Finding 528484 (2024-006)

2024-006: HIV Emergency Relief Project Grant – Eligibility Determination Requirement Information on the Federal Program: Assistance Listing Number 93.914 HIV Emergency Relief Project Grants Criteria: The Center is required to accurately determine a recipient’s eligibility for program benefits. Condition and Context: During our audit we reviewed the Center’s eligibility determination and selected a sample of 25 individuals who were recipients where management was required to perform eligibility determination. We found the following: Of the 25 individuals sampled, there were three instances where the eligibility screener documented incorrect inputs on the recipient’s application. In all three instances, the error did not impact the recipient’s eligibility. Of the 25 individuals sampled, ten had instances where management was unable to provide sufficient support to verify that the recipient's eligibility was correctly determined. For these ten cases, we were unable to determine if the recipient's eligibility was correctly determined. Effect or Potential Effect: Inaccurate eligibility determinations could result in ineligible recipients receiving benefits or lead to individuals who were denied benefits who otherwise qualify. Cause: Management does not retain sufficient documentation to support the eligibility determination for recipients. Questioned Costs: $0 – The Center does not provide direct assistance to recipients. Recommendation: We recommend that management perform a formal review of case files for eligibility determination to both determine that eligibility was correctly and accurately determined and that the case file retains documentation sufficient to demonstrate a recipient's eligibility. Management’s Response: Management has initiated a formal review of case files to determine that eligibility was and will be correctly and accurately determined and that the case file retains documentation sufficient to demonstrate a recipient's eligibility.