HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_1650 (2)states and impose sanctions, N.C. would be penalized $15 million. This is what would be withheld
because the numbers were not met. The figures indicate that on July 1, 1996 - June 30,1997, the state
had only made 85%of its employment goal. Iredell County was at 83%. It was noticed a few years
"go, and it became more evident months ago, that aone-size fits all top-heavy bureaucracy in charge
of the programs was not working. Regardless of the way the numbers are tossed around, the federal
participation rate was what N.C. had to make and it wasn't done.
Howard stated:
There are no unfunded mandates in the welfare legislation. She said that care was given to
insure this didn't happen. Counties are being offered flexibility. An important part of the bill is
fraud and abuse. When the legislative committee began working on the bill almost six years ago it
found that many people (recipients included) stated that much fraud/abuse was occurring. A
Biometric Workstation has been included in the legislation to prevent some of the abuse. Each
county will receive at least one workstation. If there is more than one in -take area more than one
station will be given. The first procedure that will happen with first-time applications or
recertification, will be that a digital facial picture is taken. Also, thumbprints will be scanned. This
is non-invasive, harmless, and takes about three seconds. Immediately, the information will be
transmitted to a master computer that cross checks all counties in the state. The DMV data base is
also used. Statistics indicate that fraud is detected under this system with a low of 18 % and a high
of 31%. This is from states using the system. Even a 5% detection of fraud in North Carolina will
help. Word of mouth saying this will occur will probably curtail some fraud. Prior to getting to the
Biometric Station clients will stop at the Employment Security Office. Data indicates that 2-3% of
individuals that eventually get into the welfare system only need a job. The Employment Security
Commission has been passive in the past; however, it is 100% committed and has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding. Everyone will go in and register with ESC. Counties are eligible
to hire one program integrity worker. This is an entry level position. The legislature funded $2.5
million for one integrity worker for every county. Some counties already have a person doing this
type of work. Through the Department of Labor, a matching savings account for welfare recipients
has been created. It is capped at $2000 per client. Every $10 saved by a recipient, will be matched
by $20 from the state. An amount of $300,000 has been approved for FY 97-98 and another
$300,000 was approved for FY 98-99 for the matching savings program. The money can be used
homes, furthering education, or to start a business. It is also a method to create relationships with
financial institutions. Interest for welfare reform has been seen across North Carolina. There is
bipartisan support. The first county to send its resolution to the state to become an electing county
was Chatham, and it has a bipartisan board.
Howard said that it would certainly be easier for counties to stay status quo; however, at the
end of six years the time was up for change. As of today, there are 1,055,365 North Carolinians
receiving food stamps, Medicaid, or Work First Assistance. Howard challenged the Iredell officials
to help the recipients become self-supporting.
Commissioner Stewart said that information was continually going to the DSS Board and
its staff. Many people working in the field had questions. Mrs. Stewart said that Iredell's Work
First Program had been successful. "Our numbers have decreased for public assistance. I think the
decrease is about nine percent" She mentioned that a foreseen problem was with the people that
are totally unemployable. Iredell is down to the hard core. In addition, Iredell has a low
unemployment rate. Berry said this had been a consideration. The "easy" people are soon off the
welfare rolls with Work First. Later on, the people with mental problems and substance abuse, etc.,
begin to surface. The legislation calls for a county by county study of the working poor - - low-
income wage earners. A headcount is needed - - not necessarily cumulative at the state level. The
demographics need to be known for each county. There is money in the legislation to assist in the
study. It can be done by the ESC or through the Work First Development Board. There is a
provision in the federal legislation to exempt a percentage of the caseload because of hardship.
Every county will have to do a county plan. Regardless of whether it is electing or standard. The
legislation provides a block of money for work first services. The money will be block granted to
all counties and a plan will have to be created on the utilization of this money. If a county is
"electing" it will have to do a cash assistance determination. There is nothing in the legislation that