSBAND CAN'T CALL HER @ WORK! THEY DON'T GIVE YOU A REGULAR WORKER WITH AN EXTENTION ANYMORE LIKE THEY USED TO. AND I AGREE WITH ANOTHER BLOGGER AND THOUGHT THE SAME AS THEY DID, THAT THEY INTENTIONALLY MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO JUST GIVE UP AND GET A JOB ALREADY. I'LL ADMIT THEY'RE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ABUSE THE SYSTEM. BUT SOME OF US ARENT. I SEE PEOPLE COMMING IN TO FILL OUT APPLICATIONS CALMLY CRACKING THEIR GUM WITH BIG GOLD CHAINS ON THEIR NECKS! I PAWNED ALL MY JEWELRY ALONG TIME AGO. I HAVE NOTHING ELSE. ISN'T THAT WHO THE ASSISTANCE IS SUPPOSED TO HELP? WELL, ITS LIKE IVE SAID FOR YRS NOW. THE WORLD IS FULL OF IDIOTS & REPUBLICANS. HOW COULD YOU PEOPLE VOTE FOR HIM NOT ONCE BUT TWICE! (PERSONALLY IM JUST ABOUT AS CERTAIN AS ONE COULD BE THAT GOV. BUSH & ASSOC. FIXED THE FIRST RACE) BUT HE PUT THIS COUNTRY IN HELL IN A HANDBASKET AND GAVE EVERYTHING HE SOLD HIS SOUL FOR TO DICK CHEYNEY! MAY HE ROT IN HELL. L.LYNN FLORIDA

K
K
karen o'neil
Orlando, US
Mar 12, 2010 5:51 pm EST

bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiittttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttcccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccchhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

C
C
cindy394
Atlantic Beach, US
Mar 11, 2010 12:43 pm EST

my experince is all to alike these. i have received no income except child support since august when i began applying. i have been hung up on, could not get my faxes sent it, could not get anyone on phones, when i did they did not follow up as they said they would and kept getting my applications denied for the technical reasons that were cause d by a dysfunctional system. very frustrating. now after months (i went into an office twice and showed to get help) have benefits but the EBT card does not work and can get no one on the phone to assist me. I h ave used the little income i have to pay bills to buy food so bills go unpaid and risk of utilities getting shut off repeatedly. no funds for house repairs and can't get assistance otherwise as i was self employed and own a house- just (its in foreclosure) the land of the rich i am afraid is the land for the rich.
there is a complaint site at: dcf.state.fl.us/admin/IG file a complaint- only way to change this system is to patiently perservere

to file an appeal: [protected] best and may everyone get the help they need

T
T
tweetypie1809
melbounre, US
Mar 10, 2010 5:17 pm EST

i was sent a notice to redo my foodstamps and i filed them on the 15 of feb and they did a phone interview and was told they had every thing the needed and them on the 3rd of march i got a phone call and answered the messages and call them and was told they needed a paper stating that i am in school so i rushed around to get it sent to them and went to stample and had it sent to them that night and now i have placed three calls to them about my food stamps and i was told on one of the calls i would have them in three days and i have placed two calls two to day and was told that it would be 7 more days til i get them i have a disable child in my home and working the dcf because my son teacher slamed him in to a wall at school and i am working with other agecny to get help and i still do not have my food stamps their tell me to call meals on wheels, 211 and i should not have to do that since i get food stamps from the state and i have no food and no food stamps eirther.

U
U
ugaboogaboogaboo
Saint Augustine Beach, US
Mar 05, 2010 11:52 am EST

athe unemployment benefits have been exhausted and I still can't get medicaid or foodstamps! What a joke!

