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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.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I also live in Florida. I applied for Medicaid the SAME DAY I found out I was pregnant. How long before I actually received prenatal care? Four months into my pregnancy. I have a hospital bill that I am currently fighting because I actually had medicaid at the time, but they are trying to bill me for it. I am 6 months into my pregnancy and still have not received a medicaid card. I could not apply for WIC until I had proof that I had Medicaid, so I was stuck there as well. I tried calling my case worker every day, several times a day. The call would either go straight to voicemail, ring many times and then go to voicemail, or she would actually pick up the phone and HANG UP ON ME! This being my first pregnancy, I was very confused on what to do and afraid of how long this process would take--and if I would ever receive help at all! There were many tearful voicemails left on this woman's machine. DCF in Florida is a joke! I went online an looked at my case history for medicaid and foodstamps... hilarious. Month-by-month it would tell me case status. "Approved, not approved, not approved, approved, approved." Could the lady really just not make up her mind? I sent her everything she requested from me, and she still denied me one month for insufficient information. What?! I believe they make receiving help as difficult as possible for us so we will just give up.
I have been working non-stop since I was 17 years old, and now due to the economy I am struggling to find work. Even though I am 6 months pregnant, I am doing everything I can to find work. If you have been a hardworking, taxpaying citizen, the system should be available to you in times of need.
i contacted a person [the wrong person, but i was FINALLy transferred to an actual working voice mail for the access administrative office! the following information is for orlando area; maybe if enough people call the worng numbers, have to be transferred, the DC&F will get the hint!
Mental Health Program Supervisor
400 West Robinson Street
Hurston Bldg., South Tower, Suite S-1106
Orlando, Florida 32801
[protected]; Fax [protected]
very weary over days of not able to communicate to anyone. i just telephoned the wrong person [intentionally] at the intended wrong extention, in efforts of being transferred to an actual live human being; immediately, the receiver was picked up--- it worked, and i submit the information for people to try if you are in the Orlando area:
Mental Health Program Supervisor
400 West Robinson Street
Hurston Bldg., South Tower, Suite S-1106
Orlando, Florida 32801
[protected]
my ebt card never arrived and it's been two months. so... for days i have spent :
being disconnected,
hearing "you cannot leave a message because the mailbox at that extention is full",
checking my online status,
trying to reach someone at the dpt children and families office,
ebt card office, et c- to no avail. that's when i contacted the wrong number and it worked enabling me to be transferred to the administrative dpt for :
ACCESS Administrative
Office Information
400 W. Robinson Street, S-1106
Orlando, FL [protected]
[protected], Fax 245-0575
TDD same as voice #
Client Relations Coordinator:
Maxine McGregor and Gretchen Perry
[protected]
http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/regions/c9/
I have read so many people talking about the letters... I guess I too will jump on the band wagon with this one. If you get the letter don't even bother with calling. Just go to the nearest DCF office and show them the letter. That gets you back to the idiots that put the info in the computer... take with you EVERY bill you have... your rent/mortgage info, utilities, car payments... anything that you pay on a monthly basis, take that with you. DO NOT take the originals, take copies... sometimes they want to keep it, sometimes they don't. Make sure that you take bank statements for the last 60 days and income for the last 30 days. If you are getting help from a friend or family member then get a statement from them stating how much they gave you and when and if it's an ongoing thing. If you are not working, get statements from people that know your not working. That way, when you get there and stand in line for 2 hours and you FINALLY get back to the "window of idiots" you will have your crap together and can blow through it. Make sure that you know the value of your car. Don't have a blue book value? Look it up online. Don't use an excuse that you don't have internet... there is the public library and friends and neighbors and the DCF office has computers down there. They don't care if you are struggling... they don't care if you have food. They don't care that before the economic crisis that you would have NEVER set foot in a place like that. I swear that this division of public help needs a major overhaul. If you have your crap together BEFORE you go down there, it would save on the time you have to wait for benefits. When I applied, I anticipated what they wanted before I even got a letter. I applied online with the ACCESSFL.com site and then that day I got a copy of everything they would need (income and bills) and went down to the office. I stapled it all together and put it in the drop box. My family had benefits within a month. It is certainly a pain in the butt to deal with these people. The only advice I can give you is to anticipate what they want, have it ready, and by all means... save your minutes on your phones and just make a day of it and go down there. You get more done that way. Good luck to all. Oh... good luck with the whole caseworker thing... they change every month... just know your case number and every paper that you turn in, write that case number on it. And for those who asked what a case number was... it's on the papers that they send you... if you have some type of letter from the state, you have a case number on there. AND KEEP A COPY OF EVERYTHING YOU GIVE THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT THE IDIOTS IN THE WINDOW STAMP IT WITH THEIR STUPID STAMP SO THAT YOU HAVE PROOF THAT YOU DID EVERYTHING THAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO DO ON YOUR END. It's a bunch of flippin tards running that place. So, cover your a$$.
