I worked for the US government as an AmeriCorps member and was encouraged to apply for food assistance because our income doesn't count as income for the purposes of government assistance programs. I was given Leslie Cummings as a caseworker in July 2015 and did not receive benefits until March 2016. First she went on vacation and didn't return calls after her return. Then she refused to interview me over the phone for around 4 months. Then after a literally 3 minute phone interview, I was denied. I had to re-apply online over 4 times. I was denied regularly, calls to her and to both of her supervisors were not returned. I contaced legal aid for over 1 month before I finally got a call back from a lawyer who told me to give up because I had no case. I filed for an appeal, finally had a hearing and won. It took 8 months of fighting caseworker Cummings and her 2 supervisors before I got benefits. As an AmeriCorps member, I am considered as having $0 as income. My caseworker and her manager performed no effective research and are incompetent as they do not understand the required policies necessary to perform their jobs. In the meantime, I experienced food insecurity, regularly missed meals and missed work due to sickness. A cold can turn far worse when your body is nutrient depleted; as was my case.