Lawsuit will cost county
NORWICH – Anytime the state loses a lawsuit, local government officials need to worry. Chenango County Social Services Commissioner Bette Osborne finds herself in that situation following a recent ruling in Monroe County.
The court judge in the case directed local social services departments to return financial assistance that was illegally withheld when former Governor George Pataki implemented a policy change in 2004. The policy decreased the amount of supplementary security income that was provided to low income disabled families.
The New York Office of Temporary Assistance estimates that 27,000 households in the state saw their assistance drop adversely at approximately $4,000 per case. In Chenango County, between 130 to 150 cases will have to be reviewed, and possibly refunded retroactive to 2004.
The number includes about 45 active cases. DSS is directed to send out a mass mailing in order locate inactive families.
Because of the lapse of time, however, Osborne said she didn’t expect most of the older cases to respond. As a result, she estimates a broad range in the potential local payback of anywhere from $160,000 to $500,000.
Osborne informed members of the Chenango County Health & Human Services Committee Tuesday of the pending budgetary impact. She pointed to a $700,000 balance for family assistance that could be used to cover the amount.
“I have enough to cover this, but there will be no overage like I said we would have,” she told the committee. The amount would have been absorbed by the general fund. The Commissioner also said there would be some additional overtime costs for DSS employees to do cross county searches in order to locate individuals.
Income Maintenance and Child Support Director Sue Curnalia said her staff would have to conduct case reviews of closed and active cases since July 2004. “We have to review and calculate what the retroactive underpayment is and make adjustments. This will mean an increased benefit amount for disabled person in the household,” she said.
The lawsuit directs local DSS officials to identify and repay active cases first. Osborne said the process of identifying all of the cases in Chenango County wouldn’t be completed this year.
Though tentative, the county’s social services department – including programs and administration – is projected to cost taxpayers nearly half a million dollars more in 2008, or $10.8 million. County Treasurer William Evans could not be reached for comment by press time. Health and Human Services Chairman Jeffrey B. Blanchard, R-Pitcher, said lawmakers would have to “wait and see” what effect the lawsuit would have on next year’s budget.
The court judge in the case directed local social services departments to return financial assistance that was illegally withheld when former Governor George Pataki implemented a policy change in 2004. The policy decreased the amount of supplementary security income that was provided to low income disabled families.
The New York Office of Temporary Assistance estimates that 27,000 households in the state saw their assistance drop adversely at approximately $4,000 per case. In Chenango County, between 130 to 150 cases will have to be reviewed, and possibly refunded retroactive to 2004.
The number includes about 45 active cases. DSS is directed to send out a mass mailing in order locate inactive families.
Because of the lapse of time, however, Osborne said she didn’t expect most of the older cases to respond. As a result, she estimates a broad range in the potential local payback of anywhere from $160,000 to $500,000.
Osborne informed members of the Chenango County Health & Human Services Committee Tuesday of the pending budgetary impact. She pointed to a $700,000 balance for family assistance that could be used to cover the amount.
“I have enough to cover this, but there will be no overage like I said we would have,” she told the committee. The amount would have been absorbed by the general fund. The Commissioner also said there would be some additional overtime costs for DSS employees to do cross county searches in order to locate individuals.
Income Maintenance and Child Support Director Sue Curnalia said her staff would have to conduct case reviews of closed and active cases since July 2004. “We have to review and calculate what the retroactive underpayment is and make adjustments. This will mean an increased benefit amount for disabled person in the household,” she said.
The lawsuit directs local DSS officials to identify and repay active cases first. Osborne said the process of identifying all of the cases in Chenango County wouldn’t be completed this year.
Though tentative, the county’s social services department – including programs and administration – is projected to cost taxpayers nearly half a million dollars more in 2008, or $10.8 million. County Treasurer William Evans could not be reached for comment by press time. Health and Human Services Chairman Jeffrey B. Blanchard, R-Pitcher, said lawmakers would have to “wait and see” what effect the lawsuit would have on next year’s budget.
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