my food card was never sent out! that's why i was trying to contact a human being. after i did get hold of someone, please see previous posts, i was infomed that my card was one month and three weeks behind schedule- no kidding! a new one was sent, but the hoops to go through were nearly impossible.
the card came today, btw, and didn't work right- i had to call again, and a ebt chase/employee had to activate it for me. my social security number was not recognised by the system.
oh boy!
LEAVE IT TO FLORIDA TO MISMANAGE AND FAIL TO PROVIDE GOOD CONTACT INFORMATION AND RESPOND TO NEEDS EVEN FOR FOOD STAMPS.
Can anyone tell me when you receive your food assistance for the month? This will be my second month getting them and last month I received the benefits on the 5 and this month nothing so far and is there a number I can call?
Can anyone tell me the date that your food assistance goes on your card? This is my second month receiving the first time was on the 5th of February. Is there a number I can call to check this out and speak to a live person?
DIDDO, Diddo, Diddo! I have been through everything everyone on here has i can not believe this system is allowed to malfunction in this severe way! I have not been able to get one single live person calling every single day from open to close! Unbelievable! I went ahead and faxed what they needed b4 the so called interview and according to there records never recieved it! However I did save the copy of proof from the local One Stop office it was done at! Yes for all you idiots out there posting negative about people getting on assistance I also look for a job every single day of my life also while trying to get help so screw you! And may you end up in the same boat as us all! My family and I personally moved here from Kansas to help my mother who is battling colon cancer after he also got laid off from aircraft career and yes paid a butt load of his taxes to help support gvt assistance never once would I or him judge anyone in these circumstances because you never know, may you be the lucky one on here next desperate for help better yet your children or grandchildren! think about that why don't you!
I myself am having the same problems. The customer service line is a Big Fat Joke! I have been trying for over a week now calling consistantly to customer service line to help me with "My Access Account" I've been locked out and cannot get back online. I've tried to reset using their "forgot login/password feature however it doesn't recongize my security answer. I've faxed a request for someone to please call me as I cannot get a hold of one of them. Still no response. Also I've faxed the requested documentation 4 separate times since 3/31/2011 and the telephone automated system is still requesting this information & says that my case is pending until they receive it. I faxed them a letter telling them that I've faxed the information 4 times now...for someone to please call me...still no response. I finally got desparate and called the interview line which I know a human is working those phone lines. A man answered & was extremely rude to me. Told me it wasn't his problems that I couldn't get thru to customer service that I would have to keep trying & everytime I tried to explain my situation he kept interrupting me and saying "I cannot not talk to you" and he eventually hung up on me. I really feel like they don't want to help us. They want everyone to become so frustrated with the system that we will stop calling. I left a message at the number that someone provided above in Jacksonville [protected] for Michael McKibben. I'm praying he will at least call me back & try to help me.
