Bureaucracy Busting
Rather than cancel services like Medicaid and SNAP (food stamps) outright, the regime built daunting paperwork hurdles. While these are particularly relevant to SNAP recipients, others may also find rules are quietly changing.
Anytime you discover a changed rule, such as the DEC1 changes to SNAP eligibility, post about it on social media, even if it doesn’t affect you.
How to do it:
If you already have hard-won knowledge in some area, focus on that. In my friend group there’s an insurance whisperer, several SSDI experts, a retired nursing home social worker, and a veteran who has notched up seven assists qualifying peers for earned VA benefits. If that’s you, tell people you’re available to help if you can.
If you don’t have any particular area of knowledge, you can publicize deadlines and changes to requirements. There are a lot of aid systems shifting and the news is getting lost amid war crimes and street-snatchings. It’s up to us to let affected people know when the rules change, so share any credible news you hear.
Boost what comes to your attention, or pick a subject and research it. Post stories about it and put deadlines on your calendar and remind people as they approach. Offer to sit with people trying to figure it out, even if you don’t know more than they do. You can help them research or make lunch for the kids while they sort it out. Sometimes just having company helps.
If you have relevant professional experience and can legally do so, consider running a monthly workshop at your local library, open to the public. Ask a friend to help organize. Or organize “helpful amateurs” to sit with folks and try to figure it out together. Sometimes you just need a supportive environment.
