9/10/08 – 9/15/08
THE LOUSISANA FOOD STAMP: CONFUSION IN AN ALREADY CONFUSED FORM
If you lose you will gain. But if you lose and in the eyes of a “higher power” you make too much money, you still lose.
After Hurricane Katrina and now after Gustav the Louisiana Department of Social Services (LDSS) offered Disaster Food Stamp assistance.
We didn’t bother with it after Katrina because we didn’t lose anything. Our post Gustav freezer was different. We lost and then we lost again.
This piece will take two roads. These roads will probably have some side streets.
Road one: The process and deciding factor on who qualifies for the one month food stamp assistance.
Road two: The distribution/application process of that assistance.
The LDSS and news and information outlets did tremendous jobs in ensuring that the information about the assistance was available to the public. Information and the application itself were posted and pasted all over the web. That part was great.
That part ended up giving us the realization, based on the tables and charts within the information, that we “made too much money.” The good side of that: we didn’t have to wait in the long lines on a hot day. We would have been more than happy to wait in that line had we qualified. We would have stood with the masses to get back a little of what we lost due to long power outages caused by Hurricane Gustav.
We lost the contents (and of course we were not alone) in our refrigerator and freezer because we listened. We were “good” citizens who heeded the mandatory evacuation order and followed the “ok to return” order. By the time we got home (after driving 11.5 hours) from Memphis, TN (a normal 6.5 hr. trip) it was too late for the contents in our freezer and fridge. We tried to save some of it but we couldn’t.
Oh well. It happens.
Sadness of that loss (we lost lots of shrimp!!!) turned to a kind of delight when we heard that those who were in disaster areas would get a one month Food stamp card to help offset losses.
That joy went to “pot” when we looked at the numbers, the Potential Eligibility section of the paperwork.
The form asks you to enter your monthly “take home pay” and add that to money “your household will be able to get during the disaster benefit period.” Then you compare that amount to the table provided. WOW!!!!!
We must be “loaded.” We were way over. My first thought was “at least we didn’t have to wait in the lines.” After that realization, the forms were crumpled into balls. I went 4 for 6 (tossing them in the can) from about 7 feet. Not too good of a shot.
Mixed feelings.
Some people actually suggested lying on the form. Actually that is considered defrauding the U.S. Government. Regardless of the possible ramifications it is wrong. It is dishonest. According to US Attorney who appeared on WWL radio this morning (9/17/08), if you make a fraudulent claim you can be prosecuted. This is even if you don’t receive the benefit. If you lie and receive the benefit, you will get more time in the jailhouse.
That dishonesty is one of the sharp edges that rip at America’s fabric.
Throughout this, we never felt like we were owed anything. Matter of fact we fell blessed that we do have the means to evacuate comfortably (can you evacuate comfortably) and eventually recoup our losses on our own. Hallelujah for those that did qualify for the assistance. They deserved it as well. But when you follow all of the rules and get home too late to crank up your generator to plug in your Fridge, you should be able to get something back (even if it is a little), especially if your work hard to support those that don’t (work at all). That sentiment is felt all across this great United States. We must follow New York City (maybe a subject of a future post).
To put things in perspective, I won’t cry over not qualifying for the assistance, but what is fair shouldn’t be stripped. It could have been worse. We could have had major damage and still not qualified. That slap in the face is a reality for some.
When we evacuated, we brought contents from our fridge and freezer. We pot an electric pot to cook meals in. The only BBQ we ate in Memphis was what we cooked at the hotel. Ironic? Heck no, it was marvelous. Bringing food to cook and to make sandwiched was a brilliant idea by my wife.
The next time we have to evacuate….everything comes. So reader, Invest in an electric cooker. Get an extra ice chest.
Bring the freezer!
Save money!
Feed the masses!
Make friends!
Feel good!
I do believe if you lose, you should get something back. Like I said, we brought food and still almost spent $500.00 (this was on a few meals, hotels and GAS). But Praise the good Lord up above! We will survive.
For those who went out to the application sites and stood in those lines, BLESS YOU! For those who unfortunately had to drive by those sites to get to work, bless you!
What a mess. The LDSS has been getting the “what for” since this whole process started. Since then, Ann Williamson (the Secretary of the Department of Social Services, has resigned. Governor Bobby Jindal said “there would be consequences.” Basically he said the Department did not do the job they were supposed to. Was her resignation necessary? Or should she take the fall for this? Is this resignation the only one? Or the only one we hear about. Personally I won’t blame the secretary of the LDSS for this but the entire system.
