Audit: MN welfare programs have lax eligibility checks

A review by Minnesota’s legislative auditor has found that some of Minnesota’s welfare programs do a poor job of ensuring benefits don’t go to ineligible people — a finding that could have political implications as lawmakers shape the state’s budget.

Republicans who control the state House and Senate have called for big cuts to the Department of Human Services’ budget. One big area Republicans have identified for potential savings in the past is tightening the state’s eligibility requirements for public programs — a push driven by a similar audit.

The audit released Friday reviewed several major federally funded programs aimed at helping low-income, elderly and disabled Minnesotans. For these programs, the legislative auditor reviewed the Department of Human Services’ processes, and checked a random sample of cases to identify errors.

It found significant error rates in the Temporary Assistance For Needy Families program, which provides cash and other benefits to low-income families with children. This program is directly administered by workers in counties, not by the state, and the audit found eight of 24 families it reviewed weren’t eligible for benefits they received. TANF is funded by the federal government, not by state taxpayers.

Read more: http://www.twincities.com/2017/03/24/audit-mn-welfare-programs-have-lax-eligibility-checks/