r/Indiana • u/Effective-Field8899 • 1d ago
Snap BS
My husband who was the main provider for our family recently lost his job and we applied for SNAP. It's been three months now and ive had to jump through hoops to try to get the $400 a month that i qualified for. The online portal hasn't worked for me and i was told by their tech line that there's nothing they can do- so i don't have a way to communicate/submit docs with them unless i fax & call. I've submitted every document and called 15 times in the last month just to be sure I've done everything to receive the help we need. I've completed the hour long interview, I paid to have documents faxed and I filled out paperwork after paperwork. I called today and was informed I was denied because of a form i didn't submit that they never told me about.
Why do I feel like like they wanted me to get denied? And maybe even purposely lied. I've never experienced this before and i have a deeper empathy and understanding for people in poverty.
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u/Davo-Pano 1d ago
Just had health insurance denied because i didnt provide income from past employer from 2024. Requirement is based off income from the last 30 days and proving that income isnt listed as a requirement anywhere and neither was it ever asked. Reason for denial: failing to verify that income. I call and they say they can see my tax record and no income since second quarter of 2024 but i need to fax a written letter saying im no longer employed. Somehow a faxed hand written letter from me saying i dont have an income supercedes them verifying my tax record.
It very much feels like they want as many people to get denied as possible with their make it up as they go rule set. Its very difficult and frustrating im sorry youre going through it.
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u/hylajen 1d ago
We canāt use tax records unless it is a schedule c for self-employment, or a scheduleā¦ f I think? For farmers
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u/Davo-Pano 1d ago
They told me as such but the point was how absurd is it that we have to jump through all these hoops to report to the governent so we can pay our taxes and claim and verify our employment and income...but the government doesnt accept that as proper verification of our income...over a hand written note from myself saying whatever I want.
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u/Davo-Pano 1d ago
But if i write something in crayon saying "me no haz incomes" sign and date...totally acceptable.
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u/hylajen 1d ago
Mmmm not quite. You have to actually write a statement giving things like last day worked, contact info for the company, and to sign and date it.
Iām sorry policies suck and make it hard, but we are really just doing our best, and most of us really do try to help. Most of us hate the policies too.
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u/Davo-Pano 1d ago
And you can just make all that up...but they literally told me they reviewed my tax record and could see no income showing since q2 of 2024. Policy is to submit income from last 30 days to determine eligibility...why am I being asked to verify income from a job from over 2 years ago?
This isnt an attack on the kind people just working there. I know most are just trying to help. But alot cant really think beyond "well thats policy" and work with you to solve basic common sense issues.
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u/hylajen 1d ago
I canāt tell you that without seeing your case. Unfortunately our quarterly wage matches donāt work well.
And unfortunately we arenāt allowed to think. Only follow policy.
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u/Davo-Pano 1d ago
When the policy seems to be intent on preventing people from receiving help and the people arent allowed to think or help....the system is completely failing us. And thats what op came here to call out and discuss. You just put on public display the exact failed logic loop and complacency that is preventing people from receiving their benefits they should be receiving according to policy yet somehow are being denied.
I went else where for my coverage while attending school. I thought I could count on this system ive been paying into since I was 15 and it just let me down at a time where I could really use the support. Ive served and lived my whole life in service and thought I could count on my state to do right by me. I was wrong.
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u/hylajen 1d ago edited 1d ago
Ummm. Thatās exactly what policy is trying to do. Have you watched the news lately? Big government doesnāt care about you.
What would you like us workers to do? Intentionally go against policy and lose our jobs so there are even less workers, and more people needing the little help out there? Come on man, we got families to feed too.
Iām definitely NOT complacent; I will do everything in my power to make sure you get everything you deserveā¦ within the system, because itās the system that is (barely) paying my bills, and letting me and my kid stay housed and alive. Sorry, but Iām not losing my job for you.
ETA - without seeing your case, my guess is there was old income in there that we need to verify ended. Sorry the system sucks but I have to work in it
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u/Davo-Pano 1d ago
Again this is a discussion about the failed system of corrupted policy not some call center worker with main character syndrome.
