What can I do now? (TN)
I’m in Tennessee and have applied for SNAP twice. Both times, these were the standard SNAP interview calls. I followed the exact instructions the representative gave me, wrote everything down during the call, and submitted all requested documentation within three days of each interview. I even submitted multiple documents for each verification request to make sure I had provided enough.
I was always as pleasant, cooperative, and understanding as I could possibly be throughout every interview. I genuinely tried to be patient and give the representatives the benefit of the doubt, even when I was confused or concerned.
The first interview was with a very nice representative who told me I should be good to go. She asked me to submit only two or three documents, which I did. I was then surprised weeks later when I was denied for supposedly failing to submit something. I had never been told that this additional document was required. I also didn’t receive the denial notice until after the period for submitting the document had already passed.
I initially wondered whether there had been some kind of mail delay because of the government shutdown. When I mentioned this during my second interview, the representative very rudely told me I was incorrect. I wasn’t blaming DHS or accusing their office of anything—I was suggesting that perhaps there had been delays with the Postal Service. He then insisted that I had been notified and accused me of never submitting the required document, despite the fact that I had submitted everything I was actually told to submit.
I remained pleasant and cooperative during this interview as well. He also asked whether anyone else lived with me and requested their names. I explained that I only knew my roommates’ first names because they were brand-new roommates I hadn’t even met yet, and I wasn’t the person who chose them. He said he’d been doing this for over a decade and couldn’t believe I didn’t know who I was living with. I genuinely had no reason to know their last names at that point.
I’m now in the same situation again: I followed the interview instructions exactly, submitted everything requested within three days, and was still denied for allegedly failing to provide verification.
I’m also at least partially disabled and have an extremely difficult time advocating for myself. I tried very hard to handle this correctly, but I tend to shut down when someone becomes aggressive or confrontational with me, regardless of how much I practice. I also don’t have any family support in the area.
I know I may be eligible for some kind of public-benefits assistance or legal aid, but I have no idea how to actually get in contact with anyone. Even the thought of calling someone about this is incredibly overwhelming. I really do want to push through and appeal, but I feel very trapped.
I’m young, single, and am generally very good at appearing healthy, so I’m also worried about being judged or dismissed if I go into an office in person. I know I’m in a difficult situation, and I honestly wish I could just fix myself so I could handle these situations better.
I’d really appreciate any advice from people who have dealt with SNAP appeals in Tennessee, especially if there are ways to get assistance or representation without having to navigate everything completely on my own.
Note: post edited for formatting clarity.