Alright all you lovelies who threatened me with bodily harm if I didn't send my e-mail to the county commissioners... I want you to rest assured that I did, Tuesday afternoon. It was LONG, detailed, factual and just the right amount of emotional.
Yesterday afternoon, my phone rang. I answered. It was... the Program Administrator of the Department of Social Services of the county I live in. He was calling on behalf of the county commissioners, who all had read my e-mail and discussed it in their conference call that morning! First, he wanted to make sure that everything HAD been taken care of finally. I assured him that yes, in the end, it had been. Then he wanted to let me know that my experience was not a typical one. (Upon thinking about that further, I really wonder though. Because how many people HAVE experiences like mine, but don't say anything? I don't mean this to sound stereotypical, but your "stereotypical" food stamp user may not be someone who is going to sit down and write a letter of complaint to the county commissioners.. but anyway)... He said that he and the director of the Food Stamp Program were sitting and discussing my letter are were both just shocked, because it seemed whatever could go wrong, did.
He told me that one of the big problems is that there's no way, once a persons case has been flagged to bypass the face-to-face interview, to indicate that in the computer system. So every time I talked to a new person, they didn't know that had been waived. He said that he was going to be meeting with their software programmer today to get that taken care of. He also said that they would be looking at the chain of command and how things go up it, and also looking at figuring out why it's taking people so long to return phone calls and failing to return them.
In the end, he gave me his direct number as well as the Director of the food stamp group. If I need anything, I'm to call them. If when I need to renew my stamps I have ANY trouble at all, I am to call them.
So... it pays to pipe up hunh?
Thursday, October 9, 2008
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27 comments:
Oh, I am so glad that you sent the email. And I think you are right. That a lot of people wouldn't do anything. I can't believe their software doesn't have a place to indicate that. Or to indicate when you have talked to someone. I think we had this conversation when you were here. About who designs things - vs. the people that actually use it.
You may have saved some other poor overworked individual who is at his or her last ends a lot of headache!
Yes...it pays to speak up...nicely!
I am glad you are okay!!! :)
More people need to speak up and things like this could/would be avoided. Good for you!
Way to go girl. I'm glad you voiced your experiences and they were met with concern.
Way to go!!! I'm glad they took your email seriously! You may have saved someone else some heartache!!
Thank you for the information, I have been putting off applying for food stamps because of the hassle it can be, but maybe it would be worth it in the long run. So thank you for the encouragement to do what may be hard.
You are probably right. It probably happens way more than they will ever realize. On the flip side, you will probably never realize how many people who now won't have to suffer because of your persistance. You are awesome, awesome, awesome!
you Rock!
not sure about where you live, but that sounds just about right for Massachusetts
I've heard some horror stories
I'm glad you got it all fixed!
Thank you for stopping by on our BATW tour! I do hope you'll visit again! Fun to know that you know about my neck of the woods, too!
I went back to read your food stamp saga. I am SO glad you spoke up! For your sake and for others. But, I'm so sorry you had to go through all that frustration!
I am so glad that you did. See they had no idea and now hopefully changes will be made.
Sometimes it does pay to bitch and sometimes it doesn't. I think in situations like this, you have to say something or nothing ever gets fixed. Like you said, how many people don't speak up?
Knowledge is Power. And Power is...well, Powerful, right? You're right about the Squeaky Wheel, though. And probably right about the folks who don't stand up for themselves. You should be proud of yourself for being a self-advocate!
Nicely done! But where's the post you're referring to? (I couldn't find it.)
YAY! Good for you :)
Hey!!! Thanks for stopping by my little blog! I've been without internet ALLL day and I'm just "makin' my rounds" for the day!! I am going to have to come back and read up on the leadings up to your post today...but it sounds like it was a good thing for you?? And YES!!! I agree...flossing first JUST makes sense to "loosen" up the gunk as you put it ever so eloquently :) Thanks again for stoppin' by :)
YAY for you. I'm glad you spoke up, and I do believe like you that this happens more than they would realize.
I told Dh tonight that I thought a good solution would be for them to be open to...say..8pm? or 9pm? Just like I think Parent/Teacher conferences should be held AFTER normal work hours, like 6-8pm.
Whad'I tell you? The sqeaky wheel gets the grease. I am impressed at the level of response that you got. It didn't even sound like lip service- cuz' you know sometimes that's all it is...
WAY TO GO, LIZZY!
Wah Hoo! Kudos to you for speaking up and being heard.
I am so proud of you for going thru with it and possibly helping others who are not as smart as you! :)
Good for you!! Really, if people dont' complain and point things out to the big wigs, none of their inadequacies (spelled right?) would be found.
GREAT JOB!
Good JOB!!!!!!
- Jennifer
I am so proud of you! I know there are people who are afraid to speak up who are thankful to you and they don't even know it. YOU ROCK and once again get my vote for Pres!
It's that whole squeaky wheel thing! I'm proud of you! :)
I'm so glad you sent that email. Yes, it does pay to "sqeak".
I would bet to say those problems you had were indeed typical though....I hope your email gets all that changed for some people in the future!
Glad your squeak was heard and taken care of!!
And this is why I am voting for you for President! I am glad it all worked out.
YEAH!!! Sounds like you did the right thing;)
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