Completly disgusted with our system...

[lilmom0417]

Okay, as I have posted in my last couple of journal posts, my husband lost his job at the begining of July.  He was fortunate enough to get on with American Airlines with his brother in Texas, which means a move for us.  But that job won't start until sometim next month.  So in the mean time he filed for unemployement and food stamps, we only need it for about a month, right.  Well, his unemployment kicked in within a week. He filed for the foodstamps the same day, and they asked him about  my employment status.  He stated that I was self employed, and they asked if it was filed on our taxes for last year, and he said yes, that I took a $600 loss (my first year of business).  They said okay, they didn't need anything as long as it was on our taxes.  Well, last week, we got a letter in the mail, they need all of this paperwork from me showing my profits and losses and they need recipets (sp?) and everything.  My hubby had talked to them 2 days prior and they didn't say anything about needing this paperwork, that they were working on the application.  So I called our caseworker and asked, and she said that hubby must not have talked to her, so I told her what had been said the day he applied about taxes and she said that they don't deal with taxes.  I asked her how come this paperwork wasn't requested when he applied, why was it being requested a week and half later, and she said that they have up to 30 days from the day he applied to process our application.  I asked her when I brought in the paperwork she needs how much longer until we know and she stated again that they have 30 days to process the paperwork.  She tells me that they could use anything off of Quicken books that I use, and that I should be using Quicken anyways.  I was like, excuse me?  Are you telling my how to run my business?  Then she said that the sooner I could get it in, the better, but again, they could take up to 30 days to process our application.  I told her that it sounds like she is going to use all 30 days so it's not excatly going to make me run right down there with all of my paperwork.  I told her it was going to take some time to get it all together.  This lady was rude.  I explained to her that we really needed this, and she said that they were waiting for hubby's last paycheck, and then made a comment about how he's now collecting unemployment.  She made it sound like he's getting all of this money!  I explained that his unemployment is only $330 a week after taxes, and we are a family of 5.  I truely wanted to choke this woman when I hung up.  There wasn't any compassion what so ever with her.  So today, I have to go get an ink cartridge, so I can print out my spreadsheet, I finally got all of my copies made of reciepts, and shipping invoices made for her, so I can get it to her today.  She's only got about a week and half left to finish our paperwork, and it's sad because by the time she does, hopefully my hubby will be working again. 

[beanielips]

Jul. 22, 2009 at 11:15 AM

I am so sorry that you have to deal with someone like this!  Sometimes I think that government workers (especially those in the services) are burnt out and have lost all compassion.  It is a byproduct of the environment in some cases.  I also think that some people have incredible power trips.

Best of luck to you getting this all cleared up!