Finding 401398 (2023-002)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-06-21

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Applications from clients who are relatives of employees are not consistently approved by independent management, leading to potential bias.
  • Impacted Requirements: All assistance applications should be reviewed by a management-level employee to ensure fairness.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement policies requiring supervisor approval for applications from relatives and establish a disclosure process for reporting relationships.

Finding Text

Criteria:All clients’ applications for assistance should be approved by an appropriate independent party. Condition: Clients that are relatives of employees are not required to be approved by a management level employee or a supervisor of the employee and on occasion are approved by the employees’ subordinates. Cause: Lack of polices and procedures over clients that are relatives of employees. Effect: Clients that are relatives of employees may have received preferential treatment. Recommendation: Clients that are relatives of employees should have their applications approved by a supervisor that is at least a management level employee. As part of the application and intake process clients should complete a disclosure to report any relatives that are employed by the agency and their relationship. Reply: Management agrees with this finding and will develop policies and procedures for identifying family members of relatives that apply for benefits and for approving their applications.

Corrective Action Plan

Management is currently working to develop policies and procedures for identifying family members of relatives that apply for benefits and for approving their applications.

Categories

No categories assigned yet.

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 401396 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 401397 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 401399 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 977838 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 977839 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 977840 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 977841 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.568 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance $2.94M
93.569 Community Services Block Grant $681,004
93.499 Low Income Household Water Assistance Program $315,892