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

The news media apparently does not care about anyones complaints either... or it's censored! Look at all the people who have complaints about DCF... CPS... FAMILY INTEGRITY PROGRAM... Foster care ABUSE OF CHILDREN... SEE AMERICAN FAMILY RIGHTS ASSOCIATION WEBSITE... Thing is poor, uneducated and what they DEEM to be STUPID PEOPLE are actually used so CRONIES WORKING IN THE SYSTEM AMASS BIG BUCKS FRAUDING EVERYTHING FROM CAPTA to TITLE IV, IVE, Title this, title that... wonder how the social security program is dwindling... dwindling... dwindling? Fraud in the use & abuse of welfare programs to include FOODSTAMPS! THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM AREN'T GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED... they had rather you apply for mental health treatment; there is more money to be had that way. You can complain to Charlie Christ... do...do... do... he'll forward your complaint back to the DCF INTERIM Secretary; he'll send you a nice letter to pacify you and pass your complaint on to his secretary, who will also send you a letter to pacify you. If you really want and need your foodstamps.. go to mental health and complain about the promblem you're having getting assistance. You'll get QUICKER RESULTS! Your local senators will respond with a nice letter having nothing to do with your complaint... or completely irrelevant and assure you that if anything comes up in the legislature or next session of congress he'll remember you! or tell you to write to someone else about the promblem! Best wishes! Try the SENATE WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE.

You all do know that the call center for the DCF is located in like India, right? The government out sourced it. Isn't that part of the problem? No one who works for DCF gives a crap about actually helping people .. they have jobs so why should they care? Want to get your assistance faster, befriend a case worker.

This system is nuts.

Why everything about the Florida Department of Children & famalies needs serious investigation from the GOVENOR CHARLIE CHRIST ON UP TO SENATE AND CONGRESS! THAT absolutely includes the foodstamp program... FAMILY INTEGRITY PROGRAM... GROUP HOMES... FOSTER HOMES! FRAUDULENT MENTAL HEALTH COUNCELORS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS! NOT ONLY THAT BUT ALSO THE RACKETEERS OPERATING IN THE JUVENILE DEPENDENCY COURTS AND THE GUARDIAN AD LITEM PROGRAMS! FRAUD! FRAUD! What exactly do they do with the foodstamp money anyway? Throw parties for the RICH! What else! Even the kids in foster care in this state are fed GARBAGE or POORLY PLANNED MEALS AND TRUTH IS THEY GET THEIR FOOD FROM COUNTY FOOD BANKS NOT FROM USE OF FOODSTAMP MONEY! Everyone should read AMERICAN FAMILY RIGHTS ASSOCIATION WEBSITE! DCF DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOU< YOUR KIDS OR ANYTHING EXCEPT FUNDING THE WALLETS OF WEALTHY FRAUDS!

we are having problems here in milton florida as well

I am filing a formal complaint with the Governor's office, not that anybody in that place would give two rat's ### about anybody. After that I will be taking the matter to the Miami Herald & News SunSentinel, and TV stations that have community help programs. Keep filing your claims every month as a new claim, since in this state, all of the intelligent and caring people left a long time ago, leaving the orangutans to run the shops ! Unemployment & Food Stamps are run by the same bunch of creatures that are NOT human, they are all hiding behind P.O.Boxes since they don't want people pitching tents in the parking lot, which is exactly what I will be doing as soon as I can locate an address for either of these imbecile agencies !

This is just horrible! In the state of Pennsylvania where I am from they help you IMMEDIATELY! You go there and if you qualify you leave with your foodstamps! I am so confussed right now. I am just so angry I am not sure what to do! I took a job that pays me $125.00 plus commission. The first month or two I am not expected to make hardly any money because it takes awhile to build your client base. I have two chlidren to feed and our rent is $1000.00 a month plus utils. I get $530 in child support. Anyways, I called the 1-800 # today and after waiting on hold for 40 mins. (I'm sure my work appreciates that I am doing personal business from work) The guy on the phone was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO rude! He tells ME that "if you have ANY income at all...you do NOT qualify for expedited food stamps." So pretty much I need to take the money I do have and decide to pay the gas bill before it gets shut off or feed myself and children. HOW THE HECK CAN THE STATE OF FLORIDA DO THIS TO PEOPLE! i NEED TO CONTACT THE NEWS. ACTUALLY I AM GOING TO CONTACT THEM ONCE I AM DONE HERE. THIS IS INSANE!

