Finding 518002 (2024-001)

Material Weakness
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-01-07

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Lack of documentation for income verification for 26 out of 40 children receiving TANF funding.
  • Impacted Requirements: Internal controls over eligibility were not consistently followed, risking compliance with federal regulations.
  • Recommended Follow-up: Provide training for staff on maintaining eligibility documentation and internal controls.

Finding Text

Name of Federal Agency: United States Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Name: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Assistance Listing Number: 93.558 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: 45732 - Year Ended June 30, 2024 Name of Pass-through Entity: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Criteria In accordance with 2CFR 200.303(a), Internal Controls, a non-Federal entity must establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. The specific eligibility requirements are unique to each Federal program, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Federal award pertaining to the program. Condition The Sampson County Partnership for Children did not maintain documentation for proof of income for 26 children sampled receiving funding. Cause The Organization’s internal controls over eligibility was not consistently followed to ensure that documentation for all recipients was retained. Effect or Potential Effect Lack of sufficient support over eligibility could result in ineligible individuals receiving benefits, resulting in disallowed costs for the major Federal program. Questioned Costs None. Context We selected 40 beneficiaries charged to the federal program to test compliance and controls over eligibility. Out of the 40 individuals tested, we noted 26 instances where there was no documentation to support that benefit recipients were eligible for benefits and the internal controls over eligibility were followed. Identification of Repeat Finding This finding is not a repeat finding. Recommendation We recommend that management provide training to those responsible for verifying eligibility to ensure that documentation and internal control over eligibility is maintained.

Corrective Action Plan

Moving forward, we will require that all NC Pre-K program staff receive intense training on the proper procedures for reviewing student folders for edibility and to qualifications for the NC Pre-K program. The NC Pre-K score cards will be reviewed by two staff members, signed, and printed for confirmation of eligibility with each application. The Applications will then be placed in each child file for proof of eligibility and qualification. The Eligibility training will be conducted through the NC Pre-K DCDEE Program Policy Consultant Jeanne Barnes.

Categories

Eligibility Subrecipient Monitoring

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1094444 2024-001
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.558 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families $795,645
84.425R Covid-19 Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools Grant (crrsa) (nc Pre-K) (current Year) $84,938
93.575 Child Care and Development Block Grant $9,704