From:
Clements, Linda
Sent: 2/22/2021 3:26:51 PM
To:
Whisnant, Leeanne <lwhisnant@alexandercountync.gov>
Subject:

FW: Pandemic LIEAP Payments & NC FAST


FYI

 

Linda Clements

Assistant Director

Alexander County Department of Social Services

604 7th St. SW

Taylorsville, NC 28681

O: 828-352-7667

F: 828-632-1359

 

From: Clements, Linda
Sent: Monday, February 22, 2021 11:59 AM
To: 'Christy.nash@dhhs.nc.gov' <Christy.nash@dhhs.nc.gov>
Subject: Pandemic LIEAP Payments & NC FAST
Importance: High

 

Good morning,

 

Alexander County is in a quandary.  We are getting discrepancy in advise from state representatives. This is in regards to payments for Pandemic LIEAP and regular LIEAP. 

1.       The state LBLs (up to and including Margaret Faircloth) have been adamant that all payments and corrections to Pandemic LIEAP must be processed before processing normal LIEAP or it will be a financial nightmare and potential audit finding otherwise. We have been told “you can’t go back”.

2.       The state OST are telling the program staff that they can process regular LIEAP payments without an issue, as long as the corrected Pandemic LIEAP payments are entered into NC FAST.

3.       There is a Job Aid for entering into NC FAST corrections to the provider for Pandemic LIEAP. Alexander County staff followed the Job Aid. Unfortunately NC FAST has still not processed these changes and advised our staff that a Help Desk request was necessary for this to be resolved.

 

NC FAST (Jasmine Simmons) has told Alexander County that it is not a problem as it is one big LIEAP fund and it is not important to process Pandemic LIEAP first, that a change in address won’t impact (and stating that it is the same as if a person is deceased). Finance has drilled it into our Business Officer that this is not true. And if regular LIEAP are processed and take from the Pandemic LIEAP, there is no way to go back to get those Pandemic funds rechanneled to the corrected provider. The Alexander County business officer is also attempting to talk with Shelica Williams about this issue.

 

So, at this time the Alexander Business Officer is not processing any regular LIEAP payments that have been approved by program staff until the corrected Pandemic LIEAP payments are processed in NC FAST.  The Alexander Program staff are concerned that they will be cited for violation of Discouragement policy if not processed timely.

 

This must be an issue for other counties. I am sure that there have been returned Pandemic LIEAP payments that need provider corrections in other counties. Should we follow the LBL or the OST?  Is there someone else I should contact?

 

Linda Clements

Assistant Director

Alexander County Department of Social Services

604 7th St. SW

Taylorsville, NC 28681

O: 828-352-7667

F: 828-632-1359