It was obvious that the LDSS were not ready to begin this process. Confusion was the word on the day on Tuesday, September 9 (the day the application process began). Some sites were announced but were not opened. At some sites, people who waited in line for a long time were told that they couldn’t take anymore applications. They were turned away to try again the ext day. Some people were told to go to a different site than the one they were at, only to find that site closed or full. At one site a New Orleans Policeman told people to leave and go to the public library. None from the LDSS was aware of this. The LDSS talked of one site being open on TV, the a few minutes later on a radio interview, the same official, said that site was closed.
Confusion.
The traffic around the sites was reminders of the evacuation traffic. Terrible. Some people (who probably didn’t qualify) who had to drive by there on the way to work were delayed big time due to the traffic around the sites.
The LDSS were overwhelmed and did not have enough volunteers. One radio announcer asked why they would start something without being 100 percent ready.
Ultimately I have negative feelings toward the entire situation. But I believe you always have to look at all sides of things.
Agree or disagree, it is much easier to suggest than to perform.
But simple organization should be in place prior to the start up of a major task.
Do we, the general public, know what pressure the LDSS may have had to get this project started up? We probably do not. We may never know the facts in the timing of all of this.
The LDSS DID ask people not to rush out on the first day. Lots of people DID NOT LISTEN. A friend of mine went on the third day. The site she went to went fast. She was in and out in one hour. The LDSS also asked people not to come to certain sites prior to start up times so that normal work and school traffic can subside. Again, the people didn’t listen. I am sure there were many avoidable factors that cause this chaos.
Since then, people have been getting their cards only to find (in some cases) that the money on it was supposed to be more.
This entire situation has been sickening, but look at our Texas neighbors. Look at those here who lost much more than food. Think about them tonight.
We all probably have many solutions in our pockets.
I have one and one only. Use simple “ABC” order. It works.
Again, I feel it is easier to suggest than to perform.
I do hope that the LDSS can have their say publicly on how they handled this. They deserve that mush.
The answers to questions regarding the process to qualify for the assistance will never be perfect.
THE LOUSISANA FOOD STAMP: CONFUSION IN AN ALREADY CONFUSED FORM
If you lose you will gain. But if you lose and in the eyes of a “higher power” you make too much money, you still lose.
After Hurricane Katrina and now after Gustav the Louisiana Department of Social Services (LDSS) offered Disaster Food Stamp assistance.
We didn’t bother with it after Katrina because we didn’t lose anything. Our post Gustav freezer was different. We lost and then we lost again.
This piece will take two roads. These roads will probably have some side streets.
Road one: The process and deciding factor on who qualifies for the one month food stamp assistance.
Road two: The distribution/application process of that assistance.
The LDSS and news and information outlets did tremendous jobs in ensuring that the information about the assistance was available to the public. Information and the application itself were posted and pasted all over the web. That part was great.
That part ended up giving us the realization, based on the tables and charts within the information, that we “made too much money.” The good side of that: we didn’t have to wait in the long lines on a hot day. We would have been more than happy to wait in that line had we qualified. We would have stood with the masses to get back a little of what we lost due to long power outages caused by Hurricane Gustav.
We lost the contents (and of course we were not alone) in our refrigerator and freezer because we listened. We were “good” citizens who heeded the mandatory evacuation order and followed the “ok to return” order. By the time we got home (after driving 11.5 hours) from Memphis, TN (a normal 6.5 hr. trip) it was too late for the contents in our freezer and fridge. We tried to save some of it but we couldn’t.
Oh well. It happens.
Sadness of that loss (we lost lots of shrimp!!!) turned to a kind of delight when we heard that those who were in disaster areas would get a one month Food stamp card to help offset losses.
That joy went to “pot” when we looked at the numbers, the Potential Eligibility section of the paperwork.
The form asks you to enter your monthly “take home pay” and add that to money “your household will be able to get during the disaster benefit period.” Then you compare that amount to the table provided. WOW!!!!!
We must be “loaded.” We were way over. My first thought was “at least we didn’t have to wait in the lines.” After that realization, the forms were crumpled into balls. I went 4 for 6 (tossing them in the can) from about 7 feet. Not too good of a shot.
Mixed feelings.
Some people actually suggested lying on the form. Actually that is considered defrauding the U.S. Government. Regardless of the possible ramifications it is wrong. It is dishonest. According to US Attorney who appeared on WWL radio this morning (9/17/08), if you make a fraudulent claim you can be prosecuted. This is even if you don’t receive the benefit. If you lie and receive the benefit, you will get more time in the jailhouse.
