Gov't Agency... Grrrr! >:(

Today I finally had enough with the DWS (Dept. of Workforce Services) after a month of getting nowhere. But in order for this to make sense, I have to back-track.

In September I went on a 4 week vacation to WI, returning home on October 9. I fully expected to see some paperwork about Kadence's medical insurance needing to be re-certified (or whatever you call it) since October was her birthday month, the 31st to be precise. No such luck. I waited a week longer and nothing. Another week and still nothing.

So on November 3rd I called, and after talking to several people, I spoke to a woman who told me that since her birthday had passed I could not re-certify but needed to re-apply. I was upset because I needed to have her 12-month check up and on my income I can't afford it. I told her I had received nothing in the mail nor had I received a phone call or been left a message. She said it showed that information had been mailed out in August. She said maybe I misplaced it. Grrr! No, I did not, I said to her as politely as I could. I told her that I had actually called in August myself, knowing I would be gone on vacation, and asked what I needed to do; then told that I didn't have to do anything, that information would be sent to me in the mail.

Anyway... the woman started to speak in a kinder tone of voice. I think it was because by this time I could barely hold back the tears of frustration I was having. One thing I dislike about myself... how tears so easily come to the surface when I am angry, happy, sad, etc. Basically a water fountain, I am. :P

Going on... so this woman, Harriet or Henrietta, told me that she would count our conversation as the phone interview that is required in the application process, but she insisted that I must go to the DWS building and fill out the other necessary forms; if I didn't, she would drop the application and the conversation with her wouldn't count.

I did as she asked and left for the place about 10 minutes after getting off of the phone with her, filled out the required forms, and went home waiting to hear from her the next day. And I waited the day after. And the day after that. Until it was over 2 weeks. I called the place again, going through the whole process of explaining everything once again. But because the person doing my case wasn't there, I had to wait for them to get back to me. So the waiting game went on again.

During this time both Kadence and I have been sick. Almost the whole month of November. I was just thankful that she wasn't sick enough to have to go to the doctor and that it was from her teething!

On Monday I get a letter in the mail, and OMGosh, did I want to strangle somebody! Know what this dumb letter says?? On the first page it tells me this...

Alert - Telephone Interview Missed

Dear Tammy Dankert

This notice is to inform you that you have not contacted our office within 7 days of the date of your application for medical assistance. For your eligibility to be determined, you must call for a telephone interview.

You have 30 days from the day you apply to complete the application process, this includes completing an interview. If you do not complete the interview by the 30th day, your application will be denied. If you have any questions regarding this notice, please contact us.

~tapping foot in anger, counting to 10~

And then I read the next page...

Notice of Decision - Application Pending

Dear Tammy Dankert

The medical application received on Nov 3 2008 is pending. We have been unable to contact you to arrange an interview which is required as part of the application precess. You must contact DWS or your application will be denied on Dec 3 2008. If verification is needed, your worker will let you know what to provide.

Then I looked up in the upper right hand corner and it says mailing date: 08DEC08

So, let me get this straight... I am supposed to let them know BEFORE Dec 3, or my application will be denied. How am I supposed to freakin' manage that when I get the letter letting me know this... SEVERAL DAYS AFTER THE DEADLINE?

(And just for the record, I NEVER received any phone call or letter from this agency... NOTHING! Remember, I was waiting and hoping to hear from them so I could take her in for her check up and vaccinations. Bunch of incompetent imbeciles!)

I was furious! And I am still angry thinking about it!

Well, like I said, I was tired of this and this time I was going to chop heads. I was literally grinding my teeth. LOL!

So I called the number, and had to wait for about 15 minutes to talk to a live person, which did not add to my mood, trust me on this. I proceeded to tell Heather everything I just wrote, including reading the letter I received. Not to pat my own back, but I did manage to say that I didn't mean to be upset with her personally, that I was just aggravated with the whole situation. She wasn't even ruffled. She said that guy that had denied my case must not have read the notes left by Harriet/Henrietta about the phone interview, and after verifying my rent, was able to tell me Kadence was now accepted and receiving medicaid. That only took her about 10 minutes.

I am glad everything is all squared away, but I am still steamed and would like to wring the neck of the bozo that wasn't doing his job. >:(