The Conclusion-- My Experience on Food Stamps

A sampling of the records in my SNAP folder

As many of you know, while serving with AmeriCorps, one receives a poverty-level stipend relative to the area served. This entitles us to apply for the same social service programs other low-income individuals may choose to receive. In fact, both projects with whom I have served encourage members to apply for if for no other reason than the experience of doing so. And an experience it is.

I have retrained from writing about this in the last year because I did not want to recall the frustrating events that transpired (nor write a novel-length post). But I feel as though I owe it to myself and everyone else who receives SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program aka Food Stamps) in South Carolina to share. You can read the first installments of my saga with SNAP here, here, and here.

So, I moved to Charleston in August and was receiving $99 a month in benefits. I was advised that there was no need to share my change in address with Dept. of Social Services (DSS) until it was time for my 6-month re-certification in December. Since my last re-certification  all SC SNAP cases were taken from local DSS offices and outsourced to a company in the Upstate. I noticed when I went to buy groceries in November that I did not have as much on my EBT card as I thought I should and checked online. I found that my account had not received benefits for November. I emailed the lady who was previously my caseworker and did not hear anything. I talked with a contact at the Benefit Bank who let me know that cases were statewide and that someone from Chas DSS should be able to help me. I emailed a generic email for the local office and heard back within a few days. She was able to tell me that my address in Sptbg had received notice in October of my re-certification and because I had not done so, my case was closed in November. So much for a “6-month” re-certification  What occurred next was a series of emails and calls between me, the Chas DSS lady, and a contact at Sptbg DSS. I am extremely grateful that they were so diligent and helpful in getting my situation resolved. The re-certification form was sent to my new address here and I returned it as instructed.

Sample EBT Card from fitnews.com

On Dec. 17th, I received notice that my case was once again being closed. I shared this frustration with my supervisor, and because our office works often with the Director of DSS, they gave the number of a lady who could help. This particular contact has been instrumental in not only assisting me but our members and I know that many of us would still be confused if we had not contacted her. So, while our office was on a conference call with her regarding a member issue, they encouraged me to share my dilemma. She discovered that they had received my re-certification form, but there were other forms that were still needed, which she sent me. I returned the Household Circumstances form and included pay stubs. Becoming a Leader here in Chas increased my pay by roughly $200 a pay period, which I thought would break even since my rent/utilities are roughly $200 more than I was paying in Sptbg. I received a notice for an interview. I was to call a hotline within 4 days, so I did so on 12/31/12.

Part of SNAP cases being outsourced meant that you no longer talked to your caseworker at your local DSS. Instead, the hotline directed you to one of several “call centers” around the state. After being on hold for one hour and twenty minutes, I spoke with a woman who was in Myrtle Beach. Being curious about these call centers, I was able to talk with her as she scanned the script and informed me that “Interviewing people gets boring.” Her call center was clearly in her home as I heard her receiving text messages and background noise. At one point, she started talking to a gentleman “Brian” who had just entered her residence. Apparently, someone had called her home looking for him and she inquired as to whether he wanted to go out that evening. In total, I was on hold for one hour and twenty minutes for a 29 minute interview.

With that behind me, I received notice two weeks later that my benefits would be decreased to $37/month and that I would receive supplemental benefits for December. Fast forward to my next re-certification in May. I faxed the same information as I had in December and my pay stubs reflected the same amount. I was expecting to receive the same $37 but was surprised when my benefits were increased far beyond the $99 I had been receiving in Sptbg. The problem—several of our members had the same thing happen and then months later they received a notice that “due to a clerical error” they had been given too much and were responsible for paying it back. I can’t think of another instance where one would be responsible for paying back almost $500 to someone that had made the error. So, I am careful to save in case that too should occur to me .

You might be wondering: Why the huge increase? The only thing I can figure is that, like many social service providers, there is no continuity. Someone different most likely looked at my re-certification the second time and did not have access to my previous amount. Who knows. What I do know is that I have seen numerous instances where our members, who make the same amount and pay similar expenses, will receive vastly differing benefit amounts.

So why should you care? The above and additional installments are my experience. I am college-educated (in Social Services, no less).  I am employed. I have numerous contacts both at DSS and other social service providers. I am blessed to work for an organization that understands this struggle and lets me be on the phone for one hour and fifty minutes for my interview. The federal government pays my pay check. I am a single white female and have no children to support.

What if someone didn't have this? Can you imagine if you were a working-parent trying to fit in this “thirty minute” interview in during a lunch hour? Can you imagine if you didn't have the networks, support, or even the understanding to navigate this system like most utilizing it?

I could go all sociological and say that perhaps this system is intentionally difficult in the hopes that people will give up, saving the system money, but I will refrain.

At the end of my term, I am excited about the possibility of no longer living on the poverty-level. Not because of the social stigma of being on food stamps, but because if being poor weren't difficult enough, navigating these programs is unduly rough. Unfortunately how many people utilizing these services can think of getting out like me? With my upper-middle class back ground, I could easily be one of the people judging the purchases of those on food stamps (and making comments about my tax dollars paying for the name-brand soda, which isn't even healthy). Instead, I am the person swiping my EBT card with pride as it symbolizes my decision to live on nothing for a year and serve others. So judge away.

I am so thankful to have had this experience and feel more equipped to understand the plights of working poor. And hope now you are too.

Feel free to post your comments and questions below.

***The above is my recollection of my experience. My understanding is limited to the State of South Carolina and could vary. The above is not admissible testimony and can not be cited without my written consent. All rights reserved. ***