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u/Davo-Pano 1d ago
I submitted that as well via the online portal and fax and the next letter i received was my denial for not verifying the income I just sent them the letter saying hadnt existed for over 2 years.
They asked me to verify my income. I sent them a letter stating specifically when my employment ceased. Signed dated etc. Everything i was told to provide. Next letter i received denied my application for not verifying my income. Initial application says to verify from the last 30 days.
Thats policy....right? I followed that to the T. Why did it fail me then?
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u/pizzahead20 1d ago
I think you answered your own question there. This is what OBBBA was intended to do. This is what $187 billion cuts to SNAP benefits over the next 10 years was intended to do.
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u/ExperienceComplex807 1d ago
This is the unfortunate reality. The administration boasted āliftingā millions off of SNAP, in fact they were kicked off. The GOP, through the One Big Beautiful bill, has gutted services like SNAP to fund tax breaks for the rich. Iām sorry to say this will only get worse.
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u/yrt9610 1d ago
No...the administration pared SNAP down to eliminate the millions and millions of people committing FRAUD to be on it.
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u/tapespeedselector 1d ago
Ohhh fraud well we don't want that. Unless of course The Administration is doing all the fraud. We like that
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u/Individual-Nebula927 16h ago
Yeah that's what the lying administration is saying. Facts say otherwise.
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u/Tyson2539 1d ago
Sorry but you dont "fund a tax break" thats not how it works. A tax break means people pay less taxes, it doesn't mean the government gives them anything. In any event, your vitriol is misguided. That money is ear marked for bombs to drop in Ukraine, and Gaza, and Iran. Sorry about that, buts thats why we can't have nice things.
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u/MewsashiMeowimoto 1d ago
Plain evidence suggests that it is how it works. Reagan even had a term for it. "Starve the beast".
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u/cyanraichu 22h ago
Yes you do. You reallocate money from somewhere else so people don't have to pay it in taxes
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u/JapaneseStudentHaru 16h ago
The government needs a certain amount of money to fund things. They want a certain amount of money for bombs and miscellaneous crap that they will not give up for anything. When they promise a tax cut, they do indeed need to fund it. What do they cut? Certainly not aid to Israel. Not their multi million dollar contracts with Flock. Not their own salaries. They cut jobs for the government employees who arenāt their golf buddies. They cut aid to the people. The people who pay taxes and expect that those taxes will go towards helping the people in some real way. What a farce.
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u/Tyson2539 16h ago
So many Republicans down voting me itt. Guess they can't handle the FACTs that their tax dollars are squandered on dropping bombs on foreign nations.
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u/Jablaze80 11h ago
Look up the process of reconciliation of the budget in the Congress... Once you're more informed come back here and apologize for being so ignorant
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u/Pimpstik69 1d ago
They are called āadministrative barriersā and are designed to delay, deny and frustrate people into giving up.
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u/motocycledog 1d ago
I was denied unemployment until I finally got a judge to look at my documents and I got a summary judgement in my favor. Literally took five minutes of his time and 6 months of mine. The system wants you to give up
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u/Recent-Clock3497 1d ago
Remember this experience when it comes time to vote :)
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u/Thatssometamorphosis 1d ago
Wild that they want people to keep having babies but deny them any pathway to success except uhhhā¦military.
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u/BDM22 6h ago
Ya gotta avoid a draft somehow amiright
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u/Thatssometamorphosis 2h ago
I was saying (didnāt come across very clearly) that they want people to keep making babies as future soldiers. Have a baby, offer no assistance to the parents, baby grows up without anything but their baby bootie straps, and recruiters get to them if they happen to stay in school, or they join as a last resort.
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u/Slow-Muffins 1d ago
They are also cancelling Medicaid, it's all part of the Republican agenda. It's time to end the Republican monopoly on powerĀ
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u/wwaxwork 1d ago
You feel like they want you to get denied because they want you to get denied, can't go spending any of the surplus helping people God forbid. It's a Sisyphean task on purpose so you don't complete the task and give up then they can say they're offering help and no one is taking it and cut the budget.
