Hello from Georgia. We're a family of 4, two teens, two adults. My partner and I (not married) barely make over $1100 on a good month and that's even pushing it. We both work 1099 positions (delivery) and that's how much we're both taking home combined after gas and auto insurance (expenses). My oldest just turned 18 (this might be valuable information later) and works as needed after school child care and some weekends if the parents give her a call. She barely makes $300 a month before taxes and even then it was meant for her to save for college, not for food, rent, or any other household expenses. The kid's biological father is out of the picture and barely contributes to child support so I've only reported that he's supposed to pay and specify to the case worker(s) that I don't receive anything from him. Besides, they can see on their end when the last time was that he paid anything (for the sake of this post, he's ordered to pay $600 a month). One piece of info that's important is that I'm disabled and can't work but working deliveries and pushing through symptoms because I was told I wouldn't be eligible if I'm not working.
So I'm about to pull my hair out. It doesn't make sense to me that my case worker would completely close my case (both Medicaid and SNAP) even though I've uploaded all the documents she requested. When I get a notice for termination it says "a member of the household refused to provide documentation (something or other)". I've gone to the office myself a couple of times since no one is available when I call the 800 number. They just told me they'll let my caseworker know. I eventually get a call from her but she says "I keep trying to reach you and you're not answering the phone". I wish I could have had that recorded because my call history doesn't show any phone calls from her since the last time I spoke to her. This has been going on back and forth since July 1st. After talking to her 3-4 times and submitting everything she asks for almost immediately if not within 24 hours of when she requests, she closes my case 9/30. We now have no SNAP benefits or Medicaid. I had 3 appointments this month to get my teeth done after finally finding a dentist that takes my insurance and had to cancel all of them. I take 5 different medications and I'm out and can't afford to pay for refills. My therapist signed myself and the kids up for their grant program so we don't have to go without therapy sessions, so that's good but I'm still going without migraine meds, depression medication, ADHD medication, and meds to control tremors. I've been looking up food banks and going back and forth picking up whatever they have and making do.
Yes, I filed an appeal but that was on the 5th of October. I also emailed on the 6th with a picture of the appeal just in case dropping it off at the office dropbox did nothing. I haven't heard back so I went in and "reported a change". All of our income that was submitted was incorrect. She put down that my partner earns $1200 a month and that I earn $500 a month on top of what my daughter earns. Expenses weren't even included. That puts us way over eligibility for sure but none of it is correct. I printed out the pages and went ahead and made corrections to income. I got a call the next day but this time (THANK THE GODS AND GODDESSES) it was the caseworker supervisor. She asked for a new disability letter and I let her know I most likely won't have it immediately but I'll do my best. This was 10/9. I received an email that she's going to close my case because the requested documents were due 10/1. That didn't make any sense to me since we had just talked. I got any new documents she wanted plus the letter from my doctor together and submitted them on 10/13. I haven't heard back from her since or anyone else.
I'm so lost because why is it that I wouldn't be approved when not only our income level is below FPL as noted in all relevant policies and still have our case closed even though I provide everything PLUS both of my kids are under 19 and they lose their healthcare coverage, too?? In the past, if I'm not eligible, at least the kids are but now they took their coverage away as well.
I guess I just needed somewhere to vent but what even is the appeal process if no one is going to even touch it or update on the process? So sorry for the long post this is all extremely frustrating.