One thing I do know is florida's benefit system is frustrating but you have to stay on top of everything never do things at the last minute or you won't get what you need! For the people getting on here calling others names and things this is the wrong board for you this mother was complaining about dcf and you're complaining about her. You don't know anyones situation so I suggest you humble yourself and pray to God that you never have to be in that situation where you have no one and no where to turn to. I will admit there are some people who use and abuse the system which makes it bad for the people who are really trying. As far as the advice of taking your baby's daddy to court for child support if he says he has no job you get nada! Also you don't get every single penny of child support! I suggest trying to get out of florida because there's extremely too many people there and not enough benefits or jobs for everyone!
I believe the State would spend less using live workers as oposed to the extremely expensive internet programs. The work would not back up and people in need would not be treated will ill manners because a worker is overworked so they say. I worked for the organization back in 2006 and I believe I was forced to resign because I treated clients like human beings. I was asked to resign because I was not what they were looking for. I worked the system according to the new implimented policies which some of the workers who had been there for more than 10-20 years rejected. They constantly complained that it would not work. And I always thought it would if the workers would work the new program that eliminated a lot of the red tape they tie people up with just because they are in need. Any worker that made it difficult for the client they praised at the office I worked in Florida. I went back to college to learn more about public administration. However, because of the economy I have not yet been able to acquire work . I notice the system is still in need of a better operating system.
I have tried several times with no results I am 74 years old and I dont know how to reach MU ACCOUNT I wrote twice and explained my my case, but I have been foolen and this is the secon month that I dibt have any money (which I was promised) in my magnetic card of Food Stamps
So have a 2 months gap
My case number is1243135603, my name is Catalina Avila and last time I reached you by phone I was told that my difficulties wewre to be known by the supervisor and I trusted...but now I know I hacve been fooled I have no assetes no bank account and I live on an SSI of $449.50 a month
Hi I got so frustrated with this but I found someone who could atleast give me my case number her name is Lisa Gardner the number is [protected] good luck guys
We all need to stand outside of the welfare office and take our crying hungry children with us. have them wear their raggedy clothes and call the local news, This system is designed to keep the poor away from florida, to discourage people to move here. jobs are hard to find here in florida! I meen jobs that can make ends meet. This so called richest and most powerful nation in the world! What an embarrasment. It can't even take care of its people in times of need. But no matter what i still love this country!
i have the same problem getting through to dcf to recertify for benefits, they have made it more difficult to get your application done online, god forbid you forget your username and password, you can, t do a new application online, why don, t they just hire some local people to answer the phones or just mail out applications for recertification, the computerized way isn, t working but what do they care? they won, t miss any meals, bet if i was one of their family members it would get through with a quickness. i hate i have to get assistance, they need to have a taste of what its like to have to struggle the way we do, get some people to answer the phones pleaseeeeeeee>
Is super upset reg the comments left by others on here that they didn't help us make our children so they shouldn't help pay for them. A lot of us were paying our taxes and working our ### off to provide for our families, apparently you've missed the issue of our economic crisis here in America. People are being laid off from jobs they've held for years. Businesses are closing their doors. What gives you the right to place us all under an umbrella of judgement and categorize us all the same. Ill tell you what right...none. Screw you! Not everyone produces children to take advantage of or ride the system. Some of us simply require assistance until we get on our feet again and find other employment which is difficult in this day and age. We have valid complaints of not being able to reach a live person to deal w our various issues. Next time you wait on hold for an issue...let's say scheduling car service or paying a bill...don't you dare get upset. So keep your judgements to yourself. That's Gods job to do. Besides wth are you doing on this thread/board. find something better to do w your time...like work!
