Hundreds of families are without food stamps and other federal benefits in Cobb, Douglas and Cherokee counties because an increased demand for assistance has created a backlog of paperwork, the Georgia Department of Human Services said Thursday.
Jennifer Jordan, a mother of four, waited for hours Thursday as she sought answers for the stoppage at the Cobb County Department of Human Services office.
She wasn't alone. Dozens pulled a number and waited their turn to speak to a DFCS employee to learn why benefits abruptly ended.
The answer?
"Due to the current economic situation we have experienced tremendous growth in those participating in the food stamp program which has impacted monthly benefit renewals and has increased the workload of DFCS staff," said Ravae Graham, a deputy director with the state Department of Human Services.
Graham said Cobb, Cherokee, and Douglas offices received 5,358 food stamp reviews in September and DFCS staff could not process an estimated 12 percent of them in a timely manner.
"After the reviews are completed in totality and it is determined that the client is still eligible to receive benefits, benefits will resume," said Graham.
The problems weren't being solved quickly enough for who said their lives were left in limbo.
For the fourth time in recent weeks, Jordan waited hours at the Marietta office, hoping for a chance to speak with anyone. Her food stamps and Medicaid were cut off last week, Jordan told the AJC. She received a letter dated Sept. 10 in the mail Wednesday, she said.
“They’re not answering any phones,” Jordan said. “I’ve called and called and can't get a hold of anyone.”
Jordan said a DFCS worker told her she probably wouldn’t be able to reach anyone in a DFCS office in Georgia by phone. She arrived Thursday morning in hopes of getting some answers. More than three hours later, she was still waiting.
After her fourth child was born, Jordan said she wasted little time going back to work. The Douglasville mother works the overnight shift at a restaurant while a family member takes care of her kids.
“My 4-month-old needs shots,” Jordan said. “What am I supposed to do?”
Jennifer Bartrum's 2-year-old son fell asleep in his mother's arms while waiting in line. Bartrum said her benefits stopped last month. It's been impossible to reach a case manager, said Bartrum, who was told a computer glitch led to the problem.
"It's not our fault they changed systems and lost everybody's stuff," Bartrum said.
The state office told the AJC its employees are working to partner with area food banks to help make sure those in need have food.
But the list of area food banks is one Rakela Wilkins said she's already seen. Wilkins, 24, said she's called numerous charities in Cobb County seeking help for her 58-year-old disabled mother. But even the food banks don't have enough to go around, Wilkins said.
Wilkins said her mother, Barbara, is partially paralyzed since having a stroke and has numerous other health conditions. Barbara Wilkins' benefits were cut in June, and since then, Rakela Wilkins said she's been at the Cobb DHS office every other week.
"It goes in circles like this all the time," Rakela Wilkins said.
Thursday, the answer was the same. Her mother's paperwork might have gotten lost, Rakela Wilkins was told. Wilkins said she's completed the same paperwork repeatedly.
"Either I pay for her to get something to eat, or she will not eat," she said.
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