My husband and I were approved for food stamps for $46 in April 2009. Then we received a letter dated April 14, 2009 that our food stamps benefits will decrease from $46 to $36 effective May 1, 2009. Reason: Recoupment of overpayment has started or stopped. Then we received a second letter dated May 19, 2009 that our food stamps will decrease from $36 to $35 effective June 1, 2009 same reason as previous letter. Then received a third letter dated June 15, 2009 that stated our food stamps will decrease from $35 to $25 effective July 1, 2009. Reason: Increase in unearned income. We don't have a increase in unearned income. My husband only receives $1100 a month unemployment and has $182 child support taken out every two weeks which leaves us with $736 plus my monthy gross income of $198. Our total income is only $934 a month to pay bills. Our monthly rent alone is $671. I would like to know how two people can buy enough food with only $25 a month food stamps especially with food prices as high as they are! We are desperate for help!

we are having the exact same problem. they are telling us we need to reapply but they give us no fax number and no name of any case worker or any way to submit the requested information. it is ridiculous

To Karen - and everyone elese that need a "community partner" to advocate for them (navigate the DCF system)

Copy/paste into your browser

DCF Main page
www.state.fl.us/cf_web/

Community Partners listing page: www.dcf.state.fl.us/ess/docs/partner_listing.pdf

Look for your nearest ACCESS Community partner - Call or visit their office - ask for help. They have access to information you do not have access to - many provide FREE services such as Fax/Copy/Print/ Internet web application and in some cases even telephones to use. They can also help you locate your case#.

I have been spoken to repeatedly as though I were a bother to them and a waste of thier time. I got an increase of $.84 cents and they are using that to base calcultions on. That is not right. I got it 1 time and it put me in a higher bracket. It is ridiculious. Can any of them survive on $21.00 a month for food!

I was accepted for the past three month, then I received a letter stating I had to re-apply or they will cancel my food stamps, I re-applied and they canceled it anyway, they claimed I have a salary of $414 week and I'm not even working, I cant find a job. I was put on a emergency unemployment extension for the past three month only, I ask my case worker and she told me unemployment benefits are not taken in consideration to be accepted in the food stamp program, I guess they count it anyway as salary received or something, I haven't re-applied because my unemployment just ended today. I guess Ill try again. let's see what happens this time? p.s. my unemployment benefits was for $241 week not $414 like they claim. I had to move in with my parents with the condition that I'm only to shower and stay overnight and don't eat or anything else, I had to give the food stamp people a letter stating the situation signed by my parents, so they are aware of my situation. I also have no way of paying my bills and with the three month unemployment i received I was able to pay my car insurance and gas, I also had to fix my car that cost me $890.

I totally agree with everyone. My husband lost is job in Sept we immediately applied for food stamps. Its is now March and we have STILL not recieved any help. This is the most insane system in the world, you cant set up any appt, the people on the phones have no clue whats going on, they tell you one thing and then the system is telling you another. I have faxed in information, taken it in the office, mailed paperwork in and they STILL say I haven't sent in the proper paperwork. I have spoke with 3-4 different people from the 800 number, they all say the paperwork is there. I was told the case worker did not look back far enough and they are giving him 48hhrs tp respond. I have had to apply 3 times and have gotten absolutly NOWHERE!

This is the most absurd system I have ever seen, many people that are disabled struggle to apply and get benefits because of this jacked up system of automation and call centers. The letters they send do not even apply to you or your situation. I am on a mission to make local and state legislators aware and accountable for this hypocrisy and waste of tax payers money. I hope each and every one of you that has had problems with FDCF has filed a complaint. Good luck and best wishes.

I agree. My daughter who is a single young mother went an applied multiple times and every time she receives the notice for a phone interview, she is unable to get through. These people have a system to take advantage to our tax money. Check this out. She got her last notice on 2/27, mind you this is a Friday..Sat Sunday does not count. The letter stated that needed to call on March 2 or prior to that. Forget Friday.. between 12pm through 1pm. What the hell is that.. ONLY 1 hour. Give me a break. That is smart of them. Sure 12 noon. That is a time that everyone goes to lunch. Very smart of them.. I wish someone higher than them sees this. Please give us some answers. This is ridiculous. Email me if there are suggestions at gskissimmee@aol.com . Meanwhile, again.. my daughter will try again to apply for the 6th time of this tax paying, fraudelent, sceme, that the Florida Department of Children and Families is getting away with it.

yea i completely agree with all of you. ive been living in florida for about 3months now. My fiance and myself are trying to prepare for college but in the meantime we have no form of income. We havent eatin in about a Week and i filed for food stamps about the 3rd day we were down here. ive gotten a couple letters saying that there gonna terminate my contract or whtever its called if i dont rescedual an appointment. but everytime i call its busy! i check the internet, the phone book, ive called over 10 different numbers and none have worked. its eithr disconnected or busy or no one answers. I have no idea what i am supposed to do to feed myself and my fiance. I guess the only thing we can do until the ###s get there dicks out of each others ears is head to the churches and ask for free food. Thanx Alot Florida! :)

I got laid off.. signed up for food stamps after paying taxes for many years. I never asked for assistance. Now I get an appointment letter saying to call between 1 and 3pm.
I called every minute for 3 hours and it was BUSY. The 1 time I got through.. it said welcome.. if you have a scheduled phone interview please press 4. I did.. then I got hung up on!