This saddens me, reading all these posts. I am going on 32 weeks pregnant and have been waiting for some type of answer from medicaid for I can get insurance to see a Dr. I just moved to florida a month ago and I applied right away. I faxed in everything they needed and assumed they would put a rush on it since I was so far along. I lost my home in Ga so I had to come stay with family here in Florida but I had no idea it would be this hard to get medicaid. I have tried calling more than a dozen times and went to the access site and 2 different health care offices in order to see if anyone can get to my case as soon as possible due to the fact I am so far long in pregnancy and need to see a Dr. No one really cared to talk to me and all kept reffering me back to the contact # that stays busy and if not busy, you cannot get a live person on the line. I have written an email over a week ago, and have not had a response. I am scared to death that I am going to have this baby early since I am having complications and I can't see a Dr. It upsets me that I have been working for years paying taxes and I was laid off when I found out I was pregnant, I lost my home and now I just need the assistance to make sure I deliver a healthy baby and I can't even get that. I am now trying to figure out if I should go back to Ga and stay with friends until I give birth because it is much easier to get medicaid there, but to burden people who have no children and I don't know that well just for some medical help is absurd. I have no idea what to do or who to speak too... if anyone has any advice please email me at lovelykisha27@gmail.com.
Complaint Description:
Okay, First off i dont know where to even start! So let me Think...*SCREAMS* Okay i just had to get that out! for the past week i have been calling the "Department OF Children and Families". Every Freakin representative i talked to (i dont need there names just ask me my social for the million time! and look up in my account and you will see all who was on my account) gave me the wrong information, different ways to resolve..nobody new anything unless i said something about my account! Ive been on hold for 35min, 45min and today i was on the phone for...well let me just tell you how many times i had to call to get through (50 times) on Wednesday AUgust 17, 2011, my longest call was 1hr 04min 50sec and that was mainly me on hold. One person picked up and asked me for my ss# and he said he was screening the calls then after 40min another dude got on the phone and fell asleep on the phone! ARE YOU SERIOUS? Im calling inrefrence to my stamps that i need and that i was told to call back for and after holding online for forever the REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FALL ASLEEP, AND ONE HANG UP THE PHONE WHEN YOUR SEEKING HELP AFTER WAITING SINCE 9 OCLOCK THIS MORNING AND NOW ITS 20:00PM ARE YOU SERIOUS and one girl told me that she had an appt at 2:00pm yesterday and she said she was going to call me back afterwards and took dowen my number and she never called!
Your Desired Resolution:
FIRST EVERY PERSON THAT WAS ON MY ACCOUNT SINCE MONDAY AUGUST 15, 2011 NEEDS TO BE FIRED! THERE ARE PEOPLE SUCH AS MY SELF LOOKING FOR JOBS TO TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY AND THEY DONT APPRICIATE THEIRS. IF THEY DID THEY WOULD FOLLOW A COMPANIES RULE IN GIVING GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE. NO MATTER HOW SWEET I WAS TO THEM THEY STILL DIDNT CARE BECAUSE THEY FELT LiKE YOU NEED THEM MORE AND THEY FORGOT THAT THEY NEED THEIR JOB, SO THEY NEED TO BE FIRED! NEXT I NEED MY SITUATION RESOLVED WITH MY FOODSTAMPS BECAUSE I NEED TO GET MY CHILD SOME FOOD BECAUSE I DONT HAVE ANY INCOME COMING IN AND THATS NOT COOL THAT SOMEONE THAT WOULD APPRICIATE A JOB CANT GET ONE BECAUSE DCF RATHER HAVE PEOPLE THAT COULD CARELESS. NEXT I NEED AN APOLOGY FOR THEIR RUDENESS. NEXT I NEED AN EXTRA COMPENSATION TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS..IVE BEEN WASTING MY ENTIRE DAY BEING DISRESPECTED GETTING NO HELP WHEN I COULD BE TRYING TO HANDLE MILLIONS OF OTHER THINGS IN MY LIFE.
* I MINUS WELL GET OFFERD A JOB SO I CAN REALLY HELP PEOPLE! I NEED A HIGH PAYING POSITION TO! SO I CAN FIRE WHOEVER ISNT DOING THEIR JOB BECUASE THIS IS RIDICULOUS!
This case will be reviewed by a complaint specialist at the Better Business Bureau
& If You do happen to get through on a phone, They hang up!
