Ombudsman works with Job and Family Services to correct mailing address errors

A building on West Monument Avenue that houses the Dayton-Montgomery County ombudsman's offices. CORNELIUS FROLIK / STAFF

A building on West Monument Avenue that houses the Dayton-Montgomery County ombudsman's offices. CORNELIUS FROLIK / STAFF

Editor’s note: The Dayton ombudsman’s office provides weekly columns to the Dayton Daily News to bring awareness to issues it sees. The column was recently moved to the Ideas & Voices section to help readers identify solutions to common problems in their communities.

A son contacted the Ombudsman on behalf of his 82-year-old father. The son complained that he submitted three applications for his father’s Medicaid to the Montgomery County Department of Job and Family Services (MCD JFS). It is a standard procedure for the applicant to receive a checklist of information required to complete the application. The son was upset because the checklist was sent to the wrong address. The person who incorrectly received the checklist and information about the father’s application delivered the mail to the son because the address was included on the information inside the envelope. He was grateful that the person chose to deliver the incorrectly addressed correspondence to his home. However, he was concerned about the error and that an unrelated person had been able to see the father’s personal data.

The Ombudsman contacted the Montgomery County Department of Job and Family Services (MCD JFS) about the multiple applications and the mailing of the checklist to an incorrect address. The supervisor responded that the first application had been denied because the items on the checklist had not been returned. The second application was received and was assigned to the same caseworker. The records did reveal a problem with the address to which the second checklist was sent. The Ombudsman received an assurance that the address problem will be corrected. The Ombudsman also received confirmation that the final application was received, along with the documentation required for approval.

The son contacted the Ombudsman to report that his father’s Medicaid had been finally renewed and thanked the Ombudsman for the helpful intervention.

THE OMBUDSMAN column, a production of the Joint Office of Citizens’ Complaints, summarizes selected problems that citizens have had with government and social services, utilities, schools and nursing homes in the Dayton area. Contact the Ombudsman by writing to 11 W. Monument Ave., Suite 606, Dayton 45402, or call 937-223-4613, or send email to ombudsman@dayton-ombudsman.org or check our website at www.dayton-ombudsman.org. Additionally, please “like” us on Facebook.

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