Now this is an article I can relate to! Not only is it worth reading because it's about other humans, but also because it's an example of bureaucratic injustice. The Statesman's article Texas food stamp applications delayed should be called State's inability to retain new employees cause families to starve to death!
There are 3.7 million Texans on public assistance (Medicaid, food stamps, etc.). The process goes something like this: a need is identified, resources located, appointment made, paperwork filled out, meeting with caseworker, information turned in, verification process, case number assigned, data entry, benefits approved or denied. The best one can hope for when they find themselves in this situation is seamless execution. But what if there are not enough employees to process the applications? Such is the case in Texas, where 676 out of 800 new workers hired since September 2007, have left. The consequence of this is twofold. First, families have to get emergency food from places like SafePlace, Texas Food Bank and churches. Second, available funds to feed deserving hungry families are sitting in the bank! We are paying twice, once with our tax money to fund social services like the food stamp program, and again when we participate in can food drives through the mailman, local scouts and clubs, or donate money to our churches.
The issue addressed in the Statesman glazes over the agencies attrition issue and goes in depth about the ups and downs of the new computer system, TIERS. The state's solution to retain workers? Give 6,000 employees raises and promotions. Ummm, wait a minute. How about incremental raises throughout the year, or wages based on the number of applications processed?
Thankfully, the federal government has standards in place to hold states accountable for timeliness. 95 percent of applications must be processed in 30 days. Right now the data shows that less than half - 48 percent- of Texas applications are being completed within that time requirement.
The Department of Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner, Albert Hawkins, states that benefits are retroactive to the date the person applied. Great. To which Senator Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, replied: "How do you go back and feed a hungry child last month."
While I was enlightened by learning about the old and new computer systems and their efficiency or inefficiency to facilitate benefits for low-income families, this article was found under Public Services, not in the Technology section of the Statesman. I look forward to hearing more on this topic and the progress of public assistance programs to administer help to those in need.
1 comment:
This whole process has been a fiasco from the beginning. Problems were identified with the original business analysis that was presented over 5 years ago. It did not address the actual time needed to do the casework. Ok, so we moved ahead and developed the new TIERs software. It was poorly conceived already, then we got the the cheapest programmers and consultants they could find...so what do you get? A poorly designed, very slow and glitch ridden piece of software. As a result of the original plan nearly 50% of our staff left. I had over 8 years with the state and was told I would not be needed, because the new system was so fast and efficient, HAH!
Later when the already obvious problems began to be taken seriously I was told I was needed and that others would be hired. Still waiting on the new hires. This TIERs system is slow the FEW workers who are left can keep up.
Yet we are constantly told that we have to do more and more. I personally think that we should fire everyone in the HHSC State Office up to and including Albert Hawkins. Then we should begin looking into Gov. Perry's real reasons for pushing this through. If you ask me there is only one answer, kickbacks to fund his political warchest. Under the constitution of Texas he has worked against the best interest of Texans and should be impeached.
Further, this whole ill-conceived TIERs project should be scrapped.
We do need to update our benefit system but it needs to follow what we already have in place. Use the Saverr system as a guide to it's developement and ask the real workers (who have to use the software) to consult on the project. Unfortunately the HHSC is poorly managed and has been for a long time. State jobs above the position of supervisor are all political and do not serve their employees and certainly don't serve the poor and needy of Texas.
This TIERs Project must end now! And the greedy people behind it must be exposed! It is and has been a lie from the very beginning. It along with Toll Roads, State Building Leasing, the CHIP program and the attempted cervical cancer vacination program proposed by Rick Perry are purely attempts to steal from the people of Texas. Money and political ambition are the true reasons for all of this mess!
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