Since I had to leave my job in January, things have been getting tighter and tighter for me and Alex and we're able to get less and less help because we're exhausting our resources. I have applied to several "Real" jobs as I call them, but though I've had interviews, nobody is biting my resume line. I'm not sure why either. Both interviewers seemed blown-away by me, but I don't have an extensive photography background. That's probably why I didn't get a call-back. So that leaves me kinda empty-handed and looking for something, I guess really anything would do for now at this point.
But that's not the point. The point is, Alex and I have have been getting government assistance throughout the second half of my pregnancy and while Apollo has been real little. Now we still need it, so it was time to re-certify for our Food Stamps and Medicaid. I was really worried, okay, I was downright terrified that someone at Department of Children and Families was going to commit an epic-fail like last time. Anyone who has been following me on Facebook since March would know that DCF screwed up royally last time. They lost things, they forgot to tell us about things we needed and they just acted like complete idiots. I was seriously convinced that last time, I was dealing with Orangutans. I would call the call center and be told everything was fine. I would go to DCF and be told I needed something that wasn't on the original letter. I'd call back at the call center and be told I was missing something else. I would take that something, along with the other something to DCF, be told it was right and complete. Then a week later, something else was missing. It was a never-ending cycle and I was ready to put my fist through a wall. I was 30 weeks pregnant and hadn't seen a doctor in 9 weeks and I was getting to my wit's end. I freaked out on the imbecile filling in for a human being at the front desk and demanded a supervisor. She told me I needed to do this and that and turn in these things, so I jumped through their hoops and then got DENIED. Oh how I was furious. I went into DCF and immediately asked for a supervisor after being informed I "had an attitude" because I corrected the lady at the front that, yes, in fact, I DID turn THAT in, 3 weeks ago and that a week ago and was never told I needed that. I had the whole place looking at me, 32 weeks pregnant as I sat down with my 18 month old son and sobbed in the corner. Then SHE came along... Ms Sherman...my saving grace. She took me to the back, actually opened my case and went over every minute detail, got the missing information from me and BOOM... what 3 front desk associates and 5 call center associates couldn't manage to do was done in 15 minutes, we were approved and it was backdated.
Then it was time to renew. I filled out my application, got it in 3 weeks early and got my letter in the mail stating I needed two things. Just TWO? I was skeptical, but nothing had changed in our situation since changes were last reported when Apollo was born, so I had a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe someone with half a brain at the call center would get my information, put it in right, not miss something and push the right buttons. (That's a whole 'nother story right there... someone pushed the wrong button on Orion's Medicaid and CLOSED it, for no reason, other than that person obviously had the IQ of a 6 year old... and the 6 year old would be way cuter!) To my surprise, I logged into my online account and everything is... drum roll please... RIGHT. It's correct. Everything is open, nothing is denied and no further documentation is needed. Everything is good until May 2011 - you mean I don't have to deal with those idiots until Apollo is a YEAR old? Unless one of us gets a job so good we bring home more than $2400 a month... and then, honestly, we won't need them. Phew... so SOMEBODY at DCF realized they shouldn't handle cases with their ass and used their head! Hip-Hip-Horray! It's almost too good to be true, so maybe I should stop bragging. Someone at DCF might see this, realize we didn't jump through enough hoops or go through enough hell this time and change their mind...
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