Dept of Child & Families, Access Florida Customer Service Issues

I received a call from the Department of Children and Families regarding My Florida Access where I applied for food stamps. The person I spoke with asked various questions and was very polite. I have been struggling with homelessness and it has been really tough for me lately. After the conversation, she just said goodbye without giving me any information about whether I was approved. I have had food stamps and Medicaid before. I am concerned if I failed the interview as I have not received any food stamps on my card yet. Normally, I would get them the day after the interview for emergency situations. Currently, I haven't eaten in 2 days, and the food pantries are too far for me to walk to as I am feeling weak.

I would like to request the issuance of a gold Medicaid ID card. Despite being approved for the card, I have not received it yet. As a U.S. Army veteran with an honorable discharge, I have been utilizing VA medical services for years. However, due to long wait times and lack of transportation to the VA hospital, I am now using Medicare with regular doctors. To facilitate the issuance of my ID card, below are the identification details: a. Case #: [redacted] b. Medicaid Membership #: [redacted] (obtained from the Medicaid portal) c. JoAnne Pegg [redacted] Mels Dr Lakeland, FL [redacted] I urgently require the ID card as it has been requested for recent services. Please reach out if further information is needed. Thank you, JoAnne Pegg

To the Department of Children Services, I am reporting concerning living conditions at [redacted] Pensacola, FL [redacted]. The environment includes the presence of animal feces, dirty laundry, unwashed dishes, excessive take-out containers attracting mold, bacteria, and roaches. The young children lack proper hygiene care, often receiving extra doses of Melatonin and being confined to their bedroom while Jennie and older girls leave them unattended. The neglect extends to lack of cooking, cleaning, leading the young ones to go hungry and dirty. The 18-year-old son shows no contribution, engrossed in games without responsibilities. The 16-year-old adopted girl hosts her boyfriend openly in front of the young children. The adopted daughters face unsuitable conditions including substance abuse, inadequate supervision, and exposure to inappropriate behavior. I urge for the appointment of a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) to ensure the well-being and voice of these adopted girls. Sincerely, Margaret Parker

Please respect my request for anonymity. I need to discuss an issue with a person named Victoria Noel Nickum who has connections to my family. She recently encountered legal trouble and it did not end well for her, resulting in her sending a concerning text message through a friend. I suspect she deliberately caused a car accident and blamed it on us, but the truth emerged in court. I am worried about the safety of my great niece, who is her daughter, and her welfare because she has a troubled history. Despite having a clean record myself and being approved for investigation in Florida, I have concerns for the well-being of my family. I aim to share evidence of the incident to shed light on the situation. I will reach out to you soon regarding this matter. Thank you for understanding and offering your assistance.

I am encountering difficulties with my access account once more, as it is inactive and not allowing me to log in. Despite multiple attempts with different accounts, the last one I managed to resolve with help, only to face the same issue again. Following a phone interview, I was instructed to upload 4 weeks of pay stubs before August 2nd, a task I am currently unable to complete. As a homeless single mother relying on the generosity of my mother and struggling to make ends meet with limited income going towards bills, rent, and other essentials, accessing this account is crucial for me. My resources are stretched thin, making it challenging to provide for my two-year-old daughter with basic necessities like food and diapers. The situation is distressing and overwhelming, leaving me feeling helpless and anxious about our well-being. Your support is greatly appreciated.

I reapplied for my food stamps and Medicaid, and I was requested to fax in my income verification form. After faxing it, I received a notice saying my application was denied due to not submitting the form. I contacted an agent who advised me to resubmit before August 15th. I refaxed the form but didn't hear back. So, I submitted another application with the income verification form. Despite this, when I called, they hadn't received it yet and asked me to call back the next day.

I received a notice about a crucial interview regarding benefits for my children, scheduled for August 24th and have been trying to reach out since August 11th with no luck. Despite leaving several messages, no one has returned my calls, and it is now September 21st causing my benefits to be denied. This has put me in a tough spot trying to provide for my kids.

I am encountering difficulties adding a child to my benefits as his mother is still claiming him, even though he now resides with and is financially supported by my family. I had one of the school administrators provide documentation of his enrollment using our address. When attempting to add him back to my benefits previously, I discovered he was still claimed by his mother. Despite being assured that school documents were sufficient proof, I have not received any updates after re-adding him. I have been unable to reach the My Access customer service helpline today. I am seeking guidance on the correct procedure to ensure I can claim him again.

I received a notice from Access about missing an appointment. I spoke with Amanda over the phone, but after missing her call, I tried calling back multiple times daily for almost three weeks. I left countless voicemails, even to the point where her mailbox was full. I have evidence of the numerous calls made to both Amanda's number and the main Access line at [redacted]. I would sit on hold for hours with no response. I am currently unemployed due to a work injury, waiting for workers' compensation. My financial situation is dire, with overdue rent and bills, and facing eviction. I am desperate for help and hope someone will reach out soon. My frustration stems from the struggle to get assistance while in need. Thank you for understanding.

I need to discuss my benefits urgently regarding food stamps. As a homeless individual on disability, I encountered a major issue where I only received $20. I am in desperate need of a representative to address this problem promptly. Despite my efforts and explaining that my daughter doesn't live with me, the issue hasn't been resolved. I am expecting to receive the appropriate credit owed to me since the initial mistake was on their end. As a result, I am left without enough food or stamps until next month. I am already facing challenges dealing with societal and governmental shortcomings, and I am struggling to receive the necessary assistance. Thank you for your support as I navigate this difficult situation while living on the lowest income from disability benefits.

