NORWICH – Chenango County may hire a consultant to recover some $400,000 loaned to Social Services clients.

Some of the outstanding debt goes back 10 years; while other amounts have been written off, in some cases, as uncollectable.

Chenango County Department of Social Services Commissioner Bette Osborne said welfare recipients of emergency cash for heating, food, transportation, clothing or other emergencies often don’t realize that they have to pay the money back eventually.

“They think it’s a gift. It’s not a gift,” she said.