- Jurisdiction
- Montana
Here's the situation. I applied for SNAP benefits in Montana. I moved from another state and didn't have long distance to call them to advise that I have moved. I knew nobody in Montana to use their phone or long distance. I had to apply for SNAP benefits to stay at the shelter we were in because it was their policy. I am not uneducated, I know the policy is just to force people to help themselves which is a good idea. I was also a university student at this time as well. I waited until the last week to fulfill this obligation as I didn't really want to do so. I knew within a few weeks I would be getting student loan money that I could use. So, I took my pain medication for my back, walked the 2 miles to the office in the winter snow, and applied. The interviewer asked me three times about my Heritage, I guess she didn't believe me. I was completely taken aback by this and she was cold and unprofessional as well. I just wanted the interview to be over with and flee that office. I mean she was practically spitting her words at me. I go back to the shelter and reiterate the meeting to my husband. He asks if I told her about the state we just moved from, and I did not. I told him I forgot and immediately went to the phone, called her and told her. I couldn't have been more than an hour after I just left her office. She told me now she would have to call the police, etc. I have no criminal record, at all. I didn't trust her so I called back and spoke with a supervisor. The supervisor seemed shocked that the worker told me she would call the police. She told me not to worry about it. I explained to her that I have no cell phone, no long distance, to call the other state to let them know I moved. She said not to worry, they would take care of it. I was grateful. Six months to a year later, I still have the same worker, I get a letter to call about a renewal before the end of the month or I will lose benefits. I called the last two weeks of the month every day practically and the worker nor the supervisor called me back until the day before the month was over. I explained I kept trying to call and sent a few emails. Apparently, I must have irritated them, suddenly they want to disqualify me from benefits for me having benefits in two states when I first applied. That is retaliation, not discipline. I did except responsibility and went to the hearing and let them disqualify me for a decade. I did not fight with the retaliation idea or the unprofessional Heritage questions. Besides, I was in a university going to school and never thought after school that I would need public assistance again, so what did I care if I was disqualified? My husband and son could still get SNAP and I prepared my food separately anyways due to medical issues. That was extremely naive of me. Now, it is hurting me and I want to address the retaliation and heritage issues which led to all this. Any advice?