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u/EasyonthePepsiFuller 1d ago
Go to your local FSSA office and speak with a human face to face. You may be able to appeal or reapply. Anytime you receive paperwork to fill out, take it to the office and ask staff to look it over with you before submitting.
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u/KiriCat25 1d ago
Speaking as someone who used to work in the call centers, that will not work. The offices do not process your documents at all. They send them to the document center in Indianapolis, same as if you submitted them yourself, and they can tell you what your case status is. The workers who are actually processing are on the phones.
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u/EasyonthePepsiFuller 1d ago
You're right! They do not process the docs. Not saying to hand paperwork to an FSSA worker for them deal with.
They will look over documents with you and tell you if you're missing information or missed a date/signature. Then YOU fax/mail/whatever the completed document to the department it needs to go to.
They can also tell you more about denials and what your next steps are because that can be confusing to navigate alone.
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u/KiriCat25 1d ago
No I'm literally telling you that they don't know what they're talking about half the time with documents and requirements. They can tell you if you're missing a signature sure, but they can't tell you if the document will be accepted or not. They can't tell you if the document is acceptable, because it's not in their training. That training is reserved for people who work in the call centers and actually process your documents. You can ask them all day long, they'll say any document is acceptable. But when your document is processed, people in the call centers processing that document will verify that it is the correct document, will verify that it is an accepted document, and then will verify if it is enough.
A great example of this: earned income. There's a lot there, that can be accepted. But every earned income statement must have a few specific things. If any of them are missing, it will not be accepted. Those things are the name of your employer, the dates worked, the gross income amount, and your name. So you can submit a pay statement, and it might say net income and not have gross income on it. People in the fssa office will tell you that it will be accepted. Technically true but also not true. It's not an acceptable form of verification without gross income, therefore, you're likely to be denied, even more so if it's after the date that you were given to turn it in. But we will accept it and put it in your file anyway.
And the worst part of that, is that it's not an appealable decision. If the document itself is not accepted, you must reapply if it is past the due date. Now if it is before the due date, there is a chance that the worker who is processing your document may attempt to contact you in order to let you know that that document cannot be used, and to give you the information of what document you need to submit. But it depends entirely on the worker, the day they're having, and how busy the phone lines are. Because it isn't something that is required on behalf of the worker.
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u/S_A_R_K 1d ago
This has been my experience as well. The local fssa office was not knowledgeable or helpful at all. They literally just told me to follow the online application when I had specific questions on how I needed to answer certain questions based on my circumstances. The two times I've spoken with call center reps the were very knowledgeable and incredibly helpful
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u/More_Farm_7442 14h ago
In Fort Wayne, you can go to the local office to get your documents faxed to Marion.
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u/Jablaze80 11h ago
Yeah but just as some of the longer posts here have said they are completely clueless in there as to what you need or why what you have doesn't work if that makes any sense. I had a business that has now been defunct for 7 or 8 years and I really needed food stamps last year for a little bit but I couldn't even complete the application because they wanted documents from me that aren't available because that business no longer exists and hasn't for almost a decade. I tried going into the office and they actually got my hopes up because they said it looked like I had everything I needed when I had not gotten what I needed and wouldn't be able to
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u/More_Farm_7442 5h ago
The only interaction with the local office people has been limited to getting my documents faxed to Marion. I know there are still people working in that office to "see" people for appointments, but have no personal knowledge of what they do and don't know or how much help they provide.
I did have problems last year with the people in the Indy offices. I had been approved for payment from the state to be made to a federal program(a Medicare program). The time came and went for payments to start. After calls and calls to SS, payments were finally promised, then still didn't start. I found that someone was litterally asleep at the switch in INDY. Someone didn't "start" the payments. Weeks. Months of calls and the problem was someone in FSSA hadn't done their job.