I finally got through, but had to keep pressing Zero as the switchboard operator kept switching
my connect back to menu!
Here is the number for ORANGE COUNTY that I happened to get through on.
[protected] for phone interview as the 866 number no one ever gets through!
Remember to keep pressing 0 zero if it switches back to menu on You! Don't give up!
Now they are toying with me on when I'm getting food stamp funds. I'm on ramen noodles and
crap scraps of food for the past 3 weeks because of their control games! I even wrote the Governor!
They need a clean sweep of Orange County office and need to hire all new!
People abuse their positions of employment, and I'm sick of it just as much as everyone else!
I'm sure most of us here can do a better job, they need to give us their jobs!
GOOD LUCK!
i feel the same way. all i can hear is "due to high call volume please try your call at a later time" and this goes on for weeks and weeks. and then you get an ineligible letter in the mail...i don't understand why you have a huge state calling one number with limited customer service representative...what a crappy system...
i just called the [protected] number and I got thru thanks hcc11 in orange county. she just gave me this number to call for phone interviews [protected] because no one answers the other 866 number child please
i emailed the Governor rick scott because i was so frustrated witht he call center not answering because it was "busy". i needed to ask a question and i couldn't get a hold of anyone to help me. well i got a phone call the next day and got to talk to a live person who helped me. i cant believe i had to do that in order to get a live person on the phone. is there an office i can go to in the orlando area that has people or case workers who can help me in the future?
They gave me food stamps and next month was on hold because they never received my pay stubs, but I faxed it in 2times and still waiting. I tried calling to find out what's going on. The phone just takes you back to the main menu. I got a job but only pays 8.00. I have a master degree and cant a decent job to support my daughter. It is hard to find any answer. I read all the articles and they all ate true. Dcf does not care at all.
I cannot tell you how much I agree!I emailed a complaint today to the secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families (david_wilkins@dcf.state.fl.us). While I think the accessflorida website could be a very useful tool, it will not work, if people don't do their job efficiently. My reapplication was completely ignored and faxes I sent were never received. When I told them I have the fax report the call center said it didn't matter if I can prove it - the DCF doesn't have it. Period. The same happened with a letter send via USPS. They never received it. Now, three months later they finally have all the information as "processed" in their system and -- tata -- nothing. Another week has passed and nothing! In the meantime I call the call center every day and have them mail the DCF and the supervisor to please process my case. My children are not used to canned fruit, as we have never been in a situation like this. I water down their milk to stretch it and there will be no birthday cake. It is emotionally rough and I cry at the top of a hat. My husband works and is underpaid while his employer just bought his second $ 270 000 Porsche - at least he supports the automobile industry! I went to a workforce center to have my resume checked and was told to better omit that I have an MBA. Depressing!
Check this out that dcf is still using pen and paper when handling cases. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/state-agency-enlists-help-from-businesses-for-social-2014156.html
No wonder dcf workers are tired and don't want 2 help http://www.theledger.com/article/20111130/NEWS/111139929/1002/SPORTS?Title=DCF-Labor-Department-Continue-Talks-
Child protective investigators with the Florida Department of Children and Families look into complaints of child neglect and child abuse. They determine whether there is probable cause to remove children from parents' or guardians' custody.
Statewide, their average salary is $36, 315. In this judicial circuit, it is $37, 728.
Statewide, an investigator averages 16 active investigations. In this area, it is 17.
Because of job stress, many investigators quit. The turnover rate statewide in a given year is 31 percent. Locally, it is 37 percent.
This is y dcf is so much having problems. http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20111128/ARTICLE/111129625/-1/sports?Title=Child-safety-investigators-face-their-own-ordeals
Hey people I don't know who really 2 blame because of this welfare situation thou. Gov. Scott fired a lot of dcf workers and in turn hurting us together. http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20111113/NEWS01/111130320/Fla-s-DCF-staff-labor-vain-make-difference-people-s-lives?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7Cfrontpage%7Cp what is a person to do. How about contacting out rep. And state senators.
