Teens who are told that they are ineligible for cash benefits because they do not live with an adult are not offered the opportunity to apply for or receive Medicaid. This problem has been reported at a variety of local offices in the Chicago area, including Western, Englewood, and Garfield local offices. Clients frequently complain that caseworkers do not process reported changes. One client continued to receive TANF payments for months after she reported that her children had been awarded Supplemental Security Income. The caseworker also failed to adjust that client's food stamps.
Many clients have trouble reaching their caseworkers by phone.
Local office phones often are either constantly busy or unanswered. Caseworkers often are unavailable. Leaving a message is not always possible. Moreover, when clients can leave messages, caseworkers often do not return calls. Difficulty in reaching caseworkers can cause problems for all clients, particularly those who do not have phones or who work or attend programs during hours when their caseworkers are available.