Food stamps in florida

N0help4u · Mar 10, 2009, 10:03 AM

You said the one site said both the state of florida website, and the you.s. Government website, and both say that a household is anyone who lives together and buys and prepares food together.
Then you say the state of florida won't let us marry, and say that unmarried people can't get food stamps. Is this true?

You need to call an 800 number and go back to the welfare office and ask to speak to her supervisor or somebody in charge above her. Also tell them you want a print out of the law that states you can not get food stamps if you are just living together, I can not see how they could possibly mske a law like this because some opposite sexes are JUST room mates and some same sexes are 'co habitating' as a couple so you are punished for being honest about your relationship?

BIGBOPPER · Mar 10, 2009, 05:15 PM

I don't have a toll free number for them, and the local number goes to a mailbox that is full. Both the U.S. Website and the State of Florida website states that we qualify. Yet this lady says we don't. I am going to try to fax the intake worker that I initially talked to and see if I can get an appointment to see someone about this.
This is very frustrating for my partner and I because we have had problems before because we are a same sex couple.
I know that not everyone appreciates, nor approves of our relationship, and I probably will never change their minds, but they should still do what's right and not try to think that by cutting something here, or denying us something there, will make us change. It won't. I am more committed to her than my husband was to me. And I think that all couples that are such should be rewarded for that, and not villified.
Oops, I'm on my soapbox (again,) and I apologize.
Hopefully this time I can get through to someone...
Thank you again for a very nice response.

twinkiedooter · Mar 10, 2009, 05:59 PM

Go in person to their office. Trying to do things over the phone is pointless to those people ditto with faxing anything. Faxes get lost. You both should go with appropriate ID. Fill out paperwork there to change your household. You might have to go back for another face to face interview in order to change your household's status. That kind of change just can't be done over the phone or by fax.

Fr_Chuck · Mar 10, 2009, 06:27 PM

Several issues, 1. You did not claim them on the orgainal filing, even though they were living in the home ( when you thought they were going to earn too much, then it was ok to leave them off) ** not legally, since it would have been household income

Now you want to claim them, since it would provide more benifit.

Can anyoe else sort of say, fraud at the first filing to benifit the person filing. And it is possible the agency will catch or question that issue at the time also.

BIGBOPPER · Mar 10, 2009, 08:08 PM

I had to let the agency know that I lived with her when I filed the initial application. They needed a letter from her to state that she is my sole form of support. At that time, as long as I did not add her, her income was immaterial. The case worker even saw a picture of her on my cell phone. (it turns out we both like cats, and I was showing off my calico kitty.) My girlfriend at the time had interviewed for three positions at local hospitals, and thought that she was going to land one of them. Unfortunately, since there were dozens of applicants, she was passed over. I was awarded the full amount for a single household, since it was determined that she could support herself, and did not want to be added to the claim.
DCF knows about my girlfriend, and if they had wanted to at that time, asked for her income (she's on unemployment BTW).
There has to be several households that do not consist of either married couples or relatives. Several people live together, have children together, but do not marry. They can get food stamps easily.
I do not understand why I cannot add my partner, now that there has been a change in our household situation, and we need further assistance.
To answer TwinkieDooter, I think that's what it is going to boil down to. We'll have to go to our "detachment area" office and spend the day. Maybe somebody there will be a little bit more sympathetic.

artlady · Mar 10, 2009, 08:42 PM

This is not some sort of discrimination.This is bureaucratic red tape.You can not add her to your case.That is up to them,how they end up evaluating the household.She has to file a separate application.

If you were a straight couple they would be doing it the same way.Not married,not a couple.

The DMV has a reputation for red tape bureaucracy,public assistance is beyond that.They are worse.They have so many regulations and you must be willing to jump through their hoops if you want to get even $10.00 in food stamps.

N0help4u · Mar 12, 2009, 07:20 AM

Here is the easiest way to do it and it is how a roommate (non relationship)
Goes about applying.
You applied for yourself
Now your partner goes and applies for their self (of course they have to do as you did and claim you as in the household) BUT NOT as a couple.
Then you each have your own case and it is up to the office to combine them when they come to their senses. There is no fraud since you are both claiming your incomes.

BIGBOPPER · Mar 12, 2009, 07:00 PM

Well the office will not combine them, a case is a case. I am obligated to immediately report any change in my situation, which I did when we both realized that she wasn't going to get a job soon (There are X number of jobs for our position in three counties near us, so it's not like we were applying at Wal-Mart.), My girlfriend did apply on her own initially, and was denied because she made $13.00 too much, on unemployment only. (I am not on unemployment right now, but will be I hope soon.) But If I follow the rules, and report the change, the income for the two of us, allows an increase in my food stamps. Again, and this is what I have the problem with. A.) two government bodies - The U.S., and the State of Florida, say that we should be considered a household. B.) The lady that I talked to, answered every question I had with "Since you are not related, or married, she must file separately, and we cannot help you." Which is contrary to A.
That is why I consider it discrimination. If the Governments had said anything different, I'd said "Oh well." But they don't. How can the one individual supersede both state and federal law?

lilbay · Mar 14, 2009, 11:46 AM

Actually this deal with Social Services is not discrimination because this is the same for ALL Unmarried couples be they same sex or heterosexual couples. Unless the couple is in fact Married then they must apply as individuals.
(actually you should be happy because you both get your own and end up with more when you break it down

)
So send your partner to do her own case now that she I not getting the unemployment any longer.

Now the whole issue with the fact the state will not allow you to marry that is not really relevant and is a whole separate can of worms and I think is rather messed up and discrimination. However Until it is allowed by your state there is not a thing that will change regarding Social Services.

Also as stated it is Best to Always deal with Social Services in person
We have the ability to fax and mail things here and I have had more workers forget to add it and I get cut off due to their mistake more than I care to share.
So Always deal in person It is Best.

Food stamps in florida

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