Before you go saying DCF doesn't care, do me a favor and read this.
http://www.tumblr.com/blog/determiningwelfare
I agree with everyone 200%. I used to have the exact same problem in regards to getting thru to a live person, faxing/sending paper work dozens of time just to be denied because they claim they hadn't receive anything! I applied for food stamps for my mom who's having a really hard time due to the economy I applied in November it was a whole month & she still didn't hear anything from them so I had to re-apply in December, here's my issue they approved my mom for food stamps but she still hasn't gotten a dang thing! But on her access account it claims that they gave her $84 in November, $200 on December 01, that's ###! She hasn't received a thing from them. & they denied my sister on my moms application & when asked why? They simply told her that they consider a person her age should be working... WTF?! First off working where?! There's no jobs out here unless your ok working for $6 an hour for the holidays... So I want to file a complaint but I can't seem to locate the number of the head office... I usually add my sister on my moms application & I have been doing so for the past 2 years now . My mom used to get $367 than they lowered it to $295 now they only give her $200! How is $200 suppose to feed 3-4 people in the household.. My mom hasn't had anything in her refrigerator in months! I've had to buy her groceries & food... This is rediculous
Here's my experience with the underfunded DCF here in Orlando, FL's Orange County:
Basics:
I am a network administrator who was working for a company who's three senior partners had a falling out that, consequently, led to the demise of a majority of the company's operations. So, I was laid off in November of 2011 and applied on the 14th of the same month and was approved for expedited food stamps ($208 pro-rated for November and $367 for each following month up to April 2012).
My Situation:
I'm married and we pay about $1, 200 a month for all bills (rent & utilities) before food expenses. We lived comfortably on my salary and my wife was able to be a homemaker, so we were blessed in that way. Unfortunately, because I was a contracted employee, I worked under the company as a contractor (shady, yes... it helps them save on benefits, etc- whatever, no biggie) and thus had to save money for taxes- due to the fact that they aren't taken out automatically by the company. So, while we were able to eat out and catch movies when we wanted, we weren't exactly living it up. But, as I see it, we were stimulating the local economy and paying our fair share of taxes- so the circle of suburban life was playing out up until the layoff.
Current Employment Situation:
After I was laid off, I applied to positions within my field (I.T.)- which was, in retrospect, a big mistake. The people who were hiring in November were retail and places that would receive a lot of business during the holidays. By the time I figured that out, and started applying for jobs I was (and I hate to use the haughty term, even though it's true) overqualified for in late December, these employers (Publix, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Walgreens, etc) were experience hiring freezes and post-holiday layoffs. Which has made my job hunt a bit tougher. I will likely be moving back to Texas where I'm from if I don't find anything in January.
The DCF Nightmare:
After applying for foodstamps on November 14th, I was contacted a couple of days later by a DCF employee who conducted an interview and told me that I was approved for expedited food stamp processing and that he was going to send some documents for me to fill out- which I received a couple of days later.
There was a form in the two pages sent to me that I assumed I needed to fill out despite the fact that they had neglected to check the box(s) next to the information block(s) they wanted me to fill out. I had to look at my status online to figure out that the portion of the form they needed was "proof of loss of income"- no big deal. So I filled that section in and sent it back.
I religiously checked my mail box and the online status to verify that they had received it. But to no avail. Nothing came in the mail and the Florida Access website profile for my case indicated that this form was still required.
I got a little frustrated and worried because I had read that they would close my case in 30 days from the time it was opened if they did not receive the information they requested (the proof of loss of income form). So I found the fax number and the required form they needed at the Florida Access website, printed it out, filled it out again, scanned it to PDF and then used a free online fax service (which allows one to send up to 5 pages for free) to fax it to the DCF fax number for my area.
