Finding Text
Significant Deficiency US Department of Health and Human Services Passed through the NC Dept. of Health and Human Services Program Name: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families - Work First Program Assistance Listing # 93.558 Finding: 2025 – 004 Eligibility Criteria: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families - Work First Program case files require proper documentation be contained in the case record to verify eligibility, along with continued compliance to additional requirements set forth through federal and state guidance. The case file should contain a completed, signed (telephonic signature is allowable) and dated standardized forms, including application and others. Additionally, employment program participation is required for specified applicants. Eligibility criteria further outlined in the Work First Policy Manual. Condition: There were Three (3) instances of incomplete documentation or verifications in client files and Three (3) instances of NC FAST input errors of client income. Questioned Costs: There was no affect to eligibility and there were no questioned costs. Context: We examined 25 out of 74 TANF - Work First case files active during the fiscal year to ensure verifications used to determine eligibility were properly documented. Effect: For the active cases, there was a chance that information was not adequately documented or were not accessible NC FAST which affect general adherence to prescribed guidelines. Identification of a repeat finding: This is not a repeat finding. Cause: Ineffective record keeping and ineffective case review process, incomplete documentation, and incorrect application of rules for purposes of determining eligibility. Recommendation: Files should be reviewed internally to ensure proper documentation is in place for eligibility. Workers should be retrained on what files should contain and the importance of complete and accurate record keeping. We recommend that all supporting documentation used for eligibility verification be reviewed for completeness and reconciled to the information provided in worker dictation. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: The County agrees with the finding. Supervisors will perform second party reviews to ensure proper documentation is contained in files to support eligibility determinations. Workers will be retrained on what information should be maintained in case files, the importance of complete and accurate record keeping, and reserve calculations. The County finance office will also participating in the review process.