kafkaesque

I am back at the government offices for SCRIE, the NYC department that can freeze your rent after age 62 if you can prove your income is low enough. 

I apply in April, and assume an easy approval, as I meet all the criteria. 

Yesterday, after five months, I get a letter saying my application is denied. Why?  Because "we did not receive the requested information or documents from you after three pending notices were mailed." The letter then describes the appeal process.

Huh? I sent them everything. 

So I return to their offices today (for the third time; something I shouldn't have had to do even once), and learn this: 

• The last document I send is on July 31. 
• SCRIE receives it around August 3, but has a backlog of mail.
• It takes SCRIE from August 3 to September 5 to enter my new document into their system.
• My application is denied on September 2.

Because it takes SCRIE a month to log my information into its system, I am denied. They have my document in their office for four weeks but never quite get around to reading it. And because of this, I am sent a letter of denial. Oh, but if I want, I can go through a cumbersome and lengthy appeal process!

This is when I have my near nervous breakdown.I feel like I'm in a Kafka novel.

But the woman helping me, a lovely Ms. Hayes, acknowledges the absurdity of the situation. She makes some calls, and manages to get my case status changed from "denied" to "under review."  

But the reason its under review is no longer for not having the documents requested. No! Now they have a brand new reason. Ms. Hayes is told that SCRIE never received yet another document that was never asked for. Ever! She sees the horror in my eyes, and tells me I can email it to her and she'll walk it through the system.

I walk outside, look up and see the majestic Freedom Tower. 

Today is nine-eleven. The weather is sunny and beautiful, just like it was 14 years ago. 

It kind of puts things in perspective. My problem is hardly a problem at all.