I completed my recertification before the September deadline. However, my food stamps have not been renewed as of October 9th. I received a notice in the mail that my Medicaid benefits will end on October 15th. Despite calling the my access number and checking online, my information still shows as being processed. I spoke with a representative once who mentioned that the customer service is currently delayed. She suggested contacting food banks for assistance. Unfortunately, I had to use money meant for bills to buy food this month and rely on food banks. My daughter requires medical attention from specialists, and I cannot afford to have our insurance canceled. I have reached out to Tallahassee, my state representative, and made numerous calls since September trying to resolve this issue. Whenever I call the my access number, I receive a message that there is no one available to assist me before the call disconnects. My state representative has been working on this for a week now.

I am reaching out for assistance, understanding, and empathy regarding the challenging situation my autistic son and I are currently facing. I have been a resident at Hanley Place Apartments located at [redacted] W. Hanley Ave, Tampa, FL [redacted] under different names since [redacted]. My son is autistic, and I have maintained residency here to provide him with stability due to his difficulty with changes. I am disabled due to various health issues and live with my son on a modest income from SSI benefits. Despite living below the poverty line, I have always been diligent in paying my rent on time. I have been on a waitlist for low-income housing since [redacted] with no success. Recently, the apartment management informed me of a significant rent increase upon lease renewal, which I cannot afford. I humbly request consideration of my financial constraints and the impact this would have on my son and me. Your understanding and support would mean everything to us during this difficult time. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, Char

On October 22, I signed a 7-month contract for $1,[redacted] per month, but my son and I each receive SSI checks of $[redacted], totaling $1,[redacted]. To avoid homelessness, securing shelter for my son was crucial. I also receive $[redacted] in food stamps from Children & Family Services. The rental bill covers water, garbage ($85 to $[redacted]), and mandatory renters insurance ($20). The challenge is managing $[redacted] for electricity, phone, internet, car insurance, gas, and my son's personal care. I urgently need assistance to address these financial and health concerns. I plan to contact organizations like Catholic Charities for support without overspending, ensuring each penny is utilized effectively. Additionally, I will reach out to Children & Family Services for possible aid. I appreciate any help provided. Thank you. Sincerely, Caridad V. Luna

I have attached photos that I've edited to highlight certain sections. I am currently homeless and submitted my declaration of homelessness letter to my Florida Access account. Unfortunately, I do not have a car and cannot afford public transport, Uber, or a taxi. Additionally, I am waiting for my social security card to arrive by mail, which is necessary for work and medical appointments. I am also in the process of gathering documents related to anoxic brain damage for insurance and medical purposes, which requires my social security card. Despite feeling unsafe while homeless, I struggle with insomnia and fatigue, making it difficult to focus on important tasks. I can provide the form mentioned in further correspondence.

I didn't receive the monthly relative caregiver funds for November [redacted], which are due on the 1st of every month. Despite multiple attempts, I've been kept on hold for over an hour and a half when calling. The children are still under my care, and the parents' wages are being garnished for child support. However, instead of coming to me for caregiving costs, the child support payments are sent directly to Florida revenue. I urgently require the caregiver funds or for the child support to be redirected to me. Thank you.

I did not receive the caregiver funds for November [redacted]. I have tried calling multiple times but was on hold for over 2 hours without speaking to a live representative. Today, I used this call service again and got a call back, but still couldn't reach a live representative before the call dropped. I am concerned about why the funds are being withheld. My parents contribute weekly towards child support, which is supposed to cover the caregiver funds. If I am no longer eligible for caregiver funds, then I need the child support payments to be redirected to me and not the government.

I was approved for SNAP benefits in June [redacted], but my benefits were suddenly cut off on October 31st due to erroneous information that everyone on my application had passed away. I am the only person on my application and obviously still very much alive. Despite reapplying on October 28th online, I have not received any updates or benefits. I've been attempting to contact DCF as instructed but have only been able to leave voicemails with no response. It's now November 19th, and I am facing homelessness with no resolution in sight. Being unable to work due to mobility issues, this situation has put me in a tough spot, especially with Thanksgiving approaching. The lack of communication and assistance from DCF is incredibly frustrating and distressing.

I have been attempting to contact the phone number mentioned in my notice, but it leads directly to voicemail, which is now full. I submitted my income verification via fax and I am seeking an update on my application with number [redacted]. It would be appreciated if the responsible party could review their processors and accessibility, as it is unprofessional to provide a non-functioning phone number. Please investigate and call the number listed on my notice: [redacted]. I would be grateful if someone could assist me in reaching a live person or receiving a call back. Thank you.

I have been attempting to reach the phone interview department at [redacted] without success. Unfortunately, my case has been denied due to my inability to make contact. Despite multiple attempts before and after the deadline, leaving several voicemails, I have not received any return calls. I have also tried alternative numbers, all with no success. I am now seeking alternative resources to establish contact before my allotted time expires. This issue is concerning, and I am unsure of how best to proceed.

I have been trying to apply for food stamps for my family, and it has been extremely challenging to get through to someone who can conduct my interview and move my case forward. Despite my daily calls over several weeks and enduring long hold times of over 3 hours, I have either been disconnected or instructed by the automated system to call back. On the rare occasion I did speak to a representative, I was informed that there was no immediate solution, and I must await further contact... Meanwhile, my family is experiencing hunger, financial hardship, and an urgent need for aid. Your assistance in addressing this matter would be greatly appreciated.