Back to eating onion soup. Just pathetic.!

Hey.. anyone know who we can call in office..Governer?

I have spent over $30 faxing information to the case worker for the past month trying to get food stamps and medicaid for me and my 3 children. All I get is another letter in the mail stating she needs more stuff. When I do finally get in touch with them, I can not talk to my caseworker. They tell me that they can email her to call me. Especially since they are able to see everything that she states they do not have, like past paystubs. I just found out yesterday that she had withdrawn my application for lack of information. I am now waiting for her to call me back. In the meantime, I am writing letters to all of the people in the state senate and legislature as well as Governor Crist. I recommend that you all do the same. If they are inundated with complaints, maybe something will happen.

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH EVERYONE ON HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO GET THROUGH WE ALL HAVE LIFE AND WE TRY TO GET THROUGH TO A LIVE PERSON IT'S REDICULOUS AND VERY UNFAIR PRACTICE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS.

Its been 61 days since I applied for benifits. I am not a welfare mom popping out kids. In fact in the 90's I was on the Wages (Work And Gain Economic Self Sef.) Board. That was what AFDC, or welfare was called in my area at the time. I had to apply using the internet, (OK what if someone doesnt have internet, Dont they know there is a time limit at the library and its unsafe to enter your info on a public computer) and the service centers? I'm currantly sufforing from a collapsed torn Kidney and strick bed detail.) Let alone there is only like 1 open in a 40 mile radius of my home. After applying I received the letter to call 800 # for phone interview on a certain date between a certain time... I called for days and it was either busy, No one aswered and it just disconnects you or you do the trick above and press 0 3 times and I would still get a message about unusual call volume and it would disconnect me again. I called Tallahassee they put a message through and a worker called me back days later. Then they wanted 6 months bank statements becasue I had been out of work, my husband had and we had to provide more than required bank statements because they didnt believe me that we had the nest egg they tell you to have incase of hard times and we had family that lent us money. I also explained to them that my husband had left because he felt like he was not able to provide for his family like a man should and I would be better off without him... SO I HAD NO INCOME. NOw I went immediatly in a complied w/child support and registered for Work Program even though I am on complete bed rest. NOw its been 61 days, Nothing is approved yet, it all says pending, I have used over 1000 phone minutes because of the hang ups, not available, having to listen to the messages before you can press the zeroes, and holding on average of 30 minutes when you do get through. I have been given many different reasons to why everything is not approved and one being that the worker made a mistake, I got a letter saying I was eligable but still no benifits, Call and when I finally get phone operator all they can do is send an email to the worker. THey keep sending emails and the problems still arnt fixed I still have no benifits. This is A CALL CENTER. THey have nothing I repeat nothing to do with your case. THey cant even call someone to fix a problem all they can do is send Emails. Here I sit, no food, no money for toilet paper, soap, the essentails, and no medical care even though I have wire mesh in my Kidney and a temporary stent that was only temporary for 4 days and was suppose to be replaced 65 days ago. I agree this is a waste of money. People need access to real people that can deal with the situation not a problomatic, over loaded phone system that only puts you in contact with someone that can not preform any ligitamite task other than to email a worker that doesnt call the client back. THe system has gone from bad to worse. It needs to be fixed. The currant system can actually be causing DEATH, Starvation and people to loose their home and family. Wake up Florida politics... this is more harm then good.

I'm having a serious problem with them also. Sent a fax 4 times and was told none of them were legible. I can work on that but the amount of attitude I get from these people is amazing. I have only spoken to one person at this agency that was nice, she worked with me to try to solve the problem. The rest were treating like I was some kind of welfare mom that had nothing better to do with my time then call and ask them to do their job. Then my case worker also called me and then hung up on me cause I asked him to do his job. Well problem solved it took all of 10mins. case worker called work got paystubs and am approved for my benifits. This could have been done a week ago.

BTW here is how you get ahold of a live person at the 1-800 number...when you get to the part in the recorded message that gives you options press 0 3 times. it will tell you sorry thats an invalid option, just press 0 everytime it tells you that. which will be three times, you'll wait on hold for like 15mins and then you get a customer service rep thta will treat you like crap but hey it's a real person! Hope this Helps

funny, i feel exactly the same way about their service. none of their phones work, and there's no way they dont know that. if theres a phone number where you can actually speak with somebody do post it. coinsedently, i have the same problem. what the ### is a case number?