Finding 34681 (2022-004)

FINDING # 2022-004 ELIGIBILITY FOR INDIVIDUALS ? SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCY LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE (ALN 93.568) STATE AGENCY: NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): 21-LCM-15, 21-LCM-23, 22-LCM-06, AND 23-LCM-01 FEDERAL AGENCY: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COUNTY AGENCY: DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES 1. CRITERIA Eligibility for Individuals? Grantees may provide assistance to (a) households in which one or more individuals are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or certain needs-tested veterans? benefits; or (b) households with incomes which do not exceed the greater of 150 percent of the state?s established poverty level, or 60 percent of the state median income. Grantees may establish lower income eligibility criteria, but no household may be excluded solely on the basis of income if the household income is less than 110 percent of the state?s poverty level (42 USC 8624(b)(2)). Grantees must give priority to those households with the highest home energy costs or needs in relation to income and household size (42 USC 8624(b)(5)). 2. CONDITION/PERSPECTIVE The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance is responsible for Low-Income Energy assistance programs that provide assistance and support to eligible families and individuals. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps eligible New Yorkers heat and cool their homes. An eligibility family may receive one regular HEAP benefit per program year and could also be eligible for emergency HEAP benefits if you are in danger of running out of fuel or having utility service shut off. Of the sixty (60) files selected for testing: ? One (1) case file did not include the required documentation to support eligibility for HEAP. Therefore, we were not able to determine if the eligible participants met all the eligibility criteria. 3. CAUSE The Department did not ensure that all required eligibility forms were obtained and filed timely. 4. EFFECT The grantor agency may disallow the claims and reimbursements for the recipients. County claims could be made on behalf of ineligible recipients. 5. REPEAT FINDING No 6. RECOMMENDATION We recommend the Department strengthen its monitoring controls over the Low-Income Home Energy case files to ensure the timely and accurate determination of eligibility. 7. QUESTIONED COST Cannot be determined. 8. VIEWS OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL Staff will be reminded of the importance of scanning all applications and required documentation into the Imaging and Enterprise Document Repository to ensure that a complete and accurate case file is kept electronically for all cases.