N
N
NeedHelp??
Winter Haven, US
Mar 02, 2010 12:39 pm EST

[protected] thats the number to interview line people

T
T
this system sucks
cape coral, US
Feb 26, 2010 4:17 am EST

I just moved to the state of Florida like 6 months ago. I applied December 30, for foodstamps and medicaid and til this day(like 2 months after) I still have not been approved! I am so angry. My coworker with 1 child and a husband is getting over $300 in foodstamps! That's insane! My kids father is mad at me for taking him to chils support(whcih they make u do in order to get benefits for ourself too) so he stopped giving me money altogether since decemberr. My income is $8 @ 35 a wk. I'm desperate for food. Its sad cuz my son loves to eat fruit and I can't even buy that for him. My priority is paying the rent, electric and the water. I think we all need to get together and reach a news station so this can be exposed. My email address is heidy.v54@gmail.com. let's come together and try to make a difference because the more voices that unite, the more pressure on them to act. I'm sure they are aware of all the complaints cuz they treat people like dirt and get away wih putting u on hold..and the magically ur disconneted when u ask to speak to a supervisor. And the when I ask for any of their names. Who knows if their lying to you!

Angry Heidy

D
D
desperateandconfused
Cocoa, US
Feb 09, 2010 5:21 pm EST

Fax number to send in your Case Documents: [protected] Just make sure you send all your documents with your case number in bold on top of EVERY page.

Also, you can fax a .DOC file for free using faxzero.com.
They let you put in sender and receiver information and then attach a document to fax.
I use it just because we don't have a home phone or fax machine and our library will only fax job applications or resumes. Have you every heard of a government agency that wont help you get help from another agency? Sound familiar . . .

S
S
Serene Burns
Tallahassee, US
Feb 01, 2010 8:07 pm EST

If it wasnt for the grace of God my kids wouldnt have eaten this month. They dont care about us and whatever is going on inside DCF we will never know. If they had to go home and figure out how your going to feed your kids with one can of tuna and some stale crackers and one can of soup. They dont have to face us anymore and out of site means out of touch with the reality of our lives.

R
R
reeree36
ocala, US
Jan 26, 2010 8:35 am EST

I have read all the stories and I TOTALLY agree! It is disgusting! I got a letter in the mail that they were terminating my childrens medicaid by the end of this month unless I could send OR FAX my paycheck stubs by the 12th of January. My employer just gave me my paycheck stubs YESTERDAY so of course I can't mail them in... BUT WHERE DO I FIND A FAX NUMBER! I keep calling the 800# and OF COURSE I get that stupid message "our call center is experiencing extremely high call volume" then they hang up on me! UUGGHH! This is soooo aggravating! Can anyone help me and please give me the fax number for the Florida office? Thanks in advance and

S
S
Simbasue
Palm Beach Gardens, US
Jan 12, 2010 3:20 pm EST

I find what DCF is doing to be outright criminal.I have been on public assistance for a year now and DCF has been great until last month.December may not be a good time to reapply, but you have to do what you have to do to survive.Anyway, I have heard nothing from DCF since I re-applied last month.I am unable to get anyone on the phone(from ANY DCF phone number)I have called and called and called.Messages are never returned or quite possibly deleted before they were actually listened to.I have no idea what is happening, DCF refuses to help me.Their phone system is a joke and don't even get me started on their useless websites.
I do not know what we are going to do.Right now we are surviving on canned goods(mostly expired) and the occasional handout.I imagine I will be a hooker by next week so we can eat, and I am not above begging for food.
Thanks to DCF, I am seriously concerned that myself and my family will will be very sick very soon from lack of food.I even wrote to Charlie Crist...although I doubt he has time or really cares about us either.
Damn you DCF.

T
T
Tinapcola
Pensacola, US
Dec 18, 2009 11:08 am EST

I agree that the system is failing. I lost my job early this year. I applied for food stamp and was denied on the ground that I did not comply with the appointment. I never received an appointment. I tried again a couple of months later since I knew that I could not live much longer of my credit cards because I was approaching my credit limit. This time I was denied saying I never submitted the documents they requested. I faxed in all documents on time and have the stamp from Office Depot proofing so. I continue to live of my credit cards and eat as little as possible. Now that my health is beginning to suffer from not eating well I tried it again. This time I went to the center and submitted the application and brought all documents with me. That was 7 days ago and once again I am getting the run a round. They asking for documents that I already gave them now twice since I applied this time. I checked the site and no change. They waiting on the documents. I went to the office but they say there is no one I can talk to about my case. I went home with an empty stomach AGAIN. At the end of this month I will be homeless since my credit cards are maxed out. I am 50 years old and never thought this could happen. Thank you Florida.

