I've read some of the answers on here about how to complain about a
caseworker in Michigan. I've searched and searched, and haven't been
able to find a link, phone number, email, etc. To contact anyone.
Although
my situation isn't as bad as many of yours, I still feel as though my
concerns and my family's lives are being brushed to the side by my
caseworker.
Two years ago, I had to have our son 11 weeks
prematurely. At the time I was working full-time, had insurance, etc. I
did have Medicaid and WIC during my pregnancy. Before we brought our
son home after 2 months of being in the NICU, all of the NICU doctors
repeatedly beat it into our heads that our son could NOT be in public,
let alone in daycare, for at least the first 2 years of his life.
After
making arrangements to have someone in my family care for my son, I
went back to work to less than understanding employers about the
situation. The first time I had to call off from work because my babysitter was sick and needed to
stay home with my son, I was told if I didn't come to work, I was likely
to lose my job.
The next day, I went in and turned in my resignation.
I did not want to spend the rest of my life being threatened about
losing my job over wanting to be a mother to my son.
For the last
2 years, aside from trying my hand at being an independent consultant, I
have not had steady work and have been without any sort of healthcare.
My husband works full time, but in the last year his hours were cut due
to cutbacks at his place of employment. I have tried repeatedly
getting a job to no avail. I always put off applying for assistance,
but it finally got to the point where we couldn't afford to feed all
three of us (WIC was, and still is, a blessing to us!), We couldn't pay
all of our bills, and we finally had to file for bankruptcy.
When
I finally applied for assistance, I made sure to turn in all proofs of income, insurance, etc. Needed. I,
in fact, had a family member help me make sure I had all of the
necessary paperwork before I turned it in (her mother works within the
DHS system). The day I turned it all in, I called the caseworker
(handles my son's case as well), and let her know I was turning in my
paperwork that day, and that if I was missing anything to please contact
me ASAP.
About a month and a half went by when I finally got a
response. I was approved for a small amount of food assistance, denied
cash assistance, and was approved for Medicaid but it wouldn't kick in
until 2 months later.
I was denied Medicaid for the previous months
because, "I did not turn in all the appropriate documentation needed." I
saw red, I couldn't believe it. When I looked at my personal
information via their website, it said that I had not turned in my life
insurance information. I never told them I had life insurance; my husband had life insurance paid by his employer, and we
DID turn in that information. I tried calling my caseworker and never
received a call back. At that point, I was just grateful I was going to
get some help of any kind.
Two months later and I go to use my
Medicaid to get my prescriptions, and the pharmacist tells me that
Medicaid won't cover anything because it says I have primary insurance.
The next business day, I call my caseworker and leave her a message. I
called her several times after that, always getting her voicemail, and
then at some point she was out of the office for a week on vacation. I
waited a total of 3 weeks for a call, when I finally called and
requested to speak with a supervisor. The supervisor tells me, Lansing
requires a termination of insurance and employment letter from my
previous employer stating I no longer have insurance, otherwise Lansing
assumes I still have the insurance.&n
bsp;
So, I get the letter in to DHS, and a week later I get a letter
stating that I no longer qualify for straight Medicaid because my
husband makes too much money. That I now am on a $1100/mo spend down
before Medicaid will kick in. I broke down in tears. I tried calling
my caseworker multiple times for an explanation, and never received a
call back.
My semi-annual contact review came in recently, and
it just so happened my previous employer asked me to come back on a
temporary basis (for about a month) until they were able to fill a
position in their office. They were willing to work with my schedule
and availability, and we really needed the money, so I said yes. When I
called my caseworker to ask if I should have them write a letter
explaining the nature of the employment, and how to fill in the income
portion (I had not yet been paid), she actually answered her phone for
the very first time. She told me that as long as I
turned in all of the paperwork by the deadline, it didn't matter when I
turned in the pay stub as long as it was before the end of July.
Well,
I turned in all of the paperwork I had on that day, and I was able to
turn in the pay stub by the deadline. Today, I got an email notifying
me there was a new correspondence available via my account online. I
opened it, and it was a letter stating my food assistance was being
terminated because I didn't turn in my semi-annual contact form and all
necessary documentation.
I burst into tears. It was at 6:30 a.m.
When I got the notification and I knew the office was closed, but I
called and left my caseworker a voicemail conveying my confusion,
frustration, and urgency in getting this resolved. I called again at 11:00 a.m.
When I didn't hear back from her, and got her voicemail again.
Once
again, I left her a voicemail inquiring if she had been able to get any
information regarding why I was los
ing my food assistance. I was, and still am, in panic mode. So, I
called back, and asked to speak with her supervisor. It went straight
to voicemail. I left her a long-winded voicemail detailing what was
going on, and I did not hide the fact that was I was extremely upset.
I
realize I'm supposed to give them 2 business days to return my call,
but their office is only open 3 days a week. I don't always have access
to a vehicle, and so this was a day that if it was a matter of
something missing from all of the paperwork I turned in, I could run it
up there today and get everything rectified. Instead, it's almost the
close of the business day, and I've heard nothing from my caseworker or
her supervisor, despite my pleas for urgency.
Essentially, if I
lose the food assistance, my family will be back to where we will
struggle to eat everyday. This isn't necessary if these people would
just do their job. I'd love
to be a caseworker just to show people, there are some that understand,
care, and try our best to make sure your family has everything it needs
instead of these deadbeats who don't seem to care one bit.
If
anyone knows the best way to contact someone in Lansing to make a
complaint, or the best way to get a problem resolved with a caseworker, I
would sincerely appreciate the help.
