DSS looks t hire collections specialist
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.
Some grant recipients could have changed their employment or ability to pay and really do need the money, but haven’t informed DSS that their status has changed. Others may be committing outright fraud.
Last week, at a meeting of the Chenango County Health and Human Services Committee, Osborne requested permission to contract for collections services. She said her caseworkers are too busy to do the work in addition to a mandated 10 to 20 hours per week of overtime. DDS is also spending hundreds of unnecessary dollars each month mailing out reminders.
“This takes up the account clerk’s time, the fraud investigators’ time, everyone’s,” Osborne said, adding that DSS’ child protective unit has had at least five positions turn over recently due to the “level of intensity” on the job.
Before approving the move, Smyrna Supervisor James Bays asked Osborne to make sure the collections agency was familiar with the specifics of “situational” debt versus bad debt.
“It can be a subjective call, like in the case of the elderly lady who needs money for her furnace,” Bays said. “Make sure the agency knows those specifics and can make those calls.”
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.
Some grant recipients could have changed their employment or ability to pay and really do need the money, but haven’t informed DSS that their status has changed. Others may be committing outright fraud.
Last week, at a meeting of the Chenango County Health and Human Services Committee, Osborne requested permission to contract for collections services. She said her caseworkers are too busy to do the work in addition to a mandated 10 to 20 hours per week of overtime. DDS is also spending hundreds of unnecessary dollars each month mailing out reminders.
“This takes up the account clerk’s time, the fraud investigators’ time, everyone’s,” Osborne said, adding that DSS’ child protective unit has had at least five positions turn over recently due to the “level of intensity” on the job.
Before approving the move, Smyrna Supervisor James Bays asked Osborne to make sure the collections agency was familiar with the specifics of “situational” debt versus bad debt.
“It can be a subjective call, like in the case of the elderly lady who needs money for her furnace,” Bays said. “Make sure the agency knows those specifics and can make those calls.”
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