Unfortunately, each time I tried to fax it in, the fax was rejected. I'm assuming the line was busy or simply didn't work. But, because I was using an online service, I didn't really know. The message I kept getting from the service was "fax failed". So, I'm not entirely sure that it was the DCF fax number's fault- but I'd love to hear from anyone who's had problems with faxing anything to DCF to put that wonderment to rest.
At this point I tried to get through to a real, live person to no avail until I called a downtown DMV office who gave me the physical address of the Access office closest to me. Fortunately for me, it was over on West Colonial, about 3 miles down the road from where I live. But because we had sold our car a couple weeks before, I walked down instead. I could have taken the bus, but it was about an hour trip due to the fact that it detours around all sorts of places. The walk would only be about 45 minutes and, in the spirit of saving money, I opted for that instead. The weather was really great, too- so it was kind of nice to be out and about on foot.
When I got down to the office, I was greeted by a lady who, and I'm not exaggerating, would not make eye contact with me. She droned (in every definition of the word) that I needed to fill out an information slip- which was a piece of paper that was cut in half with blanks asking basic information. I asked if I had to fill out the social security block and she said no (why in the world would that even be on there then?).
After I had filled out the slip, I went on to explain my situation described above, she called the supervisor over. He told me that, because I was technically self-employed, I would need to fill out the section reserved for the employer- weird, but no big deal. This was in addition to the "proof of loss of income" portion. So, I did, and then was told to give it to a third lady who scanned the slip, document and my final pay stubs into a big Xerox-type machine. They said that that was it and didn't give me any explanation as to why my snail-mail and fax never made it to them- I'm not really the type to pry so I just left it alone and headed home. P.S. I found a really neat hobby shop at a shopping center at West Colonial and Kirkman and spent a few minutes walking around in awe at all the cool R/C vehicles and models- but I digress...
I checked online the next day and saw that all was well- as far as things I was required to submit. The interview was complete and the paperwork was finally showing as completed. I assumed that I was 100% good-to-go and relieved to finally have everything taken care of.
About two weeks later, having not received my EBT card, I tried calling in to find out why I hadn't. But, like a lot of other people posting, I kept running into brick walls. It's nearly impossible to get in touch with someone from the Orlando, Orange County area. So, after further research, I found numbers for several of the DCF offices.
After no luck getting a live person, I finally got through to the Secretary of Communication's office [protected]). I explained my story and the gentleman on the line told me that he wasn't sure why I hadn't received my EBT card yet (he was able to access my account) but that he would put in a request for a new one. He stated that, if they act immediately (and said so in a way that lead me to believe that they don't often act "immediately"), I would receive it in 7 days. He also informed me that the DCF staff had been reduced at a time when demand was very high- thanks, Rick Scott...
That call was on the 27th of December, 2011. It is now the 10th of January, 2012. So, it's been about 14 days (10 business days) and I have yet to receive the card. In four more days it will have been about two months since I was approved for "expedited" services from DCF.
Today, after checking my snail-mail and it being empty, I decided to make some more phone calls. I started with the Secretary of Communications (the one I actually managed to get through the last time) to no avail- it simply rang to voice mail each time. I left a message the fourth time I called and decided to try other DCF offices. I got nothing until the Office of the Inspector General. I had the pleasure of speaking to a rude and nasty woman named Latrice Macy who, after telling me they have nothing to do with what I was trying to find out, gave me a number to call. Upon calling said number, I was told that they were the office that dealt with fraud. However, the lady I spoke with gave me the extension to the number I needed- YES!
The extension went to the Client Relations department [protected] ext. 7045 for anyone who wants to know) and, after a long-winded message that made clear that they couldn't access your account number (I'd love to know why they felt it necessary to state that- could it be that they obviously get a lot of calls from people frustrated that they can never get account information from a live person?) I realized it was a voice mail message. The voice mail message ended in stating that the mail box was full- wonderful...
So, for the sake of my blood pressure, I gave up and started searching online for others who've had problems with DCF- and here I am. After reading all of the above posts, I felt the urge to give my story. Sorry for the length, but I couldn't really condense my situation any more (believe it or not, this is condensed). It's obvious that DCF is underfunded and broken.
