FAC Explorer

Finding 1203112 (2025-011)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
ABE
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-30
Audit: 396345
Organization: Department of Human Services (HI)
Auditor: ACCUITY LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Four participant files did not have interviews conducted within the required 45-day timeframe, indicating a repeat compliance issue.
  • Impacted Requirements: The State Plan mandates eligibility reviews every 12 months and timely interviews for TANF applicants.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Department should collaborate with the Administration for Children and Families to identify necessary remediation actions.

Finding Text

Condition We selected a non-statistical sample of 60 participant files, representing approximately $43,600 of monthly benefit payments, out of a population of approximately 2,500 cases, representing approximately $41.5 million of benefit payments, for testing and noted exceptions in four case files as follows: • Four case files where the interview process was not conducted within the forty-five (45) day timeframe required by the State Plan. A similar finding was reported in the prior year as Finding No. 2024-010. Criteria The State of Hawaii TANF State Plan states that a review of all eligibility requirements is required every 12 months for all TANF households. The State Plan also states that for the Department to make a decision regarding an applicant’s eligibility, an interview must be conducted with the applicant no later than forty-five (45) days after the application is received. Effect Failure to follow the established procedures in place over the eligibility determination process resulted in non-compliance with the requirement and questioned costs. Cause and View of Responsible Officials The Department has a history of backlogged cases, which does not allow them to work on current issues when they arise. Recommendation We recommend that the Department work with Administration for Children and Families to determine what remediation actions, if any, are required.

Corrective Action Plan

Views of Responding Officials: The Department agrees with the finding and will implement corrective action. Corrective Action Taken or Planned: The program office will continue to issue reminders to the eligibility staff, during the monthly Statewide Branch Joint Section Meetings, which are attended by the Branch Administrators, Section Administrators who have direct oversight of the Processing Centers, and Processing Center Supervisors. Reminders will include specific topics and common errors found during informal case reviews such as, but not limited to, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) application processing, interpretation and application of TANF policies, and eligibility determinations. The program office issued TANF Program Operational Procedure (POP) 01-002, Upfront Universal Engagement (UFUE) for TANF and TAONF Applicants, in 2022. TANF POP 01-002 provides eligibility staff guidance on processing applications for families who are required to meet the upfront requirements prior to eligibility determination. In conjunction with TANF POP 01-002, First-To-Work (FTW) POPs 02-101 and 02-102, issued in 2022, provide FTW staff guidance on the UFUE requirements for TANF applicants. A reminder will be issued to the eligibility and FTW staff on TANF POP 01-002 and FTW POPs 02-101 and 02-102. Delays to applicants’ ability to fulfill the UFUE requirements as a condition of eligibility may impact applications being processed and eligibility determinations being made timely. Completion Date: Ongoing Responding Official(s): Catherine Scardino, Benefit, Employment, and Support Services Division Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program Administrator

Categories

Eligibility

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1203108 2025-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203109 2025-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203110 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203111 2025-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203113 2025-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203114 2025-013
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203115 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203116 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203117 2025-014
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203118 2025-014
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203119 2025-014
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203120 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203121 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203122 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203123 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203124 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203125 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.778 MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $2.15B
10.551 SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $694.52M
93.558 TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES $65.98M
93.767 CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM $59.50M
10.561 STATE ADMINISTRATIVE MATCHING GRANTS FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $36.81M
10.646 SUMMER ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN $32.44M
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $24.00M
93.575 CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT $21.36M
93.658 FOSTER CARE TITLE IV-E $19.10M
93.667 SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT $16.55M
84.126 REHABILITATION SERVICES VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION GRANTS TO STATES $15.12M
93.659 ADOPTION ASSISTANCE $14.73M
93.596 CHILD CARE MANDATORY AND MATCHING FUNDS OF THE CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT FUND $14.33M
96.001 SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE $7.86M
93.568 LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE $7.75M
97.088 DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROJECTS $5.87M
93.090 GUARDIANSHIP ASSISTANCE $4.11M
14.231 EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM $1.74M
93.777 STATE SURVEY AND CERTIFICATION OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND SUPPLIERS (TITLE XVIII) MEDICARE $1.30M
93.556 MARYLEE ALLEN PROMOTING SAFE AND STABLE FAMILIES PROGRAM $940,051
93.671 FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND SERVICES/DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES $736,396
93.464 ACL ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY $683,572
93.747 ELDER ABUSE PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS PROGRAM $594,270
93.645 STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES CHILD WELFARE SERVICES PROGRAM $571,294
93.669 CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT STATE GRANTS $517,826
94.011 AMERICORPS SENIORS FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM (FGP) 94.011 $416,327
84.177 REHABILITATION SERVICES INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES FOR OLDER INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND $396,635
14.241 HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS $298,741
93.497 FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND SERVICES/ SEXUAL ASSAULT/RAPE CRISIS SERVICES AND SUPPORTS $257,427
94.016 AMERICORPS SENIORS SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM (SCP) 94.016 $216,950
93.603 ADOPTION AND LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP INCENTIVE PAYMENTS PROGRAM $206,000
93.369 ACL INDEPENDENT LIVING STATE GRANTS $185,836
93.643 CHILDREN'S JUSTICE GRANTS TO STATES $151,193
16.540 JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION $136,367
93.674 JOHN H. CHAFEE FOSTER CARE PROGRAM FOR SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD $104,863
84.187 SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DISABILITIES $104,639
93.599 CHAFEE EDUCATION AND TRAINING VOUCHERS PROGRAM (ETV) $90,544
93.968 STATES ADVANCING ALL-PAYER HEALTH EQUITY APPROACHES AND DEVELOPMENT (AHEAD) MODEL $57,137
93.791 MONEY FOLLOWS THE PERSON REBALANCING DEMONSTRATION $36,428
93.566 REFUGEE AND ENTRANT ASSISTANCE STATE/REPLACEMENT DESIGNEE ADMINISTERED PROGRAMS $17,218