Have any of you been denied WelFare and did a "Fair Hearing"? After a month of waiting on Welfare (because my husband lost his job back in Jan.), they denied us stating that we did not provide proof of income (according to their reason on their website). So, now we have to wait for their letter in order to fill out the app for a fair hearing. We have two children, no income, no insurance, no cash. We've gone a month now waiting for welfare to take action, and in the meantime we have been actively looking for work, and still nothing. My husband DID provide them proof of income, and he's got his paper with welfare's stamp on it when the lady made the copy of it. How the heck can they go a month, and then all of a sudden say 'denied because of no proof of income'. If they lost the paperwork in the beginning, I would have thought they would have said something by phone, or have it show up on the status on their website. Ugh...so frustrating. Now we have to go through the 'fair hearing' process and provide them 'again' the proof and show them their own stamp on the paper. How long is this going to take? I mean for the 'fair hearing'? Has anyone been through that? What was your outcome and what did it all involve?
Meanwhile, while we're waiting on help our kids are sick. So far no doctor is needed, but I don't know what to do if we have to take our baby in. Is there such a thing as a free clinic for families with no income? This is the first time we have ever had to utilize the states help (ask for their help) and I feel lost. At first I felt embarrassed to ask Welfare for help, but then I thought...well my husband and I have paid into that when we were working and that's what its there for. Still feel bad though. I know we won't need the help for a lengthy period (hoping a job will come our way soon)......Any tips/advice? Share your experience? Thank you so much.
I don't know for sure the particulars about Az Welfare but I do know this: the squeaky wheel gets the grease, so get on the blower EVERY DAY to speed up the process as much as possible.
You will need to go to the office with EVERY piece of paperwork they asked for, stamped and never stamped. Wait forever and demand to have the situation resolved today. That is what I did and it finally got fixed that day. It will seem like a waste of a day (you can't be job hunting while you are there) but that is how the system works. Our situation was very similar to yours, except they waited the full 45 days they had to tell us no. When I took a number and the lady told me that I may not get it resolved that day I put on my nicest smile and sweetly asked to speak with a supervisor. Wow, that got results. She said wait right here and my problem was fixed and I was out of there in 10min. Best of luck today...
What a mess.
You need to call someone. Don't you have a social worker? There should be a name on your paperwork.
When I broke my leg and had to go on disability, I had to get medi-cal. First they told me I didn't qualify. Then they told me I had a $900 per month share of cost that had to be met before they would cover bills.
Well, they got that straightened out and I had zero share of cost.
Then, I got a letter saying I was being denied because I failed to provide a recent bank statement for an account with $5.63 in it.
Long story, but I had that account frozen years ago. So many years ago that they only send a statement once per year. The statement I provided even said there had been no activity on the account since 1999. I had to get a letter from the bank and the whole bit. Over less than $6.
Anyway, I would call and talk to a person about this. If you request a fair hearing, they are supposed to schedule on within so many days.
As for the kids, call your county health department. They have clinics and well child exams. Since you have no income, it will be free.
I know you feel bad about needing help right now, but times are really hard for a lot of people. Sometimes people need help and there's no way around it.
Definitely contact your health department. They are a great resource for a lot of things.
I really hope things will be looking up for you soon.
Best wishes.
I don't know what to tell you regarding the welfare -I have no idea -but as far as your child and being sick -if the baby gets sick enough to see a doctor, you can call or go to the county health department or go to an ER -that's unfortunately what is breaking our ERs across the country, but if you have a really sick baby, you have to do what you have to do. Tomorrow, call the health department and ask how to go about applying for medicaid and/or your state's child healthcare. Here in GA it's called Peachcare and it's basically like medicaid for children. Ask the health department if there are centers you should take your child to or where you should go as someone without insurance or a child with no insurance.
I am not sure how the fair hearing goes but just put in a new application online. They are so backed up over there that mistakes are happening all the time. After you do the application, give it 3 days or so to make sure you are assigned to a caseworker then go to the office and ask to speak to whoever that is.
Go early so you don't have to spend all day. You don't have to wait in the big line either, there is a form on the big desk to request to see your caseworker, or just ask someone for it.
Even if you have not gotten a letter asking for documentation again, just take what they asked for the first time. Ask the caseworker to make sure that it will meet all the requirements.
After you turn it in wait another week then go back and do the same thing, talk to the caseworker to get a status and make sure they don't need anything else.
I know it sounds like a lot, but this is what I did just a few weeks ago after an error cancelled all of our benefits for over 2 months.
good luck.
I may not be fully understanding this correctly. You have a stamp from Welfare indicating that they received paperwork. Did anyoneat the Welfare office verify that this was the documentation that was required? Do you have a case worker? I would try bringing all you documentation to their office and see if you can get it straightened out.
I'm not sure if applying for Welfare automatically gets you medical or not. But if you do get medical it is retro-active for 30 days, which would cover any medical costs you might incur. If you need medical care and your doctor won't see you try an urgent care, instead of an ER, unless it's a life threatening problem.
Personally, I think they drag their feet in hopes that you will go away, but hang in there. I hope he finds something soon.
Btw, I heard that Home Depot is hiring 1000 people in AZ.
