Dear All, When I received mail from Food Stamps yesterday, I assumed that it was for an increase in benefits, under the new law discussed in the Website thread on this Food Stamps sub-Forum.  You can imagine my horror when I saw that instead, my Food Stamps have decreased from $162 to $14 for October.  By appealing promptly, you can keep getting your benefit until the day of your hearing.  I am going to send in my appeal form tomorrow (certified), so thta I have a very good chance of keeping my benefits (which expire either on the day of the hearing -- but hearings aren't scheduled immediately, immediately -- or on the last day of the month in question, whichever comes first.

Food Stamps is claiming tht I don't have any medical deductions.  In teh month of August, my personal physician's office omitted depositing my check, so I didn't have any proof of thta $600 expenditure -- I think that's what went wrong.  All public benefits fromthe US Government have a 2-month delay -- an August problem shows up in Oct, for example. 

There are 5 grocery stores that I can hit -- Cala/Ralphs/Kroger, Safeway, Lucky (used to be Albertsons), FoodsCo (a discounter), & Whole Foods.  Other kinds of stores are the super-store Smart & Final, & Walgreens & Rite-Aid.  I have $60-odd dollars left on my Sept stamps so I can start stocking up right away.  My plan is to spend all of my stamps in the 1st week of Oct or before, so that I won't lose out if the hearing is scheduled fairly rapidly.

As always, the Good L-rd has protected me.  I have a stack of coupons at least 3" high, out of which I had clipped practically nothing, as I've been shopping almost exclusively at Whole Foods recently.  These coupons generally go to Michelle Cinnamon Huskies for distribution to the Coupon Train(s).  This month, there will still be plenty of coupons left, as so many are for treif (non-Kosher) goods, but there will be significantly fewer than usual.  (PS The coupons will go to whoever volunteers to replace Michelle Cinnamon Huskies in her work.)

Since I have so much food stored already, I had to  be imaginative this AM in seeking out new places to store food.  I think that I have found some good ones.  Yours in Him, Deb 

Thank you, Toni & Martha MFI, for your votes of confidence!  I'm not worried either, just a bit annoyed by the hassle of it all.  Yours in Him, Deb

Good luck. For your hearing, see if you can get a copy of your medical expenses paid to your doctor that they failed to file in time so you have it on hand to show them. What about Nov? Will you be approved again then? Do you have to reapply or be approved on a monthly basis? I don't know if it's my state or my situation for what category I fall into but I only have to reapply for food stamps every 6 months.

 Deb,

I pray that you will get this all straightened out before you lose so much in stamps. It is so hard to make it without them. 

Dear Kate, What a good idea!  I'm certain that my personal physician will cooperate in giving me a letter stating that his office failed to deposit (two) of my $600 checks timely.  Really, what a great idea!  Yours in Him, Deb  PS I am SUPPOSED to be certified until June.  We have 2ce/yr recertification & I just finished one 6 weeks ago or so ....

Dear jcrmom, Thanks for your prayers!  Actually, I could live off what I have in the house for about 3 months, so it wouldn't be an emergency until holiday time (I mean Chanukah/Christmas).  Food storage, yay!  Yours in Him, Deb

Deb-

So sorry!  What a mess.  Remember what I said about the stamps being good for a year?  If I were you, I would save stamps for the fresh stuff I need in Oct, and use your pantry and freezer items up while you sort out this mess.  Can you call them on Monday? 

Dear Tracy LNL, My notice says that I am not eligible for more than $14 EBT Food Stamps after 10/1, but that if I get my appeal in timely, I will receive the $162 pending the hearing.  It's a good idea for me to phone them on Monday & ask them how long the EBT debit is good for, even if I lose the hearing.  I'll do so.  Everybody on this Forum thread has such good ideas for me!  I thank you all!  Love in Him, Deb