Florida Food Stamps reviews and complaints

1-27-23

I've been dealing with Florida ebt for years since I had my daughter who is now 9. Being a single parent is hard enough but for the most part it's been simple to deal with recertification's and income updates through the website. I upload either a screenshot or PDF of my checks as soon as i process paperwork and then everything goes smoothly. There was a period of time where I couldn't call in because their phone lines were a hot mess but that's not what this complaint is about.

I just recertified for January after starting a new job in December. My previous job was paid weekly and my new job is Bi-weekly. in the past when I had switched from bi-weekly to weekly it was fine, no issues. This time however i got a notice of denial for making too much money (I took a large paycut when I took this job). Confused I called and got a worker who cut me off explaining to tell me "if i'd just listen" and proceeds to explain how income is calculated. While doing so she reveals they calculated me at a weekly rate for bi-weekly paychecks that were submitted so it looks like i'm making about 3k a month. This is despite the fact i was trying to explain to her I make bi-weekly and had a feeling that's what they did. She proceeded to talk down to me then changed the reason to "oh your paychecks don't say the company or your name on them" (they did in larger bold letters) "and we can't use them like that"

... So... how did you even calculate my income?

"and your checks were submitted less than 2 weeks apart" Yes because I had already earned them, but the dates on the checks are exactly 14 days.

well you can resubmit if you want but ive done all i can and need to take other calls

Excuse me?

it was like talking to a brick wall. I even suggested I circle my name and company on the checks just to make sure they saw it but "that's not necessary"

at this point I, who am normally very patient with csr reps, was beyond being nice. she continued to dismiss what I was saying with the excuse she had to move on--Despite me waiting 2 hours to even get answered on a call in the first place.

Her entire tone from start to finish of the call was very demeaning and she made no attempt to look deeper into the case or rectify the situation.

First of all, for some reason my complaint went on the Florida Department of Revenue site. I meant for it to be posted on the Florida Department of Children and Family Services. It may be because I starting typing in Florida, and the Dept of Revenue site came up, because there isn't one listed for DCFS. Instead, this time I will post this follow up complaint hopefully on the correct site.

Okay, so, the case worker finally called me a few days after I wrote my complaint on this site. I wasn't even scheduled to receive a call, & I'm thinking the only reason she finally reached out to me is because of the complaint. As far as her calling me even though I wasn't set for a phone interview, it could be because she wanted to hear my voice to see what race I am. Sorry if I'm wrong; however, after the call I resubmitted, by uploading the information she requested. Also, she had asked me if I filed my taxes yet, & I told her no. I haven't yet received my 1099 from the Chinese restaurant to deliver for. I'm a private contractor & I have expenses for my vehicle that I have to pay for. Unfortunately, that's why I need SNAP benefits. I've been receiving the benefits for I think, over 3 years, & as long as I scanned, & uploaded my paychecks, (or a proof of pay form), my gas receipts, & my car repair invoices; along with write on my re-certification application tips I receive the re-certification has always been processed. Therefore, I am not sure why this particular case worker wanted my tax return.

Anyway, after I once again for the second time uploaded my last 2 pay checks which I told her I would send; as well as, the gas receipts, the car repair invoices, & a letter to her explaining how I get paid, & what I once again uploaded. I then received a notice from her saying the information was unreadable, & she wanted me to send a calendar with all my work information written on it. So, for the third time I re-uploaded all the previous forms I had sent twice along with a calendar I wrote up which included on each day I worked, my deliveries, tips, & the miles I drove. In addition, I wrote on the calendar the days & hours I work, & each day I got gas & the cost. Well, within a few hours of doing this, I received another notice saying I was denied because I didn't send the information requested. I sent EVERYTHING she asked for, except for my tax return which I am unable to send since I haven't even received my 1099 so I can file them. In my opinion, the case worker purposely put me through unacceptable additional steps because when she heard I was white she had already decided to make me go through HORRIBLE things & then DENY me.

