Finding Text
2025-001 Financial Eligibility Legal Services Corporation ALN#09.233100 Criteria: Per LSC § 1611.4 (a) Financial Eligibility, a recipient may provide legal assistance supported with LSC funds only to individuals whom the recipient has determined to be financially eligible for such assistance. Nothing in this part, however, prohibits a recipient from providing legal assistance to an individual without regard to that individual's income and assets if the legal assistance is wholly supported by funds from a source other than LSC, and is otherwise permissible under applicable law and regulation. Condition: During the LSC case file testing, we identified one instance, where the program client was not financially eligible for the LSC program but was reported as LSC eligible. Cause: A Legal Services NYC employee mistakenly classified the program client who was not LSC financial eligible as LSC financial eligible in the case system. Effect: Incorrect financial eligibility documentation may lead to the improper inclusion or exclusion of clients from receiving services under the LSC program. Questioned costs: There are no questioned costs noted. Context: Out of 60 cases selected for testing, one (1) case was erroneously reported as LSC eligible. *This is a repeated finding from the prior year. The prior year finding # was 2024-001. Recommendation: We recommend that Legal Services NYC continue to provide relevant training to employees involved in client intake regarding financial eligibility. Views of responsible officials: See corrective action plan.