My personal opinion is that, being a good-ol'-boy Republican state, they assume that if they have a working assistance program then they will receive an influx of people trying to game the system and abuse it. Now that the economy has been limping for the last couple of years since the real-estate bubble burst, it's coming to light because more people like me are having to turn to assistance programs and exposing the Republican's fear-of-moochers policies that have been in place for years which include underfunding, reducing or eliminating social programs.
I feel like I can identify with those in poverty that feel as though they can't get a break. They've been screwed conservative fear-mongering for a long time and people like me have never noticed it while we were out at the movies or on a cruise. It's sad, really.
P.S. To all the people, like MollieWollie, who are posting disparaging remarks about people utilizing public welfare programs- just keep in mine that, while you may never need to use such services, there is at least one person in your family or that you know who probably has. This economy touches everybody in one form or another. The people in need could be family or friends- you never know. So try to apply the same compassion you would to them before you run your mouth due to your superior financial situation.
Also, you never know- it might be you next. I never thought it would happen to me, either.
You expect anyone to read that novel IT? Summarization is your friend, superfluous info is your enemy.
Lol... believe me, that is the summary. =P
I also notice I posted "keep in mine"... MIND*
IT - you say : "To all the people, like MollieWollie, who are posting disparaging remarks about people utilizing public welfare programs- just keep in mine that, while you may never need to use such services, there is at least one person in your family or that you know who probably has. This economy touches everybody in one form or another. The people in need could be family or friends- you never know. So try to apply the same compassion you would to them before you run your mouth due to your superior financial situation."
I say: Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant with the weak and the wrong. Sometime in your life you will have been all of these.
( I read your last paragraph. *hugs* )
Get this- on a whim I called up the EBT Customer Service line [protected]) and followed the prompts to report a lost/stolen card. I was then prompted to verify my social security number and birth date. Once I did that, they (the robot) asks you to press one to accept that the card you're reporting will be deactivated. Then it asks that you verify your zip code- DO NOT ENTER YOUR ZIP. By not entering the zip it forwarded me to a live person (at 10pm on a Friday night- so I'm assuming they are a 24/7 call center).
A live person answered almost immediately and I let them know that I had never received my EBT card (tomorrow it will officially be 2 months since I was approved). They went on to re-verify my social security number, date of birth and went on to ask for my case number. They were able to look up my account and see that... and get this... A CARD WAS NEVER SENT OUT IN THE FIRST PLACE! WTF!
After they verified my current address they put me on hold. Once they came back they told me I would be receiving my card in 5-7 days- wow! It's amazing how simple it was. I guess the trick was to completely avoid DCF and go straight to the card issuing company. So, after nearly two months after being approved for "expedited" food stamps, I'll finally be able to use the funds that have been compounding without me being able to touch them. I can't wait to get off the dollar menu/ramen diet. I'll be back to let you know if this actually solved the problem.
So, thanks for nothing, Rick Scott and the useless bureaucrats running (into the ground) DCF.
Welp, got the card today. Amazing... 3 days after I did what I posted in the above comment.
They recently added the option to submit computer files to ACCESS (instead of faxing perhaps) when you log in - go to "Upload and View My Documents."
Well, I too am in the same predicament as all of you. But, I KNOW why they are forcing this system that DOES NOT WORK on us. Yes, florida does have programs for needy families but most of the higher ups are the people who want this program to stop. its all about taxes. The people who make money are paying for us to be on food stams, yes. Therefore, they do not want us on food stamps. So, legally we are entitled to this but only if you are proactive in getting every single document the exact way you want it. I have been on food stamps for 2 years now since my daughet was born and last year, thi switched jobs; reported it and still, after a whole YEAR, they do not have my ifo right. they are saying i make 200% more than i make. I've changed called, done everything. Provided loss of income verification..every time i do, they raise my income in their system. they are CORRUPT!