Thank goodness my mom is allowing me to stay with her. She is on a fixed income due to getting very ill after a bad incident that happened to her in 2011. She is now on disability. Even though she doesn't have much money she allows me to stay with her in a 2 bedroom apartment. If she were alone she would probably get herself a 1 bedroom; however, she won't let me end up out on the street. My mom & I both have read many complaints on the DCFS Facebook wall, on this site, & on other sites. One person wrote that she use to work at the DCFS & that MANY of the case workers are unethetical. I now she that for myself. Not only that, but in my opinion the case worker that worked on my case seems to be uncaring. I know when she called, I asked her how she was doing, & she just answered, "I'm busy." No doubt she is very busy, but she just sounded very cold & uncaring. Maybe if she doesn't like working with people, or at least some people, she should look for a job which would better suit her. After doing EVERYTHING she asked of me, except the one thing that was out of my control, she DENIED me. It saddens me. Wonder if she HATES whites. : (

If there is one word to describe Florida Department Of Children And Family? Horrible. They will not help you here in Florida and if they do the assistance amount with how expensive food is out here won’t be enough to feed you and your family for less than two weeks and that help come once a month. The Government in Florida has never thought or care that the water in this state is non-drinkable and is been linked to cause cancer (it’s happened) So you would think if they care they will give you extra stamps to buy water (Which in this state is expensive) If you are 10 dollars over the amount your budget is they will deny you, seriously. Don’t think you move to Florida to get help and your life will be like living in paradise does dreams don’t exists here in Florida. And anybody that tells you their life is just great and are getting good help they are scamming. Living in this state is frustrating and only good to separate families and or make you sick because of the stress. As a disabled person who don’t have long to live this state and it’s no help definitely have helped speed up the my progressive illness. Florida state government assistance which you as a poor individual will qualify will do much harm to you than any good.

I cannot believe Florida food stamps Medicaid cash assistance tells me I need to do an interview by a certain date the number I call supposed to be between 8 a.m. at 11 on or before a certain date I called before and I called on that date couldn't even leave a message the message box was full finally on the day it rang I was able to leave a message never received a call back I left two messages I even faxed over a paper saying I am trying to get in touch to do my interview I called the 1-800 number and they told me I have to call the number on the paper I got in the mail everything is wrong on my paperwork they sent me 2 Days Later I'm ineligible because I didn't do an interview I have nothing I have no benefits on my card I have to go to a food bank now what kind of people are working our families are in these people's hands if you go to somebody's house and they have no food you will take their kid why is this happening my kid is home from school and I have nothing they don't even know what they're talkin about when I call somehow it says Medicaid has nothing to do with Medicaid I've been on this for quite some time I know what is going on in the workers aren't doing their job I'm going without because somebody didn't do their job

I finally got through on the phone line after calling constistently for a week, literally, only to be told that my faxed documents had not been recieved. This is crap I have a copy of every fax confirmation sheet. Apparently the office uses the excuse that the document was unclear. If that is the case maybe they need better fax machines. I was told that I may have sent the fax when the system was down. Everytime? I asked if this was something that happened often and was told NO. I find that very interesting given the other complaints here and the number of time I have sent this fax.I faxed my information to [protected] like my paper stated. I was told that this was a correct fax number and that if that one had not work the use another one [protected]. How many fax numbers do they have? This is just another avenue they use as an excuse. My tax payers dollars are paying for the people on the other end of the phone not to be able to help. How about pay for a damn fax machine that actually works. I am not one that is for taking jobs away from people and replacing them with machines or computers, but It may be more useful. Is it too much to set up and e-mail account and have papers scanned and sent there. Then they could be printed or viewed by whomever. I would be more than willing to set that up for them. I also asked if it is to much to ask that, if a fax comes over and some part of is is illegible, a case worker contact you and let you know. I was told in a round about way they don't have time, and that how would they know who it belongs to. You mean to tell me that with my name, case number, and social security number written all over this damn paper like they requested NONE of it is legible? I was told to continue to re-fax the paper and check my online access acount to see if the paper had been recieved. I then told them that I had entered all the CORRECT information to register online and the screen just says that the information provided is not valid. I was told oh well I don't know what to do about that. I also asked for an e-mail address to scan and e-mail the paper. I was told there isn't one. So, those of us in desperate need of a little help are expected to continuously pay for faxes, and spend time that could be used for us to be in search of jobs or what not to call this joke of an 800 number, and never get an answer. If we were to operate like this when the governement or state wanted information from us we would be jailed. This is ludicrous! I would rather have the office back in Ocala that you would go to and wait for 3 or 4 hours for a case worker. At least by the time you left you had answers and the caseworker, had no excuse of not recieveing your paperwork to hide behind.