C
C
carissa2005
Jacksonville, US
Dec 15, 2009 5:03 pm EST

Well, I can honestly say that even though this is the first time I've ever had to apply for public assistance I haven't really had any problems. It's best to call early in the morning like 8 am, the longest Ive been on hold is anywhere from 12-15 minutes. If you call late in the afternoon or around lunch time you will never get in touch with anyone. They have been really quick as far as my case has been. The only hold up for me is child support which has been almost 6 months for me is only due to my son's father. The other agencies do tend to act like they are smarter than you but as a college grad who just happened to get involved with the wrong guy and ended up taking care of him myself and needed a little help I let them know I'm not some hood, welfare mom and that I'm very intelligent. So far pleasant experience.

A
A
alh22
Coral Springs, US
Dec 11, 2009 11:20 am EST

After being told "all representatives are too busy to take your call, please try again later" I called and called and called for 2 hours to be told that my previous food stamp benefits were denied because my husband makes too much money. That is laughable considering we have had to stop paying our credit cards and maintenance payment at our condo because the new job that he got after being let go of his previous job pays about 3/4 of his old wage. This very rude woman from DCF informed me since his gross income was more than the poverty line limit, they did not take our household expenses into consideration. Therefore, the fact that we cannot pay our bills each month and have no money for food or gas didnt even get taken into consideration? What is the consideration then? When my daughter shows up to day care with dirty clothes and no lunch, will that allow them to take things into consideration? you know, we only had food stamps for 3 months before they took them away and now, I have no idea how we are going to make it through the next 6 months. I am in my last semester of college and have to basically teach a class 5 days a week in order to get my teaching certificiate and be able to get a job and try to dig pur family out of this hole. Does that get taken into "consideration" the fact that I am not some immigrant, dead beat, drug addicted, welfare mom trying to get what ever free ride i can. NO! I am no different in their eyes, somenone trying to do all they can for their family and working their ### off to get no where except foreclosed on their condo and forced to quit school to get a minimum wage job so their 22 month old daughter doesn't starve is no different from the crack addicted prostitute on the corner. Oh wait, we are different- the prositute gets the EBT card cuz her cash is off the record...

A
A
amyz
Fort Walton Beach, US
Nov 24, 2009 5:56 pm EST

I too feel that fdcf is giving up the run around so we will eventually give up and starve. This is rediculous. Then if i do find a ride the TWO employees there are rude and so busy they couldnt help a small child with a happy meal!

C
C
confused2day
Port Richey, US
Nov 16, 2009 10:28 am EST

I have experienced the same thing as everyone on here has. Examples being, I get my letter for a interview on the day of the interview. My worker one time kept my case pending because she didn't know how to do the math. It stated on my letter, that I send 4 weeks of paystubs...as I was talking to her, I sent 5 weeks of past pay stubs (fax) she kept my case pending because she said I didn't send the right information...hello I sent exactly what they wanted. Of course I did not get accepted so I was denied for food stamps. Then when my hours started to go down, I went and reapplied through the system as a change of information and was denied. So I reapplied again a week ago and there is nothing in my access that says that I even applied! Everyone is always rude, they never get the information you fax over and send...I make copies to fax and send over everytime I talk to them. The other day I waited on hold for 2 hours...there was static on the phone, I asked her to give me a second to move to a better place, since I had been on hold for 2 hours and she hung up on me!
This should be a class action law suite against the state.
I see people on SS on medicaid and food stamps who come into my office and fail drug test after drug test. I see people at the grocery stores with carts full of groceries paying with their ebt card and cash for their 100.00 worth of beer and cigs..hell I wish I had their 100.00 for food. Try to explain to your children why those people have all the good food and why they have so much..Bet the higher ups do not have to explain to their children anything.
I even complied with Child support even though I live in fear of retaliation from my x. Who by the way...files for ss gets denied and files again as soon as he is denied. Yeah..the x has learned to play the systems...he hides behind the fact that while there is an open case at the SS office..you can't touch them for Child Support...so he lives with his FAT girlfriend who I am sure has not missed a meal in months...abusing his prescription drugs while I have to sometimes feed my daughters off of 50.00 in two weeks..Thank State of Florida..for all your help. Funny, I didn't even ask for a hand out...just a little help!