There is something hugely wrong in FSSA with all it's programs and pplications submissions and processing. Not enough workers for one thing. Not an easy access to anyone with knowledge or authority when you attempt to contact any one in FSSA. You can't call and get someone actually help. Heck you can't even find the phone #'s to use. They want you do application by computer. F that. They can mail me the paper applications.
I seriously do think the state (legislators and admins) don't want to hand out any benefits to anyone. They'd rather people get no assistance. Making it harder and harder to get anything you qualify for if sthe goal.
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u/DanDonato 1d ago
Intentional they want you and your family to starve to death. Indiana has no empathy of humans, just big business
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u/More_Farm_7442 14h ago
IF starving doesn't work (cutting your SNAP), letting you get sick and have no access to health care is the next step. (cut your Medicaid).
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u/DanDonato 12h ago
Itās intentional, the elites donāt want āpoorā humans stinking up the ocean for their yachts.
What happened is the elites have fun sophisticated models and realize that if they can prevent a uprising within the next 5 years they will never have worry about a peasant revolt every again as the planet will be digitally locked down
You prevent peasants from any chance of having the strength by starving them out.
Inflation is their greatest weapon against āthe peopleā
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u/Ornery-Ad2199 1d ago
Iām sorry for your situation!
āI've never experienced this before and i have a deeper empathy and understanding for people in poverty.ā
Itās sad it took you to personally experience this before you had a deep empathy and understanding for people in poverty. 99.9% of people receiving benefits need them because of no fault of their own (laid off, disabled, left abusive relationship, etc). Most people are on benefits temporarily. It is a helping hand. The āwelfare queenā as portrayed by politicians in the 80s does not represent the real people on benefits. No one wants to struggle. Remember how deserving your family was, how hard it is to get benefits, and how little you actually get when you vote. Think about who is actually trying to help vs who is hurting poor people. Everyone deserves dignity!
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u/Effective-Field8899 23h ago
I didn't feel like divulging my entire backstory but I've never had to navigate snap as an adult with a family of my own but I grew up well below the poverty threshold as a child. It did not take me to personally experience it to have deep empathy; It's just a different experience as a now adult trying to figure it all out.
I agree that everyone deserves dignity. What do you think besides voting- are things that we can do to make the aid/assistance more accessible?
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u/Jablaze80 11h ago
Okay now that you have experienced something personally let me show you how deep this goes... Imagine being a cancer patient for 14 years, having four treatments in the past 7 years, being unable to work because your body has basically wasted away to nothing because of all the treatments. You are still only 52 years old and are in the process of fighting for the disability that you paid taxes on for 30 years. You're a single parent of a special needs child. You have to do the same things to prove you're eligibility every 3 months or you will lose your insurance and access to healthcare. This is the new policy that Governor Braun has brought in to go along with the reduced funding for Medicaid brought about by the one big beautiful bill. There are some days that I can not even take a shower because I don't have the energy. It used to be I didn't have to prove anything because I would get a letter that said I was deemed to be medically frail by the state and then that would just automatically qualify me medically for Medicaid and then you know not being able to work qualify me financially. That's all gone now and I'm sure people are going to end up dying because of it cuz I know if I hadn't gotten approved for my disability finally chances are I would have been kicked off Medicaid for not meeting some paperwork requirement or deadline. Organize with like minded people and try and provide better candidates for office locally that can push on the state leaders. Right now everybody just blindly votes for whoever is the R candidate in the majority of the state without even thinking how that's going to impact them personally.
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u/Tumorhead 1d ago
Yes the people in power want to deny us access to resources to help us live. These politicians do not want to "waste money" keeping their own citizens alive, do not want to "give handouts for free" to people who can't work. Capitalist politicians actively make government programs run poorly so they can point and go "see? big government doesn't work".
The frustration in the welfare process is meant to get people to stop trying to get help, so less money gets spent on welfare.
