CAP for Finding: 2022-102 Auditor Recommendation: Obtain the required documentation for the 22 individuals we identified or seek to recoup improper benefit payments it made to these individuals. Planned Corrective Action: The Wisconsin Department of Administration (Department or DOA) will request fr...
CAP for Finding: 2022-102 Auditor Recommendation: Obtain the required documentation for the 22 individuals we identified or seek to recoup improper benefit payments it made to these individuals. Planned Corrective Action: The Wisconsin Department of Administration (Department or DOA) will request from the auditors the cases identified, review available documentation in its eligibility and benefit determination system to determine that all of the applicants were eligible to receive benefits under the program or that the costs were allowable to be funded by the Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance (WERA) Program, and obtain the required supporting documentation. Should DOA determine that it provided rental and utility assistance to individuals who were ineligible to receive WERA Program benefits, it will identify alternate eligible Department funding sources or seek to recoup improper benefit payments made, as appropriate. Anticipated Completion Date: June 30, 2023 Auditor Recommendation: Closely monitor the documentation being accepted by the community action agencies and Energy Services, Inc., and provide further training to address individual instances of noncompliance with the Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance Program Manual and guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Planned Corrective Action: The Department will monitor the documentation accepted by the community action agencies and Energy Services, Inc. (ESI), and provide further training to address individual instances of noncompliance with the WERA Program Manual and guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. As the auditors noted, DOA provided training to the community action agencies and ESI in June 2022, and updated the WERA Program Manual as of June 30, 2022. The Department further notes that, after serving nearly 40,000 households with close to $250 million of assistance for rent, utilities and home internet bills, and preventing thousands of evictions across the state, the WERA Program closed to new applications as of January 31, 2023, but housing stability services remain available. Anticipated Completion Date: June 30, 2023 Auditor Recommendation: Regularly review and update its procedures to ensure that it is following the guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury in administering the Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance program. Planned Corrective Action: The Department will continue to review and update its procedures to ensure that it is following the guidance from the U.S. Department of Treasury in administering the WERA program. As the auditors noted, in response to its prior recommendation, DOA updated the WERA Program Manual as of June 30, 2022. Anticipated Completion Date: June 30, 2023 Person responsible for corrective action: Susan Brown, Administrator Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources susan.brown@wisconsin.gov