R
R
redkat
Seminole, US
Nov 02, 2009 8:29 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

This is horrible! My unemployment benefits have exhausted and the senate is taking their sweet time deciding on the extension. Meanwhile I try for days to reach someone on this toll free number [protected] and you cannot reach anyone. I am trying to at least get some help with food in case the extension doesn't go through. ALL I CAN SAY IS-JUST IMAGINE THIS USELESS TOLL FREE NUMBER WAS YOUR ONLY ACCESS TO "PUBLIC HEALTHCARE" FOR YOU OR YOUR FAMILY. I CAN'T IMAGINE COUNTING ON THIS STUPID GOVERNMENT FOR ANYTHING!

Y
Y
yapper 05101978
Orlando, US
Oct 06, 2009 2:54 pm EDT

here are two numbers that do work. (orange county) [protected] x 210 fax is [protected] hope this helps!

T
T
TroJoe
33139, US
Sep 08, 2009 12:53 pm EDT

This is absurd.
I applied for food benefits over a month ago - I was granted emergency assistance (or whatever they call it) and told I was eligible for $185 a month... all I had to do was fax in some verification of income and electricity assistance. I did. Twice. Then? September 7th comes along and I receive no benefits. When I look at the website it says that Septembers benefits are on hold pending receipt of verification... and then just a little lower on the same webpage it says "No further verification is needed." -- So which is it? Since I'm literally starving, I tried calling to speak with someone immediately.
Upon calling the 866 number, and navigating the automated system, I press "0" to speak with a "customer service agent" (which I think is something of a misnomer, i'm not a customer - i'm hungry.) As soon as I press "0" an automated message plays that says "Due to high call volume all agents are currently busy. Please try your call again later." which is followed promptly by my call being disconnected.
3 hours and 40+ calls later I finally get connected to hold music. I've been on hold for 34 minutes.
Regardless of how this situation is resolved, I intend to bring this to the attention of the local office, the local news, and local and state government.

Absolutely absurd.

L
L
lilyb
Miami Gardens, US
Aug 21, 2009 8:40 pm EDT

wow, im having the same problem with dcf. Ive been calling for 4 months, we had our co. close and our income dropped 80% w 3kids. they also told us THEY COULDNT READ OUR FAX, AND BEFORE THAT THEY SAID THEY NEVER GOT IT. It would take weeks before anyone picked up the phone. I couldnt sit there and punch numbers on the phone for more than 1/2hour a day. So today, I did. I made 41 phone calls in 2 1/2 hours, I finally got thru and the guy wouldnt talk to me, he put me thru to someones voicemail. Advice: mail everything so they can't say they can't read it. So I made a dcf online complaint everytime I got disconnected, thats right, 41. I recd a call on my excessive complaints made today and this afternoon I recd a call from the state - she said to call another number, and maybe they can direct me to the right area to voice a complaint,
This is what worries me about having state health care, if we can get help, the only time in our life we've ever needed it, will we ever get thru to anyone on gvt healthcare. and kidcare is the same problem to. I got approved for my kids, and then it expired in 30 days. and I only knew that bc I got a letter 5 days before I even knew it was expired. and I had no idea what insurance they even had until a week after it expired

H
H
hungryinorlando
, US
Aug 13, 2009 3:00 pm EDT

i have been on hold for over 1 hour. web site will not let me logon. i called the 866 tollfree number and it said due to high volume i should call back later.

M
M
Mee12345
, US
Aug 09, 2009 2:05 pm EDT

The Wealthy are the ones providing the money for these programs, doubt they are having parties with the money they pay.

M
M
Mee12345
, US
Aug 09, 2009 1:59 pm EDT

Use the money and time you are spending on the internet to buy groceries.

A
A
adlin
Tamarac, US
Aug 05, 2009 2:15 pm EDT

Write to your elected officials, the more complaints they get the better chances of getting some action. I think this is the Florida's governor Charlie.christ@myflorida.com email.

M
M
Misscammiej
Parkland, US
Jul 31, 2009 1:52 pm EDT

I have had my case pending for over 60 days, NOW its on hold. No one has done anything, I cannot contact my caseworker, I dont know WHAT to do! There has to be SOMEONE to contact here?! HELP!

Trending companies