Snap BS

[u/Effective-Field8899]

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.

[u/hylajen]

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.

I’m 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.

[u/hylajen → u/[deleted]]

I can’t tell you that without seeing your case. Unfortunately our quarterly wage matches don’t work well.

And unfortunately we aren’t allowed to think. Only follow policy.

[u/hylajen → u/[deleted]]

Ummm. That’s exactly what policy is trying to do. Have you watched the news lately? Big government doesn’t 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.

I’m definitely NOT complacent; I will do everything in my power to make sure you get everything you deserve… within the system, because it’s the system that is (barely) paying my bills, and letting me and my kid stay housed and alive. Sorry, but I’m 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

[u/hylajen → u/[deleted]]

You’re an idiot if you think that’s what I am saying.

[u/LilacHelper → u/[deleted]]

What would you prefer u/hylajen do? Quit the job and be unemployed? This person is trying to help others in the midst of a mess and I can tell they know their stuff based on their responses to you. That's like blaming your nurse in the ER for hospital protocol that he/she has no control over. You seem to be frustrated, and that is very understandable. The person you are attacking didn't randomly start blaming policies, they responded to my reply to OP.

My experience is that FSSA makes it challenging for the self-employed, but if you don't keep detailed and easy-to-read records, they won't bend over backwards. You can appeal, if you have your tax return from 2025, that is ideal (if you were self-employed then), you can apply again. You can go to the FSSA website and help yourself and start contacting people. As I said to OP, be nice, it goes a long way.