Finding 500265 (2023-005)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-09-30

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: An income eligibility override was incorrectly applied in one client case, violating LSC Reg. 1611.5.
  • Impacted Requirements: Financial eligibility documentation must be accurate to ensure proper client inclusion in LSC services.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Continue training for staff on managing asset ceiling waiver approvals to prevent future errors.

Finding Text

2023-005 Authorized exceptions to the annual income ceiling Legal Services Corporation ALN#09.233100 Criteria: LSC Reg. 1611.5 Authorized exceptions to the annual income ceiling provides the conditions for authorized exceptions. Condition: The income eligibility override was improperly applied in one client case, resulting in this case being incorrectly reported as program eligible. Cause: The case worker inadvertently applied a reason for authorized exceptions to the annual income ceiling which does not comply with LSC Reg. 1611.5. Effect: Incorrect or incomplete financial eligibility documentation may result in improperly including or excluding clients from receiving services under the LSC program. Context: Out of sixty (60) LSC cases selected for testing, an authorized exception to the annual income ceiling was improperly applied to one case. Questioned costs: There are no questioned costs noted. Recommendation: We recommend that Legal Services NYC continue to provide relevant training to employees involved in client intake regarding maintenance of asset ceiling waiver approvals. Views of responsible officials: See corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

The attorney responsible for this error has been instructed on the LSC rules for eligible income overrides and specific corrections in this case, including that the financial eligibility override reason of "client seeking to maintain government benefits for low-income is only applicable if those benefits are the subject of our legal representation in a case, and families" that a client must be marked "no" for "Income Eligible (LSC guidelines)" even if they are financially eligible for our representation under a non-LSC funding contract. She was also instructed to review the LSC Financial Eligibility Training video. Ongoing compliance trainings and financial eligibility trainings have been modified to emphasize how to use the income override categories, and that a be marked as "no" for "Income Eligible (LSC guidelines)" and "LSC Eligible" even if the case must client's income makes them eligible to be served under non-LSC funding contracts.

Categories

Eligibility

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 500263 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 500264 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 500266 2023-006
    Significant Deficiency
  • 500267 2023-007
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1076705 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1076706 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1076707 2023-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1076708 2023-006
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1076709 2023-007
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
09.223 Legal Services Corporation $16.06M
93.558 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families $8.46M
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $5.01M
16.575 Crime Victim Assistance $2.02M
93.914 Hiv Emergency Relief Project Grants $1.10M
93.044 Special Programs for the Aging, Title Iii, Part B, Grants for Supportive Services and Senior Centers $564,516
14.418 Private Enforcement Initiatives $400,702
93.569 Community Services Block Grant $313,351
21.008 Low Income Taxpayer Clinics $265,388
93.048 Special Programs for the Aging, Title Iv, and Title Ii, Discretionary Projects $238,716
16.588 Violence Against Women Formula Grants $149,999
64.033 Va Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program $137,500
93.667 Social Services Block Grant $100,468
10.561 State Administrative Matching Grants for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program $60,999
93.778 Medical Assistance Program $56,769
14.408 Fair Housing Initiatives Program $14,491
16.524 Legal Assistance for Victims $1,516