That dishonesty is one of the sharp edges that rip at America’s fabric.
Throughout this, we never felt like we were owed anything. Matter of fact we fell blessed that we do have the means to evacuate comfortably (can you evacuate comfortably) and eventually recoup our losses on our own. Hallelujah for those that did qualify for the assistance. They deserved it as well. But when you follow all of the rules and get home too late to crank up your generator to plug in your Fridge, you should be able to get something back (even if it is a little), especially if your work hard to support those that don’t (work at all). That sentiment is felt all across this great United States. We must follow New York City (maybe a subject of a future post).
To put things in perspective, I won’t cry over not qualifying for the assistance, but what is fair shouldn’t be stripped. It could have been worse. We could have had major damage and still not qualified. That slap in the face is a reality for some.
When we evacuated, we brought contents from our fridge and freezer. We pot an electric pot to cook meals in. The only BBQ we ate in Memphis was what we cooked at the hotel. Ironic? Heck no, it was marvelous. Bringing food to cook and to make sandwiched was a brilliant idea by my wife.
The next time we have to evacuate….everything comes. So reader, Invest in an electric cooker. Get an extra ice chest.
Bring the freezer!
Save money!
Feed the masses!
Make friends!
Feel good!
I do believe if you lose, you should get something back. Like I said, we brought food and still almost spent $500.00 (this was on a few meals, hotels and GAS). But Praise the good Lord up above! We will survive.
For those who went out to the application sites and stood in those lines, BLESS YOU! For those who unfortunately had to drive by those sites to get to work, bless you!
What a mess. The LDSS has been getting the “what for” since this whole process started. Since then, Ann Williamson (the Secretary of the Department of Social Services, has resigned. Governor Bobby Jindal said “there would be consequences.” Basically he said the Department did not do the job they were supposed to. Was her resignation necessary? Or should she take the fall for this? Is this resignation the only one? Or the only one we hear about. Personally I won’t blame the secretary of the LDSS for this but the entire system.
It was obvious that the LDSS were not ready to begin this process. Confusion was the word on the day on Tuesday, September 9 (the day the application process began). Some sites were announced but were not opened. At some sites, people who waited in line for a long time were told that they couldn’t take anymore applications. They were turned away to try again the ext day. Some people were told to go to a different site than the one they were at, only to find that site closed or full. At one site a New Orleans Policeman told people to leave and go to the public library. None from the LDSS was aware of this. The LDSS talked of one site being open on TV, the a few minutes later on a radio interview, the same official, said that site was closed.
Confusion.
The traffic around the sites was reminders of the evacuation traffic. Terrible. Some people (who probably didn’t qualify) who had to drive by there on the way to work were delayed big time due to the traffic around the sites.
The LDSS were overwhelmed and did not have enough volunteers. One radio announcer asked why they would start something without being 100 percent ready.
Ultimately I have negative feelings toward the entire situation. But I believe you always have to look at all sides of things.
Agree or disagree, it is much easier to suggest than to perform.
But simple organization should be in place prior to the start up of a major task.
Do we, the general public, know what pressure the LDSS may have had to get this project started up? We probably do not. We may never know the facts in the timing of all of this.
The LDSS DID ask people not to rush out on the first day. Lots of people DID NOT LISTEN. A friend of mine went on the third day. The site she went to went fast. She was in and out in one hour. The LDSS also asked people not to come to certain sites prior to start up times so that normal work and school traffic can subside. Again, the people didn’t listen. I am sure there were many avoidable factors that cause this chaos.
Since then, people have been getting their cards only to find (in some cases) that the money on it was supposed to be more.
This entire situation has been sickening, but look at our Texas neighbors. Look at those here who lost much more than food. Think about them tonight.
We all probably have many solutions in our pockets.
I have one and one only. Use simple “ABC” order. It works.
Again, I feel it is easier to suggest than to perform.
I do hope that the LDSS can have their say publicly on how they handled this. They deserve that mush.
The answers to questions regarding the process to qualify for the assistance will never be perfect.
They won’t be agreed upon by all.
People will always have issues with government and authority.
It what makes the world go around.
So, until the next disaster…
Posts
2 comments:
I really enjoyed reading this. I look forward to reading many more. I'm glad you finally decided to start posting your thoughts, I was afraid that all of that stuff was going to start oozing out of your ears if you didn't put it down somewhere!! :-)
To all those who recieved the food stamps legally, Good for you. To the ones who lied to get them, I hope Jim Letten eats your sorry butts all the way to the pen. Do I sound angry? No I'm Pissed.
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