State Agency: Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Program Name: Low-Income Home Energy Assistance ALN #: 93.568 Single Audit Contact: Thomas Cooper Title: Deputy Commissioner – Audit & Quality Improvement Telephone: (518) 402-0148 E-mail Address: Thomas.Cooper@otda.ny.gov Audit Report Refe...
State Agency: Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Program Name: Low-Income Home Energy Assistance ALN #: 93.568 Single Audit Contact: Thomas Cooper Title: Deputy Commissioner – Audit & Quality Improvement Telephone: (518) 402-0148 E-mail Address: Thomas.Cooper@otda.ny.gov Audit Report Reference: 2025-005 Anticipated Completion Date: 9/30/2026 Corrective Action Planned: Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) policy manual was provided to the auditors on June 13, 2025, “applications and documentation, including notices must be retained for a period of six program years, including the current program year for Regular, Emergency, Cooling, and Clean and Tune”. This control is tested yearly during annual reviews, as indicated in the written procedure that was provided to the auditors on June 23, 2025. In addition, HEAP’s record retention policy is included in Eligibility and Certification Trainings that are required by new Department of Social Services staff and reinforced through online trainings. The enclosed finding involved a case with Albany County, which was last reviewed by the OTDA HEAP Bureau in 2023. As a result of that audit, OTDA HEAP required a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) to be submitted to the Bureau for several issues including incomplete case records. Albany County’s CAP was submitted to the Bureau and approved on July 29, 2024. In response to Albany County’s 2024 CAP and the finding identified in the Single State Audit, OTDA will review districts during the upcoming 2025-2026 monitoring review. Any findings related to the Albany County review will be conveyed to the Albany County Commissioner of the Department of Social Services and require a CAP, if necessary. Additionally, in 2025 the HEAP Bureau refined its CAP approval process and developed new follow-up procedures to ensure districts are taking adequate steps to successfully execute their CAP.