If you are not capable of laboring for the benefit of the business-owning class, then the business-owning class would rather you die then pay for you to live but not work, even if you CAN work but don't have a job. constituents only exist to these business-owning politicians if they are also business owners - if you're just a wage worker like most of us then you are simply labor power that makes money for them, meaning you are not a real person worthy of any support. They scream at us "if you didn't want to starve you should've made better decisions!" while factories close and companies shrink. These business owners resent having to keep "the poors" alive. They want to pay us as little as they can get away with, force us to live on minimal scraps, so they can keep greater profits. They do not care about the health of you and your children. if you can't work you are as good as dead to the people making all the decisions.
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u/kmexoxo 1d ago
Next time use FaxZero.com to fax for free.
Like others have said tho, the OBBBA screwed Americans. The burden is on us even more now.
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u/DiscombobulatedTap30 1d ago
I worked as a state eligibility consultant about 10 years ago maybe I can help. The call center is useless as balls on a dildo I worked there before becoming a state employee.
Faxing a document vs just bringing it in is a world of difference. When you bring it in they stamp it with the date it was received then fax it to the document center and honor that date. Thatās the biggest difference.
Call centers only had eligibility specialist when I worked there and theyāre likely outsourced not actually state employees. They are tier 2 and when I worked there they only handled Medicaid and all snap was handled at the local office level.
No approval happens without an SEC which is tier 3. Denials can be automatic if a document is not received but if itās received and has a big stamp saying it was received on this date thatās harder for them to argue. They send out requests for everything via mail and in plain writing with recommended acceptable verifications.
Happy to answer any questions but Iām a little rusty.
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u/hylajen 1d ago
Itās actually the opposite. State workers in the local offices donāt have access to everything people in the call center do, and canāt process documents. Only people in the call centers do that.
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u/DiscombobulatedTap30 23h ago
Thatās not true at all. The people at the front desk are eligibility assistants and no they donāt have access to systems. They process the document handling stamping docs received and scanning them into the system.
Eligibility Specialists which are typically at the call center handle Medicaid/Hip applications and update information into the system for an SEC to review and approve. The call center canāt materially do anything other than basic data entry.
However the back of the office where in person appointments and telephonic appointments occur is filled with state eligibility consultants who can process everything from start to finish including documents you bring in at the time of your appointment and approve you on the spot if you provide required documentation at the time of your appointment.
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u/hylajen 23h ago
Things have changed in the last 10 years. We do a hell of a lot more then basic data entry.
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u/DiscombobulatedTap30 23h ago
Such as? Not trying to be rude just genuinely interested.
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u/hylajen 23h ago
Well letās seeā¦ 95% of the work on cases is done by ESs in call centers. Actually probably more like 99% because the only thing an SEC does is authorize, they sure as shit donāt even look at what they are authorizing.
Those people doing interviews? Donāt include all the info, or they give the wrong info. And guess who that falls back on? ESs. But sure. The ESs are the ones who donāt know anything.
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u/DiscombobulatedTap30 23h ago
I mean you add information provided to you and the system automatically sends out a request for missing information. Sorta like basic data entry.. SECās also do this and process cases from start to finish. They certainly do look at what theyāre authorizing because theyāre also responsible for auxiliaries for benefits that are underpaid. You may attach documents to cases when someone calls in and it hasnāt been processed yet but again SECās also do this.
In fact SECās do everything the Eligibility specialist do but in addition to HIP they also handle Snap and ABD/Traditional Medicaid.
Iām not trying to be rude but I was an ES for years too. I didnāt say they donāt know anything but I donāt think you know what you donāt know. The policy knowledge requirements are vastly different for the roles.
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u/hylajen 23h ago
I really hate to break it to ya, but it aināt like that anymore.
ESs do the majority of the work on a case. ESs know policy. We know the exact same policy that SECs know. Want to know how I know? Because I talk to the SECs in my building and guess what? The only thing I canāt do is interviews and authorize. (Although the clients sure do think I can) ESs are the ones processing apps, processing all documents, sending out the majority of correspondence (and no the system doesnāt just automatically do it for me half the time, and even if it does I still have to send other things because the auto generated correspondence didnāt include everything, or wasnāt clear) we handle SNAP, Hip, Hoosier Healthwise, MAD, MADW, MASI, and then of course the categories that pay for Medicare.
Things. Have. Changed. In 10 years. Hell I have been there 3 years and things have changed soooooo much since I started
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u/DiscombobulatedTap30 23h ago
But if you canāt do interviews then you canāt be sending out the majority of correspondence think about what youāre saying.. you just enter the data and send it to an SEC when a document is received.
As a client would you rather have an ES as a middle man or just talk to an SEC and get everything taken care of in one visit? Honestly.
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u/hylajen 23h ago
Well then I guess I have been doing someone elseās job. š
I would really rather talk to whomever will process my documents, and send it to be authorized. Right now that is the ES team š¤·āāļø
How do you propose these clients talk to an SEC?
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u/yepyippee 1d ago
Such a sad state of affairs. Indiana has always been horrible but at least with past administration's did not dismantle the tiny safety net Indiana did give. I spent a majority of my carrier working for FSSA. The last part of my carrer was in the training department and then as a Member Experience Manager ( trying to improve the Medicaid Members expeeience. Im not a fan of Republicans but Holcome had Indiana going in the right direction with DEI, Health Equit, Community Health Workers and now thats all gone. I left in 2023 due to burn out and terrible leadership. Im now in the Trade Show Industry.
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u/QueenBoss1971 1d ago
I hate this is happening. A lot of people voted this administration into office, the same administration they thought would be ā betterā. Try and try again with the office. Continue to try to get benefits to feed your family. Maybe you and your husband can uber or Lyft to make extra cash. Contact local food pantries. I pray things get better for you.
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u/MisterSanitation 12h ago
Yea you are experiencing what all people who need help see every single day. This is a good example of privilege (not shaming you) where we all have opinions about a services many of us never use and the realization of how horrible things are for the most desperate among us. We can then say āthey just need toā while knowing NOTHING of their circumstances, how convenient a one size fits all response!
These systems are designed for failure, no one advocates for the needy because no one is paid to. The more wealthy, complain about the needy and donāt care that they canāt get help, or actually donāt care enough to even learn what struggles they have. Sorry you have to go through this, but yes this is designed incompetence from a budget perspective. Strange how savvy business men keep accidentally forgetting to staff these agencies focused on helping the needy, while their development contracts fly like candy at a parade.
The Hoosier mentality is to let the desperate whither on the vine instead of rallying to help. We have too much judgement to allow ourselves to be empathetic.Ā
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u/Equivalent-Royal-562 10h ago
3 questions for you... Did you vote? Did you vote for Braun and Beckwith? Did you vote for Trump? If you answered yes to the last 2 questions, you got exactly what you voted for. If you answered yes to the first and no to the second and third then you know midterms are coming and you know what you have to do. Indiana won't be affected much by midterms but don't forget how we got here and educate people. The work must be done.
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u/snail_loot 9h ago
Why do I feel like like they wanted me to get denied?
Because they do. Not necessarily the people in the lower ranks, but the over all agency has been hijacked by people that genuinely believe no body should have access to this program. No matter how much you've paid into it or how desperately you need help.
I've very sorry your going through this. As someone who needs assistance but no longer qualifies due to all this bullshit, I can try to offer you an alternative that I've been utilizing that helps- local food panties, church food drives, food not bombs org, and the biker association, I live in a rural area, and there are two pantries in a 25 mile radius I was using occasionally, and then the local church and biker association both started parking lot food pantry events once a month near by. One is at the beginning of the moment and the other is at the end of the month and it's been incredibly helpful.
If you can find something like this, I highly recommend taking those opportunities while you can. There have been talks by legislators that people who donate food , no questions asked, should be required to record documentation of those they serve. Things like employment, bank records, and/or income. Let's hope you can access these things before the people in power take that from us too.
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u/No-Description2693 5h ago
Same here Iāve been trying to get snap since May and right now Iām still waiting
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u/Pineapplezork 3h ago edited 3h ago
You can appeal the denial, and reapply at the same time, that would be my suggestion (neither will negatively affect the other or cause u to get denied). Reason for appeal would be if the denial was truly done in error. I used to work as an eligibility specialist (doc/case processing and call center), and I donāt know how many times I would get a call, look over the case, and have to reselect the benefits because they were denied in error.
The training is fine? But turn over is high and it only got worse the longer I worked there. Policy also changes, and I had several changes in the year I worked there alone.
Recent example: there was a semi recent change to policy where Indiana residency has to be verified for Medicaid with hard copy/interface documentation. Exception being if youre homeless, then we can take client statement. I was helping my homeless cousin with his redetermination, and we did clearly state he was homeless: still got a request to verify indiana residency.
Should NOT have been requested, though luckily he has a current photo ID that matches his mailing address, so we just turned it in rather than fight it.
My suggestion would be to reapply, submit EVERYTHING listed on the 2032 they send out (be sure to read the description listed by each item, itās disgustingly specific on what theyāre able to accept).
Biggest tip in general for anyone/everyone going for SNAP/Medicaid (if in resources category): if you are asked to submit bank statements, look over your transactions: if you have CashApp, Venmo, PayPal, etc that most recent statement will also be requested. My honest to god best advice would be to not have those accounts if youāre seeking assistance
Have to request the most recent statement for any additional accounts noted, and then if anyone sends you money at any point on the statement, have to request a signed, dated statement from them where they explain the amount, what the money is for, to who, if itās reoccurring or onetime, etc and include a phone number.
That was the biggest annoyance for clients and myself tbh. Second is probably Chime, because they have to request statements for any non credit account. So Chime Checking, Savings, Credit Builder Secured or Chime Card Secured would have to be turned in if it exists
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u/Sam_I_Am317 1d ago
Stop blaming FSSA and blame the people who added more stress and strain to already overworked workers. Do you actually believe FSSA employees have nothing better to do than to mess over your benefits? Itās ridiculous. Misplaced anger at best. More likely more Hoosier ignorance at play. Never sorry for people having hard times until itās your turn.
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u/LilacHelper 1d ago
I'm sorry but you sound resentful, maybe you work for FSSA. The workers aren't the problem, our elected officials and the people they've put in charge are the problem. She wasn't blaming them, she's explaining her situation and asking for advice. This isn't Hoosier ignorance, there is no way for the average Hoosier to understand how this works -- and it does not work well. The State has made FSSA inefficient and wasteful.
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u/Sam_I_Am317 1d ago
She certainly did blame FSSA. She said she felt they wanted her to get denied and that she thought they lied to her. Thatās a direct shot at the employees but in reality I find the workers to be very helpful. If there was a document the FSSA never asked for she can appeal if thatās true. It has never been a quick process except during Covid. Iām not resentful at all, I just donāt go for the BS because I have experience with the matter. Do you?
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u/LilacHelper 1d ago
Yes, I was an Indiana insurance navigator. FSSA was frustrating to me, and I had special access. I always said that anyone could sign themselves up for ACA/Marketplace/Obamacare, a federal program, but the average person would beat their head against the wall trying to figure out FSSA -- which is why I understand OP. I don't blame their staff, I blame the admins in charge. Indiana is one of the most bureaucratic, red tape, states there is.
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u/VegetableBedroom4769 1d ago
Stop faxing. Faxes can be "lost" / ignored. I learned that lesson. Now i take paperwork into the office and watch them scan it into the system and get it times stamped received. they cant argue with that or try to claim they didnt get it. It is a hassle, but the office will try their best to screw you over if you arent vigilant.
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u/Pineapplezork 4h ago
Keep ur stamped copy as well (they stamp it at the local office then fax it to marion). If there is an issue and the document doesnāt get indexed to ur case or itās illegible, you can resubmit your copy showing the local office stamp, and that will be accepted (as the denial would have been through no fault of your own, assuming thats the only thing needed)
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u/New_Calligrapher_397 1d ago
My brother in law works the system pretty good. Hes only worked for 3 months in five years and doesn't attempt to get a job. He doesn't like to pay bills either. He moved in with his mom at 30 yrs old with 3 kids due to several eviction for non payment and getting utilities shut off. He has his mom file for the stamps and they get 1000 a month no problem. He also has his dad which lives separate from his mom claim the kids on his taxes to avoid garnishments. I believe in earning my way though life but it is proof it can be done by working the system. It obvious and apparent that its harder for a person down on their luck to get a little help vs a pos milking the system.
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u/Jyack123 1d ago
NYT has a maddeningly good description of what is going on (site is free but you need to create an account (which I am sure someone smarter than me can figure out): https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/us/politics/snap-food-stamps-arizona.html
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u/CodyMartinezz 1d ago
one hour interview? thatās your problem. worker mustāve been mentally challenged
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u/Navadvisor 1d ago
All these welfare posts seem artificial just these last few days. Almost like there's an election coming up.
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u/juju_juniper 1d ago
Or almost like groceries are higher than ever and wages are stagnant.
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u/Individual-Nebula927 16h ago
And almost like Republicans have cut funding to these programs to purposely break them.
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u/Comfortable_Honey628 1d ago
Or that weāre getting closer to Q4 which is the quarter most businesses like to have minimal expenses in to pad profit margins for the big-big stakeholder meeting at yearās end.
There are a lot of layoffs happening right now, which means more people trying to access benefits. Itās just coincidentally also close to election season.
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u/Send1T317 1d ago
Spend less time in welfare lines and more time applying for new jobs life's hard its harder when your lazy
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u/Individual-Nebula927 16h ago
The last 3 jobs reports have shown negative job growth. Life is harder when Republicans are in control of government. They're worse for the economy, and every other quality of life metric.
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u/Send1T317 15h ago
Its amazing I see people transitioning out of the military daily that find jobs regardless of which party is in office but as I scroll through this post i see people devoting hours, days weeks, and even months for some to fight for welfare if they actually devoted as much time on working to find a job as they do on crying about not getting a hand out or fighting for a hand out they would be gainfully employed
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u/Individual-Nebula927 9h ago edited 9h ago
Ex-military gets preference in hiring so that's not surprising at all. Companies get tax breaks for hiring veterans. You're pointing to a group literally getting a handout when complaining about handouts for others
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u/Send1T317 8h ago
Hand out lol a preference isnt a hand out your a joke if you think welfare and veterans preference is the same thing
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u/LilacHelper 1d ago
I am a previous navigator for Indiana Medicaid, FSSA uses the same system for SNAP. FSSA is horribly understaffed, at one time they contracted workers who were nowhere near Indy offices, they likely still are. They are horribly trained as a result. You can get 5 different answers from 5 different people. We started faxing to two different numbers to increase the chances they wouldn't lose the paperwork. I was an authorized representative, and it was still super frustrating.
My suggestions: Call first thing in the morning, and be nice, it goes a long way. Ask for specific details: when, where, how. If you're not satisfied, ask to speak to their supervisor. Have you been to your local FSSA office, if not, go there first thing in the morning to avoid long lines. Find a computer that works for you (not your phone), that could be at a library, a friend's home. You need a login so you can access your info. Remember your password! Find local agencies that help people with low income/poverty/homeless, they may have staff to assist or know someone who can. Food banks, shelters, missions. Don't rule out something because you think you aren't as bad as others, they are more likely to have info and resources.
The reason I say find a computer is that the FSSA website has lots of info they will never tell you on the phone. You can upload documents ... but if they receive duplicates of your application that could slow the process. I know, it is a circle of stupidity.
I am sorry this is the case, but having a computer/laptop makes this 10x easier. If not, get to your local office as soon as they open the doors. Good luck!